The Tolgus Calciner

The Tolgus Calciner is situated on the B3300 Portreath Road. This is possibly the best preserved Brunton Calciner in Cornwall. It is also a Grade Two listed building dating from 1933.

The images on this page were taken during the early 1990’s.

Tolgus Calciner — The Tolgus Calciner 1 – The first image of the Calciner. This shows the extensive strapping on the Granite walls along with the Slate roof. It is a wonderful survivor.

The condensing chambers are on the hill behind leading to a chimney at the top. The Calciner was used to roast Tin Ore to remove Arsenic. This was an impurity in the ore, but if recovered it could be sold on as a valuable by-product.

Tolgus Calciner — The Tolgus Calciner 2 – The Calciner in all its glory, the flues where the Arsenic was recovered up the hill to the stack in the corner of the image. The corregated roofing on the right covered the access to the furnace stoke holes.

The ore was loaded from the second floor of the building onto a slowly rotating hearth. This ensured the material was evenly heated. Beneath this were the furnaces, these would heat the ore to a point where the impurities were released.

Tolgus Calciner — The Tolgus Calciner 3 – For such an important building it is a shame it has fallen into neglect.

The Arsenic was released as a vapour, this would condense is a long flue leading to a chimney on the hill. Workers would then remove the Arsenic from the flue where it would be bagged up and sold on. This was not a pleasant job usually without any protective clothing.

Tolgus Calciner — The Tolgus Calciner 4 – A detailed image of the fine stonework, also the extensive strapping.

Tolgus Calciner — The Tolgus Calciner 5 – Underneath the Calciner this is part of the mechanism that turned the hearth.

Cornish Mine Images — The Tolgus Calciner 6 – The interior of the furnace area. These ovens would heat up to 600 Degrees C. There is also extensive iron strapping on the inside and outside of the building. This reduced the expansion to the structure by the heat.

Cornish Mine Images — The Tolgus Calciner 7 – Another detailed image of one of the calciner’s furnace door. The word Brea can be seen, so these were cast locally.

Cornish Mine Images — Cornish Mine Images 8 – Heavy bolts still hold the strapping to the brickwork.

Cornish Mine Images — Cornish Mine Images 9 – Finally another view of the exterior.

There is now a new page of images taken during 2013. This shows how the structure has changed over the past few years.

Tolgus Calciner 2013

error: Copyright Simon Jones 2022