St. Austell Mining District - Old Beam Mine

OS Explorer Map 106: Grid reference SX010587

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Otherwise known as Great Beam Mine, Old Beam lies about half a mile southwest of Bugle in the Luxulyan Area of the St. Austell Mining District. Situated in the northeastern corner of the Goonbarrow China Clay Works immediately south of Gracca.

Old Beam is known to have been at work before 1830 and actually began life as a china clay works before exploring underground for tin. It worked a large number of lodes including: Great North Lode, Middle Lode, Great South Lode, Fair and Honest North Lode, Fair and Honest South Lode, South Caunter Lode, Mewan Beam Lode, North Caunter Lode and Middle Caunter Lode. Shafts included: William's, Rashleigh's, Hoskin's, Martyn's, Phillip's, Nancock's, Engine and Tremayne's Shafts.

Production records state that the mine raised 375 tons of tin between 1852 and 1871. Work was suspended in 1872, with Beam finally closing in 1874.

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