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Tin dressing floor at Wheal Sparnon being turned into Victoria Park, Redruth, Cornwall. Late 1800s
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Royal Cornwall Museum
Tin dressing floor at Wheal Sparnon being turned into Victoria Park, Redruth, Cornwall. Late 1800s
A gentleman wearing a bowler hat is standing to the left of centre. The area in the photograph is now covered by Clinton Road, Park Road and Albany Road, Redruth. According to the Ordnance Survey Six Inch map Cornwall LXIII. NE, surveyed 1877 to 1879, the mine is disused at that time. By the same OS area map Cornwall LXIII. NE Revised 1906, the whole are is covered in housing. The mine produced copper, as well as traces of cobalt and gold. Thomas Spargo states in his book, The Mines of Cornwall (1865), that " Wheal Sparnon was in the the parish of Redruth, Cornwall, in 6, 000 shares. Secretary, Mr G.H. Cardozo, London. Purser, Mr W.P. Cardozo, Camborne. Manager, Captain Wm. Tregay, Redruth. Rocks, granite and clay-slate, 60 men employed in the mine, operations on the surface of which commenced in 1864. Land owner, Lord Clinton. Dues 1-20th. Depth of adit, 18 fathoms; depth under adit, 60 fathoms. A 70-inch pumping-engine just completed, also a 22-inch winding-engine. Little has been as yet been done by the Company under the surface; but it is generally believed that enormous quantities of tin will be raised after the mine has been cleared of water". Photographer: Probably Henry Opie
Royal Cornwall Museum is the UK's Greatest Museum For Cornish Life & Culture
TRURI : MIspa.5
Media ID 15405418
© From the collection of the RIC
Mine Mining Surface Redevelopment
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures the transformation of a tin dressing floor at Wheal Sparnon into what is now known as Victoria Park in Redruth, Cornwall. Taken in the late 1800s, the image showcases a gentleman wearing a distinguished bowler hat standing to the left of center, providing a glimpse into life during that era. The photograph reveals an area that is unrecognizable today, as Clinton Road, Park Road, and Albany Road now cover this once industrious site. The Ordnance Survey maps from 1877 to 1879 indicate that the mine was disused at that time. However, by 1906, housing had completely taken over this space. Wheal Sparnon was renowned for its copper production and also yielded traces of cobalt and gold. Thomas Spargo's book "The Mines of Cornwall" provides valuable insights into this mine's operations in the mid-19th century. It states that Wheal Sparnon was located in Redruth parish and operated with 6,000 shares under Mr G. H. Cardozo's secretarial guidance from London. With Captain Wm. Tregay managing operations on-site in Redruth since its surface operations commenced in 1864, Wheal Sparnon employed around 60 men who worked tirelessly amidst granite rocks and clay-slate formations. Although little progress had been made underground when this photo was taken due to water clearance challenges, it was widely believed that once these obstacles were overcome immense quantities of tin would be extracted. Photographer Henry Opie likely captured this historical moment; however commercial use should not be attributed to him or his company.
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