So Very Foolish- A history of the Wherry Mine Penzance

This small book is about am amazing mine. Wherry's mine shafts were located about 200 yards offshore in Mounts Bay,  and linked by a timber trestle to the machinery on dry land. The mine worked sporadically during the eighteenth century but closed around 1800.Some attempts at reworking occurred in the nineteenth came to very little. 

For some fascinating pictures of the mine pop across to the Minedat page.

Peter Joseph's impeccable research on this unique Cornish mine has been published in this booklet by the Trevithick Society,

So Very Foolish: A History of the Wherry Mine, Penzance,
Peter Joseph, 2012
Paperback 44 pages
978-0-904040-95-1

• For copies for sale on Amazon click here>
• For copies of the book from Moore books click here>
• For information on the book from the Trevithick Society, click here>

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C.C.C The history of the Cornish Copper Company

My study on the events leading up to Willliam West's success at Austen's engine has lead me, via the work of Samuel Grose to this publication.

The History of the Cornish Copper Company by W.H.Pascoe

The Cornish Copper Company started smelting near Camborne in 1754, and in 1758 obtained its site at Hayle. From its start as a smelting company it would expand into the engineering industry to become one of the most important manufacturers of Cornish engines. As a foundry is it better known by its later name Sandys, Carne & Vivian.

This paperback by W.H. Pascoe was published by Truran in 1982. It is the only publication at present covering the history of the company, and is unfortunately out of print (2017), and so prices can be high. If you follow the Amazon link below, make sure you check out the 2nd hand prices, they can be more sensible.

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Mr Lean and the Engine Reporters

I have been requested to give a talk to the Friends of Luxulyan Valley on William West the last Great Cornish Engineer.  Such invitation is a great  excuse to  wander down some topics and produce some new posts on the Navsbooks site, and create a new shelf on in the Navsbooks store based on the industrial archaeology of the fascinating Luxulyan Valley in Cornwall.

First book up onto the shelf will be this little gem, a small publication packed some amazing, and little told history

Mr. Lean and the Engine Reporters

By Bridget Howard

Bridget Howard's book is a great publication packed with information that is a must for anyone interested in the history of the Cornish Steam Engine. It goes beyond the simple concept of  Lean's reporters being an accurate recording of steam engine performance, a recording that drove a technology race in Cornwall, to uncover a far more Complex history.

Within its 80 odd pages are packed details of all the other reporters, of the problems of measuring duty, corruption and the real power behind the tables of scientific looking figures.

The measurement of Duty 

This is a book hung on the measurement of  'Duty'.

"The amount of work performed by a steam engine for the combustion of a given amount of coal"
Page 81

Or in less simple terms

" The number of pounds "expressed in millions" lifted one foot high by a certain amount of coal"
Page 81

That certain amount was normally a bushell, a unit that could vary from 79 to 120 lbs, A there within lies one of the weak foundations upon which the engine reporting system operated. My particular interest was the important, and Controversial role that William West and is accomplice William Browne played in this amazing story.

The book is published by The Trevithick Society, ISBN 0-904040-56-9

If you are passing through Liskeard I suggest popping in to the excellent book shop to see if the hold a copy, or can order one.


Or to order on Amazon click below

  Mr. Lean and the Engine Reporter

John Taylor the mining genius-suggested reading

Books by John Manley

The Really Handy Books series of revision aids for mariners

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Mining History

If you are passing through Liskeard pop into the Bookshop on the Parade- they have a great local history section that includes the two paperbacks listed above.

Click here for the NAVSBOOKS Blog

Click here for the NAVSREGS Blog

William West of Tredenham Reading lists

Here is a list of some of the books used in my research to the 'Last Great Cornish Engineer'. For more information on William West see the Navsbooks Blog

If you are passing through Liskeard then pop into the excellent bookshop and check their stock of local history books out. Click here for their website.