The Wendron District

Working the Alluvials

New information on the Tin Streamers

Good Speed Tin Bounds

'27th February 1798 One pair of Tin Mine Bounds called Good Speed Bounds to the life of the Earl of Radnor... the South East corner lies near a river in a moor called Porkellis .... the north east corner nigh a Stamps Leat or water course called Stamps an Dowa Leat The Second time of Proclaiming ' R.Williams collection

An ancient right of tinners was that of BOUNDING, believed to date from the fall of the Roman Empire. Bounding was the practice of marking out an area that the tinner claimed the right to work by turning three turfs at each of the four corners. The right to Bound Land was confirmed in the Tinner's Charter of 1201 which gave the tinners liberty 'to mine for tin and dig turfs in the moors and fiefs of Bishops, Abbots, and Counts as they have been accustomed to do' Bounds had to be entered in the records of the Stannary Court and from 1540 they were required to be proclaimed orally at three successive sittings of the Court following their entry in the Court Records The second proclamation of Good Speed Bounds, situated at Porkellis in the Parish of Wendron, is a very rare surviving document of this practice

Water was a most important commodity to the tin mines and tin streamers, being used both to power machinery and to wash the tin ores. The leat (man made water course), which supplies water to power our water wheels, was constructed before 1498. It starts some 1.5 kilometres further up the valley on Porkellis Moor where water is taken from the River Cober. The Leat then follows the contours of the valley to this site where its waters are some four meters above the River. At one time the leat supplied water for two water wheels driving Tin Stamps. After powering the stamps the water was used to wash the impurities away from the tin ore.

Tin Dues Paid for the Parish of Wendron to Henry Crease Esq. 1837 - 1845

We have recently acquired this record of tin dues paid and are in the process of transcribing and analysing the information.

The record throws considerable light upon the extreamly high level of activity outside the mines of the District during the period and show clearly that the working of alluvial deposits was still very active within the District. Considering that Henry Crease was not a major landowner within the Parish and therefore only a portion of the total number of tin operations is recorded the number of operations within the District must have been very high. As noted by Justin Brooke, the second highest of any mining district in Cornwall.

The following tables list the Tin Streamers making returns for tin recovered from 1837 to 1841 by the moor they worked. It does not include tin returned from various mines. The streamers were paying 1/15 th dues on the tin they recovered. Each entry comprises: Date; Name of Tin Streamer; Home of Streamer; Where tin recovered; % of dues payable; Amount paid. It is intended to undertake a detailed analysis of the information. The information will be availabale to those interested in the Wendron District.

Mines listed and paying dues during the period include: The Royal Duchy Mine; Great United Mine; Wheal Widdon; Carnkye Mine; Wheal Ruby; Wheal Dream. Some of these mines are not mentioned in previously published works on the district. Further information will be added as research continues.

If you have any information on or are interested in the Wendron Mining District contact Richard Williams at Poldark Mine, email: info@poldarkmine.co.uk Telephone +44 (0)1326 573 173