South Crofty Mine Surface 4: This is the last page in this series, most of these photographs were taken soon after closure.
I so wish I had taken many more pictures of everything, it was one of those sights that I thought would never go, but I was proved wrong. I am hoping this is a lasting photographic record of what the site once looked like.
South Crofty Mine Surface 4.1 – When South Crofty was working the adit shafts that helped drain the mine required frequent maintenance. To gain access to these shafts a small headframe was kept on the site to be erected where necessary.South Crofty Mine Surface 4.2 – Another view of the temporary headframe, the houses are very close.South Crofty Mine Surface 4.3 – This was the exhaust from the compressor building. On cold mornings there was always a fog coming from it.South Crofty Mine Surface 4.4 – Old underground machinery infront of the mill buildings.South Crofty Mine Surface 4.5 – The chassis of an underground rocker shovel. I am not sure why this was brought up from the mine as it could not have much if any value.
After closure all the viable equipment was brought up from underground for selling. Behind a chain link fence were all the underground locomotives that had been salvaged.
Many of these I believe were sold to a mine in Ireland.
South Crofty Mine Surface 4.6 – A Clayton 1.75 Ton underground locomotive.South Crofty Mine Surface 4.7 – Such a sad sight to see. Cornish Mine Images 4.8 – It was as if they were caged behind the wire. Trying so hard to get back underground to do their jobs.Cornish Mine Images 4.9 – Will these locomotives ever go underground at South Crofty again?Cornish Mine Images 4.10 – The yard was also full of salvaged metal and equipment waiting to be sold.Cornish Mine Images 4.11 – The underground rescue cart lying forgotten at the back of some buildings after the mine had closed.Cornish Mine Images 4.12 – These wooden racks contain some of the many thousands of Diamond Core samples analysed by the Geological Department. Cornish Mine Images 4.13 – The corrugated shed on the right of the image was initially part of the Foundary on the site. In recent times it was also used as a store. The temporary buildings on the left housed the Technical Services Department made up from Geology, Surveying and Ventilation, infront of the headframe is the South Winder House.Cornish Mine Images 4.14 – The headframe over Cooks Shaft framed by piles of salvaged metal piping.Cornish Mine Images 4.15 – Looking at Cooks Shaft across the mine yard. The pipe work is reclaimed rising main sections removed from the shaft for scrap.Cornish Mine Images 4.16 – The closed portal to the Tuckingmill Decline shaft.
Initially planned in 1984 the plan was to drive trackless vehicles directly into the mines working levels. The decline has a gradient of one in seven and is 3m high by 5m wide.
The work here stopped during 1988 after 630m had been mined out. But today in the hope of a possible re-working this is the main access to the mine.
Cornish Mine Images 4.17 – The old mine was finally closed for business.Cornish Mine Images 4.18 – Old Skips barricade and locks close the chains. The abandoned South Crofty site with New Cooks Kitchen Shaft and the mill buildings in the background.Cornish Mine Images 4.19 – The final image on this page, and the end of South Crofty Surface. Today there is only the headframe that still stands proud. Most everything else, is gone.
Due to the dangerous condition of the Mill buildings they were demolished during 2013. A great shame, it was the last of only two survivals of the 1980’s Tin Processing Industry, there is now only Geevor left.
Perhaps more should have been done to preserve it, but now it’s too late, gone for ever.
