Robert as you may be aware Snailbeach has a blacksmiths shop, we have
restored the original bellows recently and in u its heyday had 3
blacksmiths working, all metal work on site except rails and steam would
have been produced by these guys
Mike
On 9 December 2010 14:22, Robert Waterhouse <
[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 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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