The Last Great Cornish Engineer- Book launch events at Liskeard 13th September

The Last Great Cornish Engineer -William West of Tredenham

By John Manley

Book launch

The Society's latest publication is being launched in Liskeard on the 13th of September. This new book tells the fascinating story of this amazing engineer, whose achievements included record breaking steam engines, life saving inventions, running railways, saving mines from closure and playing an important role in the fight against cholera.


Much of his work was in South East Cornwall area, where he played a major role in the mining industry of Liskeard. The town therefore has been chosen to launch the book. If you want to discover more about William West then please come along to the day's events.




1000- Welcome- Liskeard Museum doors open
Foresters Hall, Pike St. Liskeard,  PL14 3JE


1030- William West and Liskeard, an exploration in two and a half pictures
A short presentation by John Manley based pictures from the book
.
1050-William West in five objects
A wander through some of the William West related artefacts in the museum.


1100- A bimble through history
A short walk down to the Liskeard bookshop with pauses to take in some of the engineer's connections in the buildings on the parade.

1115- Book launch- The Book Shop
2 Barras Street, Liskeard, Cornwall, PL14 6AD

1120- Words from the past-The Book Shop
Some short readings from the Victorian prose and poetry in the book.


1145-1300- Book signings and discussion

Kelly Mine Visit 6th September- Last call for numbers

The East Cornwall Branch will be visiting Kelly Mine on Dartmoor on the 6th September. members ( and their guests) are all welcome It looks a fascinating site to visit. Please contact us if you wish to attend, using the email address on the newsletter, or leave a message on this post. Replies by Sunday 17th August -Many Thanks JM

From the Kelly Mine Website-




"Kelly Mine is a Devon iron mine situated on the eastern flank of Dartmoor near Lustleigh. The mine worked deposits of micaceous iron oxide, also known as MIO, micaceous haematite or 'shiny ore', which is a flaky form of iron oxide, Fe₂O₃. Kelly Mine is one of some ten mines and two or three trials, within the triangle formed by the towns of Bovey Tracey and Moretonhampstead and the village of Hennock, which worked similar deposits

Kelly Mine Preservation Society (KMPS) is restoring and preserving this time capsule for future generations; the mine has been refurbished and the machinery and processing plant restored to working order.

Visitors to the site can trace the whole process from mining the ore, via the adit and shaft, to the dispatch of the final product from the drying shed. The ore washing, jigging and stamping equipment is operational as is the other machinery in the mill. The settling tanks, waterwheels and the mine tramway, with its wagons and haulage winch, add atmosphere. There is a small museum, the miner's dry and a display of artifacts from other mines in the area.

Kelly Mine is on the A382 between Bovey Tracey and Moretonhampstead at SX 795818 (map below); when open, the entrance is marked by a red traffic cone. Coming from Bovey Tracey it is on the right 2.5 miles from Bovey Tracey fire station roundabout and about 800 yds beyond Slade Cross. There is limited parking on the grass verge just past the mine entrance. From Moretonhampstead the mine is on the left about 500 yds from Kelly Cross.

Admission free, donations welcome.

There is no underground access"

The Trevithick Society East Cornwall Branch Programme-2014-Update

Here is the updated 2014 programme for South East Cornwall Branch-   For those visiting the Trevithick Society main Website click on the post's title above to read the blogpost in full.


There may be a few more trips organised at short notice at the meetings, leading on from the talks....enjoy :-)


2014

 
Tuesday 8th April 7:30pm Liskeard Public Hall
Marine Tin Recovery-Recycling Cornwall's lost Tin from the sea
by Mike Proudfoot of Marine Minerals Ltd.

9-11th May: AGM North Cornwall
This includes a visit to Delabole slate quarry, walking tour to cliff top quarries and a visit to the Bude Canal

June 14th- Meet 1145 at Liskeard station lower car park.
Members BBQ Lunch at Herodsfoot Mine.
Car Sharing will needed from Liskeard Station due to limited parking at the mine. Cost will be £3 per head. (members only).
 
Tuesday 15^th July  7:30pm Liskeard Public Hall
Devon and Cornwall Mines and Men-A talk by Dr. Roger Burt based on his new book and its associated research database for historians. This is a must talk for anyone interested in mine or Cornish Family history.





Saturday 6th September
Visit to Kelly Mine-Dartmoor. A chance to see the preserved ore dressing floor of  this fascinating 'shiney ore' mine, Car sharing to be arranged.


Saturday 13th September
'The last Great Cornish Engineer-William West' Book launch.
At Liskeard Museum and 'The Book Shop' Liskeard. 1030-1300.



Tuesday 14th October:7:30pm Liskeard Public Hall
Berrah Tor Granite Quarry- A talk by Ian Piper about an historic Bodmin Moor Quarry.




