Perranzabuloe Mining District - Great South Chiverton

OS Explorer Map 106: Grid reference SW800492

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Great South Chiverton Mine lies one and threequarters of a mile southeast of Perranzabuloe, just north of the hamlet of Allet. The mine worked three lodes with the chief one called Main Lode. The mine worked the lodes from Engine Shaft and Chapman's Shaft.

An account of the state of Great South Chiverton in the mid 1860's comes from Thomas Spargo's book of 1865, entitled 'Statistics and Observations on the Mines of Cornwall and Devon'. He writes '... in the parish of Perranzabuloe, Cornwall. Secretary, Mr. Henry Chapman, 11 Royal Exchange. Manager, Captain John Nancarrow, St. Ives. Landowners, Messrs. Joseph Reynolds, Ley, Peter, & Geach. Dues, 1-16th. Depth of mine, 10 fathoms (adit level). 12 men and 8 boys employed. A 50-inch pumping-engine nearly completed. The works commenced about March, 1864; since then they have been conducted with that activity for which the manager is distinguished. Great hopes are entertained that the mine will prove a valuable one, having several very promising lead lodes. The mine adjoins West Chiverton which is too well known to require a remark from me'.

Now that 'World Heritage' status has been achieved Cornwall in Focus will monitor developments and learn how the mines of the Perranzabuloe Mining 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