Surely, the greatest problem in Cornwall was their use of underlay shafts as opposed to vertical ones. While fine for the 'old ways' this must have led to great inefficiencies when trying to modernise the industry and cut costs.
At least two of the new, deep, vertical sinkings in Cornwall were circular:-
Williams Shaft (Dolcoath, sunk in the 1890s to early 1900s) was 17 feet 6 inches in diameter and brick lined.
Roskear Shaft (Dolcoath, begun in 1923) was 16 feet diameter.
I'm not sure about:-
Taylor's (EPAL, 1922) and Tolgus New Shaft (Tolgus, 1923).
Roskear and (if memory serves) Williams were sunk by Welsh contractors - who were used to sinking coal pits.
The 'Cornish' at Grassington, under John Taylor, sank egg-shaped engine shafts.
Mike Gill
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