Thanks, Chris. That's very interesting and helpful to know. Re Tony's
information that was just posted, I have some historical references at
home and will dig deeper to see if I can find when and where the
Restormel iron ore was processed. According to Mindat.org, the mine
closed in 1883. Will let you all know if I find anything further.
Best wishes to all for the holidays!
Woody Thompson
Maine Geological Survey
-----Original Message-----
From: mining-history [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Chris Salter
Sent: Thursday, December 09, 2010 2:23 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Mine smithies (and ironmongers) in Cornwall
Dear Woody,
To answer the second question. By the 1800's the Restormel ore is
likely to have gone to South Wales to be smelted. I am sure that there
are those that know the mine records as my books are still in boxes
somewhere in the garage after moving house. However, by that period iron
would have been smelted in a blast furnace and refined to wrought iron.
The nearest iron blast furnace I know of is on the southern edge of
Dartmoor. However, that was charcoal-fuelled. These were gradually
replaced by coke-fuelled blast furnaces after the Derby's work at
Coalbrookdale in 1709. Thus, the iron industry moved from the woodland
regions to the coal fields that provided coal to coked for the blast
furnace and fuel for the steam engines to power the bellows and other
machinery as the furnace size increased during the 18th century in most
regions. Therefore, it is most unlikely that the iron was being smelted
in Cornwall.
But I stand to be corrected knowing how the Cornish like to be different
from the rest of the South-west of England.
Chris (From Plymouth)
On 09/12/2010 15:14, Thompson, Woodrow B. wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I have two questions related to this thread.
>
> First, where would the mine smithies in Cornwall have obtained their
> raw material for making tools etc.? I'm researching the history of an
> old
> (1800s) family mineral collection in Lostwithiel, and there may be a
> connection with a family member who (according to census data) was an
> ironmonger in that town for several decades. His name was William
> Lacey. However, I'm not certain whether an "ironmonger" was mainly a
> smithie, as opposed to being a general merchant who sold what we in
> the U.S. call hardware.
>
> Second, it's tempting to assume that an ironmonger or smithie in
> Lostwithiel would have obtained his iron from the Restormel Iron Mine,
> which was located right there in the same town. But I don't know if
> the Restormel ore was smelted locally, or did it get shipped out to a
> distant smelter?
>
> Thanks in advance for any information on the above.
>
> Woody Thompson
> Maine, USA
>
--
Chris Salter
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