The Crowns

I make no apology for uploading a shot of The Crowns tin and copper mine, perhaps one of the most photographed mines in Kernow. The Crowns was responsible for 22,465 tons of copper, 14,888 tons of tin and 1,525 tons of arsenic. Arsenic was a by-product of hard rock mining for tin and copper, the spoil being baked in the calciners and then the arsenic was scrapped by hand from the walls and ceiling of the calciner- the only protection being a handkerchief tied across the face of the workers. 1863 saw a disaster where 8 men and 1 boy were killed travelling in the tram wagon when the chain broke sending it hurtling down Boscawen Diagonal Shaft. The Crowns were visited by Albert and Vctoria in 1846 and in 1865 the then Duke and Duchess of Cornwall actually descended the mine. The shafts and tunnels of the mine go down and out under the Atlantic ocean in their search for the ore.

Botallack Cornwall

This image is available to purchase and is part of our Botallack Stock Photos Collection.