Balleswidden

Grid reference SW387312

Balleswidden including Hobboys Mine, was a former tin mine lying one mile east of St. Just. Nearby lies Bostraze Clay Pit in the Tregeseal Valley, whilst just over a mile away to the northwest lies East Boscean Mine, Wheal Grouse and Wheal Boys. The main lodes of this mine were Hobboys (Awboys), South, New, Red and Black Lodes with the following shafts: Davey's, Skip, Colliers, Engine, Derry, Rag and Chain, Trugeon, Black Lode, Hichens and Horse Whim.

The mine began life in 1832 with its sett working on five main tin lodes, as well as several counter lodes. In the eight years from 1833-41 the mine raised tin to a value of £51,960 and was regularly making £15-20,000 a year in the period 1855 to 1872. The mine ran five steam engines, two waterwheels and six hose-whims according to Joseph Y. Watson in his 'A Compendium of British Mining, with Statistical Notices of the Principal Mines in Cornwall'.

New discoveries of tin overseas caused the tin price to fall sharply around 1872 however and Balleswidden ceased working underground in the January of the following year. Some re-working of its mine burrows took place until 1877, but it never re-opened.

Other notable minerals from Balleswidden include Arsenopyrite, Bismuth, Wolframite.

For those of you with possibly a little more time to explore, once you've done 'the tourist bit', why not explore Cornwall's industrial heritage through its Tin and Copper Mines or learn more from my Cornish Bookstore