The Cornish Miner in The British Virgin Islands

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The British Virgin Islands - Virgin Gorda - The Copper Point Mine, a National Park administered by the National Parks Trust, BVI

The Cornish Engine House and Chimney with dumps in the foreground rich in molybdenite. Copper Point Mine 2001.

Columbus is said to have first noticed the outcrop of the copper lode, which is clearly vivible in the white granodorite cliffs, on Virgin Gorda. The lodes were no doubt first explored by the Spaniards and there is some evidence of working of the lodes during the 18th century.

The first serious mining operation began in 1835 when the Virgin Gorda Mining Company was formed. Miners were recruited in Cornwall and 31 men and 5 women sailed from St. Austell. The Mine Captain during this brief period of working was Joel Hitchins. The work force included islanders and totalled 174, Apart from the Cornish miners 13 masons and carpenters, 55 labourers and 64 women were employed. The women were no doubt employed on the surface dressing the copper, first breaking up the ore into smaller pieces before feeding it through the crusher rolls. The first shaft was sunk in 1838. A report by the directors of the mine in 1842 stated that in sinking, lining and excavating, 210 tons of ore had been raised yielding 20% copper. The most easterly mineralised vein, 'Whitley's Lode', over which the buildings sit, averaged 2 ft wide, and at the base of the engine shaft was 3-4 ft. wide containing a great deal of strong native copper. The yield was about 3 tons a fathom which was worth about £50 a ton. 210 tons of ore had been raised yielding 20% copper by the time operations ceased on March 25th 1842 through lack funds. It appears that the output of ore scarcely paid for one third of the working costs.

The road from Spanish Town to the Copper Point Mine was constructed by the miners in 1840 to enable the copper ores to be taken to the island's sheltered harbour for shipment in sailing brigs to Swansea in South Wales, UK. Taylor's Bay, below the mine is on the leeward side of the Island and, whilst being close to the mine, would have offered no protection to ships making it a potentially very dangerous anchorage.

The next venture, known as the Virgin Gorda Mine Adventure, began on 5th March 1859 and continued operations until 1862. During 1861, the ore production rose to 721 tons valued at £10,120, whilst the consumption of fuel and raw materials accounted for 454 tons of coal, £243 of mining machinery, 190 gallons of engine oils, 26,000 feet of timber and 12 tons of candles.

During both periods of working copper ore was taken by sailing ship to Swansea, South Wales and materials, including coal for the engine, brought back from that port.

Some interest was shown in the mine in 1890 and 1912 although it appears that no work was carried out. a man named Reed interested himself in the mine and surrounding areas. In 1915 the mine area was leased for 3 years to W.W. Hollings, a resident in St. Kitts or Nevis. He carried out a small enterprise of hand picking molybdenite from the dumps with some 30 cwts said to have been exported. The lease expired on December 31st 1919 and was taken up by a C.W. Westbrook of New York on behalf of T.S. Cotts, CBE. for a rental of £50 per annum. No work seems to have been done except for the reported determination of 1.5% Molybdenite content for a 3 ton sample crushed in New York. The mine has been subsequently examined on several occasions since, but no serious mining seems to have been carried out. Some exploratory drilling was carried out around the 1970's by a Canadian company and the remains of some equipment from this project are still (2001) on site. It appears that at this time the dumps adjacent to the engine house were bulldozed out over the cliffs. It is beleived that the mine adit, if there is one in this area, was covered.

This summary of the history of the site has been extracted from the writings of Frank and Margaret Birchall of South Wales, who have conducted a great deal of research on the history of the site, and personal observations and accounts from islanders.

Archaelogical Survey

An archaeological survey and detailed site survey were carried out of the Copper Point Mine and adjoining miner's accomodation in 2001 by Richard Williams MCSM. During the survey a great deal of previously unknown aspects of the operation were uncovered including previously unknown areas of occupation. The report is still in the process of being written.

The survey was supported by: the National Parks Trust, BVI; The Manafold Trust and the Poldark Trust.

Copper Point Mine Engine House and Chimney viewed from the beach. Note the seagrape, the roots of which have caused damage to the stone structures.

Left: The remains of the one of the miner's houses. Note the upright slots left where once timber posts stood. Right: The most complete of three centre roof supports. The stonework has been constructed around a former timber post. The remains of Welsh slate used for roofing lies beside Building 1. The assumption is that the buildings were originally of timber construction with the stone walls and slate roofs added at a later date.

Left: Open Gunnis on the back of the Copper Lode with Sea Grape growing from the walls. Right: The original cliff exposure now an open gunnis with seagrape growing from the walls.

The Beams on the beach in Taylor's Bay, below Copper Point, clearly marked "Perran Foundry 1836"

During the survey there was always interest !

BUILDING PRESERVATION - A WARNING !

The BVI Government were assured by a Camborne, Cornwall based mining 'expert' that a contractor with no experience of preservation work on historic buildings and little experience of construction work was more than capable of preservation works on the historic structures on Virgin Gorda. The BVI National Parks Trust were not involved in the decision to appoint the contractor. The result a year after the works were carried out are shown below.

Right: Concrete lintel with exposed steel bars. Left: Pointing on the Engine House turned to powder.

Advice was given by Kerrier District Council's Services Department, Cornwall Archaeological Unit and Robert Allen, RIBA. (Robert has vast experience of historic building preservation and has been responsible for preserving more historic mining structures than any other Cornish based architect). The advice was unfortunately ignored with the result that the work carried out on the structure will in the future result in damage to it and will cost more to correct than would the preservation of the Engine House and Chimney.

The moral of the story is: if you need advice go to those who are actually involved, experienced and practicing in the area you are seeking help in - not to those who wish they were no matter what grand sounding titles they claim !

All BVI Photos © Richard Williams MCSM 2001

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Page last updated 20th May 2005