Mid Cornwall - Maudlin Mines

OS Explorer Map 106: Grid reference SX084624

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Maudlin (or Magdalen) Mines lie about three miles eastsoutheast of Lanivet in Lanlivery parish, to the southwest of Bodmin. The mine dates from before 1823 until at least 1907 and was a small copper and tin producer. Some records indicate ten lodes corsing East-West across the sett although only four were actually worked. They were: North Maudlin Lode, worked from Engine Shaft; Great Maudlin Lode also worked from Engine Shaft, St. Aubyn Lode, worked from Benson's (or Whim) Shaft and South Lode.

Records of production are: 110 tons of 5.75% copper ore raised in the years 1823, 1824, 1867 and 1868. 2.5 tons of black tin was also produced between 1853 and 1856.

Mining historian Thomas Spargo gives us an insight into the state of Maudlin Mine in the mid 1860's in his book entitled 'The mines of Cornwall and Devon: Statistics and Observations' (1865) where he writes '... in the parish of Lanlivery, Cornwall, in 6,000 shares. Secretary, Mr. G. H. Cardozo, 15 New Broad Street, London. Purser, Mr. W. P. Cardozo, Crenver Mine, Camborne. Manager, Captain Wm. Tregay, Redruth. 36 men, 2 females, and 4 boys employed: total 42. Mineral Owner, Duke of Cornwall. Dues, 1-20th. Depth of adit, 30 fathoms. Depth under adit, 70 fathoms. Workings commenced in 1851. Pumping-engine 36-inch. A water-wheel, 32 feet diameter and 3 feet 4 inches wide, draws up the stuff and stamps it.
A good discovery has just been made, and the prospects of this mine are very favourable.

The works are of very ancient origin, and produced large quantities of copper and tin, principally copper, from huge deposits in connection with the carbona, under large deposits of gossan. These mineral deposits, in their turn, became un- bottomed by a second appearance of large deposits of gossan; in sinking through which, to reach the metallic minerals below, the present adventure is being carried on. While sinking through the gossan the returns of minerals are inconsiderable, and expected so to continue until the gossan is again unbottomed'.

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