South Crofty Mine Surface 2

South Crofty Mine Surface 2: This second page looks at the area around the shaft also the old mill buildings.

There are several images of the three huge ore bins, as these were demolished during 2013 I thought it was worth printing all the good ones I have.
South Crofty Mine Surface 2
South Crofty Mine Surface 2.1 – Firstly this is the Shaft Lander Gerry Hinton at the top of New Cooks Kitchen Shaft waiting for the cage to come up.

These images, apart from the first three were taken soon after closure in 1998. My main aim was to attempt to capture some of the atmosphere of the site. Also to demonstrate the patterns and textures that Black and White images can show.

It was very sad to wander the quiet site after closure. Even Ben the Dog was quiet, it just felt like the place was only sleeping waiting for the next shift of miners to come rolling up the shaft.
South Crofty Mine Surface 2
South Crofty Mine Surface 2.2 – A second image of Gerry Hinton removing equipment from the shaft.
South Crofty Mine Surface 2
South Crofty Mine Surface 2.3 – The shaft lander’s responsibility was to load and unload materials from the cage and make sure the miners were secured correctly. He would signal the winder driver when the cage was ready to go. Here it looks like Jerry is carrying a telescopic leg for a rock drill.
South Crofty Mine Surface 2
South Crofty Mine Surface 2.4 – The gates at the top of New Cooks Shaft, this was taken a few weeks after the old mine was closed. Difficult to believe the passages were filling up with water far below the ground.
South Crofty Mine Surface 2
South Crofty Mine Surface 2.5 – In the Lander’s Hut at the top of the shaft. This blackboard shows the names and locations of the miners underground on the final shift.
South Crofty Mine Surface 2
South Crofty Mine Surface 2.6 – A view of the Mill and Ore Bins from the rear access road. This was where the ore was transported out the site to Wheal Jane Mill.
South Crofty Mine Surface 2
South Crofty Mine Surface 2.7 – A side on image of the Ore Bins, the conveyor belts add to the perspective of the picture. There were so many conveyor belts, all adding to the picture taking opportunities.
South Crofty Mine Surface 2
South Crofty Mine Surface 2.8 – These were the Coarse Ore Bins.
The ore underground was initially fed through a Crusher and reduced in size to less than 200mm. This meant the skips could carry more ore up the shaft. On arrival at “Grass” the ore was fed onto a conveyor belt and deposited into the Ore Bins. Each had a capacity of 750 Tonnes.
Today in 2018 a road now goes through where these beasts used to stand.
South Crofty Mine Surface 2
Cornish Mine Images 2.9 – Another from a slightly different angle. When the mill was working the ore held in these would have constantly fed the operation.
South Crofty Mine Surface 2
Cornish Mine Images 2.10 – After the mill was shut during the mid 1980’s the ore was shipped from here in lorries to the Processing Plant at Wheal Jane. This operated up to 1998 when South Crofty finally closed.
South Crofty Mine Surface 2
Cornish Mine Images 2.11 – In the background is the conveyor belt leading to the Fine Ore Bins. These had a capacity of 1600 Tonnes.
Cornish Mine Images
Cornish Mine Images 22.12 – A wider image of the complex, this was an amazing place to photograph.
Cornish Mine Images
Cornish Mine Images 2.13 – The conveyor belt leading from the ore bin on the right to the mill. The small building on the left contained a screen where the ore was sorted for size.
Cornish Mine Images
Cornish Mine Images 2.14 – Another of the conveyor leading to the ore bins.In the foreground are the skips removed from the shaft which brought the ore to surface when South Crofty was working.
Cornish Mine Images
Cornish Mine Images 2.15 – I am not sure what these cog wheels were used for, but what a thing to photograph. I believe these are now at Tescos in Redruth.
Cornish Mine Images
Cornish Mine Images 2.16 – Stored behind the cogs are old Sheave wheels which usually belong at the top of a headframe.
Cornish Mine Images
Cornish Mine Images 2.17 – A more detailed image of the sheave wheels, some of these are still on the Crofty site today.
Cornish Mine Images
Cornish Mine Images 2.18 – A wider image of the storage area that was so much fun to photograph. Much of this was removed soon after I had taken the pictures.

South Crofty Mine Surface 3

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