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 Re Martin Roseveare's query about the Greensplat engine house.

The building is/was owned by the Goonvean & Rostowrack China Clay Co, (not
EEC as reported).  The structure was Listed Grade II.  The engine, which was
the last beam engine to work in Cornwall, was taken out in the 1970's and
exhibited at Wendron Forge - now known as Poldark.

Goonvean applied to demolish the engine house (App 99/00845) on the basis
that there is workable clay below the structure.  Later, this application
was withdrawn as they had managed to have the building removed from the
statutory list.

Apparently, when the building was assessed for listing in 1974 it still
contained its engine and by the time that the list was signed off the engine
had gone.  Part of Goonvean's case to demolish was that the removal of the
engine effectively meant that the stone house was no longer worthy of being
included in the list.

I understand that the Dept of Media, Culture and Sport (which I assume means
English Heritage) was consulted and they consider that it no longer
possesses sufficient architectural or historic interest to fulfil the strict
listing criteria.

Leaving aside the arguments regarding this particular building, the way that
this has been pushed through without any obvious consultation is worrying.
Quite where that now leaves all of the rest of the Grade II mining related
"ruined" structures in Cornwall and elsewhere is not clear.

Thr Trevithick Society has written to English Heritage expressing its deep
concern about this case.

Tony Brooks
Hon Secretary - Trevithick Society



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