The Crowan Mining District - Carbona Mine

OS Explorer Map 103: Grid reference SW648331

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A small tin mine located on Polcrebo Downs roughly midway between Crowan and Nancegollan in Mid-West Cornwall. A chimney still stands amongst the bracken as a marker. Its nearest neighbours were Oatfield Nine, part of Crenver and Wheal Abraham, Wheal Vrawz and also Trenoweth Mine.

Thomas Spargo gives us a brief insight as to the state of Carbona Mine in his book of 1865 entitled 'The Mines of Cornwall and Devon; Statistics and Observations'. He reports that Carbona Mine was, '... in Crowan, Cornwall, has been idle about 5 years. It was worked a few years by Messrs. Vawdrey & Co. Mr. Vawdrey (Hayle) was the Purser. The returns met about two-thirds of the current cost. The mine is situate about 1 mile S.E. of " Crenver and Wheal Abraham," in granite and killas.

Now that 'World Heritage' status has been achieved Cornwall in Focus will monitor developments and learn how the mines of the Crowan District fare within the overall Mining framework.

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