Hi All
Just a comment.
At Alltycrib (Talybont) there was a mine smithy, (now the landowner's
garage) as well as a village smithy, the 2 being less than 50 yards apart!
Of topic a bit but I have taken a few trips into the now accessible deep
adit, (Ref "The Old Metal Mines of Mid Wales" part 3 by the late David Bick)
and we have always started in the village centre where we have visited the
site of the original dressing floors at the Y Wern and amongst other
attractions there are 2 Pelton turbines, one complete with the generator and
electrics. These were installed about 1917 by the current landowner's father
to provide the village with electricity.
Regards
Roy
-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Waterhouse [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 09 December 2010 14:22
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Mine smithies
Dear Bernard,
The subject of mine smithies is an interesting one in its own right.
I'm not sure how much is known/recorded nationally, but if the quite large
variety of metal artefacts we get in the Tamar Valley is anything to go by,
they got involved in some remarkable fabrication work. Locally to us for
example, it looks as if wrought iron bar railways were developed through
smiths' work as a cheaper alternative to cast iron plate railways, which
cost money and time whenever a rail broke. They even went as far as making
wrought iron chairs on occasion out of two pieces of bar, rivetted together,
to avoid paying for cast chairs. I've not come across anything quite like
this on such a large scale outside South-West England, though of course
'simple' bar rail is found elsewhere.
Even the smallest mining outfits seem to have had smithies, either on-site,
or taking over much of the work of local agricultural/domestic ones. They
seem to have made things to order, or produced bulk orders of washers,
bolts, stripwork etc. Though they serviced them (as seen last night) they
do not seem to have made tools, which were bought in from specialist
suppliers such as the Dartmoor edge tool mills. A lot of the items (miners'
picks excepted) were common to mining and agriculture. It always amuses me
when museums etc call things 'Miners' barrow'; 'Miners shovel' etc, when
they appear regularly in agricultural museums. Those long thin barrows are
found in the horticultural industry, for use in row-cropping.
I seem to have wandered off the subject a bit, but it would be interesting
to know whether anyone else knows anything about mine smiths and their work?
Robert
-----Original Message-----
From: mining-history [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Bernard Moore
Sent: 09 December 2010 12:21
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Mining History
Dear All,
The recent Morwellham programme made good basic demonstration of what 'old
mining' was about, and viewed in this light I think it was good. No-one I'm
sure expected in depth full detail, it was only supposed to be a brief
overview. (The makers are lucky to have some very good local and
traditional
agri. advisors). You know, with 'mining pasties' and pasties in general, I
have yet to get a clear and concise history of them... even from a long
established bakery in Cornwall - and other people and books along the way.
The
latter is not a List subject, so if someone has some info. maybe they
might advise off-List please.
Indeed the smithy work on mining pick and drill was highly skilled and
always fascinating to see and watch. Sadly in this part of the world, a
'major' highly skilled blacksmith/farrier recently died quite suddenly from
cancer at 57 yrs. old. He came up in the old tradition, and will be greatly
missed. The forge business is sadly now closed and the three forge staff
dispersed, however his son carries on the farrier work I am pleased to say.
I have missed a couple of the Morwellham progs., but I did see the lime
burning presentation and thought this a good practical demonstration - not
without it's difficulties of course, but who expected it to be easy!
Compliments of the Season to All, Regards, Bernard
(Dear Roy, you mentioned lamps. Will contact off-List for advice if I may.
Bernard).
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