Tuesday 11th November:7:30pm Liskeard Public Hall
Pensilva-A history- A chance to learn about the development of this mining community on the edge of Bodmin Moor. A talk by Angus Holland of the Pensilva History group.



9th December: 7:30pm Liskeard Public Hall
Christmas quiz- Come along for an evening of pre-Christmas fun- with a Cornish history slant.

Cornish Marine Tin Recovery-A presentation on the 8th April by Marine Minerals Ltd.

If you are reading this on the Trevithick Society website click on the above title to read the blog posting.......

The East Cornwall Branch of the Trevithick Society will have a talk on: 
Marine Tin Recovery- Recycling Cornwall's lost tin from the sea.

The presentation will be by Mike Proudfoot of Marine Minerals Ltd and will be at the Liskeard Public hall at 7:30PM.

This will be a valuable opportunity  to learn about the proposals to produce tin from the sea around Cornwall.

None members are welcome (Donation £2) and refreshments will be available. 

The new Devon Great Consols Book -where to get it on-line

Rick Stewart's definitive book on Devon Great Consols can now be bought on line at Moore Books.

If you are reading this on the main Trevithick Society website then please click on the post's title above to read the full blogpost and a link to Moore Books website.

>Click here to go to the  Moorbooks page describing the Devon Great Consols Book.

At present I cannot trace a link on Amazon at present,- but I am sure one will turn up eventually-I will add it to this blog when it does.

Mike Moore holds an excellent range of mining related books- so its worth a browse around whilst you are in the site. He stocks a large number of Trevithick Society publications-use his search box on the site to find them,

There will be a chance to meet the author of this definitive book on Devon Great Consols next Tuesday 11th March at Liskeard where he will be presenting a talk to the East Cornwall Branch of the Trevithick Society, on the subject;

18th Century Copper mining

The birth of Copper mining in Devon and Cornwall

7:30PM at the Liskeard public hall-(Long room)---£2 for non members.So pop along if you want to get your copy signed. I think he may bring along a few copies for sale as well...

Programme- February 2014-Two more talks added.

Well here it is, the full 2014 programme for South East Cornwall Branch. For those visiting the Trevithick Society main Website click on the posts title above to read the blogpost in full.


Two new talks have been added- one on Granite quarrying and the other on a mining settlement. Dates have also been confirmed for the Kelly Mine visit and Christmas Quiz. There may be a few more trips organised at short notice at the meetings just to add to the fun-enjoy JM


2014

Tuesday 11  March: 7:30pm Liskeard Public Hall
18^th Century Copper Mining
By Rick Stewart- Author of 'Devon Great Consols-Mine of Mines'
 
Tuesday 8th April 7:30pm Liskeard Public Hall
Marine Tin Recovery-Recycling Cornwall's lost Tin from the sea
by Mike Proudfoot of Marine Minerals Ltd.

9-11th May: AGM North Cornwall
This includes a visit to Delabole slate quarry, walking tour to cliff top quarries and a visit to the Bude Canal

June (Date to be confirmed)
Members BBQ at Herodsfoot Mine.
 
Tuesday 15^th July (DTBC) 7:30pm Liskeard Public Hall
Devon and Cornwall Mines and Men-A talk by Dr. Roger Burt based on his new book and its associated research database for historians. This is a must talk for anyone interested in mine or Cornish Family history.





Saturday 6th September
Visit to Kelly Mine-Dartmoor. A chance to see the preserved ore dressing floor of  this fascinating 'shiney ore' mine, Car sharing to be arranged.


Saturday 13th September
'The last Great Cornish Engineer-William West' Book launch.
At Liskeard Museum and 'The Book Shop' Liskeard. 1030-1300.



Tuesday 14th October:7:30pm Liskeard Public Hall
Berrah Tor Granite Quarry- A talk by Ian Piper about an historic Bodmin Moor Quarry.




Tuesday 11th November:7:30pm Liskeard Public Hall
Pensilva-A history- A chance to learn about the development of this mining community on the edge of Bodmin Moor. A talk by Angus Holland of the Pensilva History group.



9th December: 7:30pm Liskeard Public Hall
Christmas quiz- Come along for an evening of pre-Christmas fun- with a Cornish history slant.

Talk Tuesday 18th February-Wacker Quay and its Railway

Railways, Victorian Forts, quays, incline planes, conservation....

A little known railway linked two of the Victorian Palmerston Folly forts with Wacker quay on the River Lyhner in South East Cornwall. The line, quay and the forts are the subject of a fascinating presentation by Dave Readman on Tuesday 18^th February: 7:30pm at the Liskeard Public Hall (in the Long Room) titled: 

Wacker Quay and its Railway

Its history and modern day community management.

All are welcome, non-members £2 donation- refreshments are available.