Oh this is fantastic. My Direct Ancestors worked in the mines at St. Just and quite a few other mines in Cornwall. Some of my relatives died in the Levant disaster too. Trembath, Stevens, Rowe, Angwin, Richards, Lawry, Mann, Warren, Woolcock, Trewolla all my Direct Ancestors :) Thank you for showing us though, it's fascinating to actually see in a way how they would have worked!
The short curved shovels we called banjos in my late teens mining and ideal in confined spaces . The kibble generally was for shaft sinking purposes although not exclusively . The artefacts have faired relatively well considering the damp conditions and age . Typical Cornish tin mine where only the barest amount of rock necessary was removed as seen in the very narrow stopes . That winze was tight though . Great video ,well done .
Hard rock mining it’s called, the workers certainly were hard. I’ve only been down, a couple levels aniseed to recall, vertical ladders the way down, very quiet, but then no one working, no machinery etc. Miners deserve medals.
Tight squeeze, but less waste rock to deal with. Cool mine cart. Love the 2 different wheels on the one side. Haven't seen a lot with 4 straight spokes, mostly the like the other with the curve in the spoke and at least 6. Very cool video. Yall be safe out there
This is the best vid in this genre I've seen! Thanks so much. Beautifully presented and very nicely lit, lovely to hear the accent again too. Nice bal, lovely artefacts, I'm deeply jealous and would love to do this, excellent!
Fascinating !. However, I wouldnt have the guts to go down there, boll***s to that 😯. Strangely, some of my ancestors were tin miners, but the bravery didnt pass onto me !. Tough bastards in those days....
Loving these videos Ben o Cam! Discovered a lovely tunnel in the cliff at Portheras cove a couple of summers ago, I assume part of a mine. Have you explored that one?
Cheers.. ooo no , I know where you mean, it’s that lovely beach north of pendeen lighthouse! Walked up too but never been down onto the beach… might be worth a look 🙂
Hey Ben, love ya vids 👍 Im in your neck of the woods and did loads of this in the 80’s such as caradon, kit hill, lucket, gunnislake etc Im right up for more adventures do you want any more help digging etc, I have plenty of useful skills to put to use.
Surley is a beautiful place, I'd love to see it in person unfortunately I'm partly disabled so unless I can take my walking sticks which I'd certainly be game to, but buggered otherwise! 😂
Haha are you trying to kill me off ? You can get a yearly dose of radiation in a couple hours in there ! Even the surface is very hot on a gieger counter!
@@BenoCam What about some of the old shafts around Carn Grey in the old pits then? Loads of shafts in luxulyan valley aswell but never see anyone explore our local ones
@@BenoCam A wise man! The radon levels in an unventilated uranium mine would be about 1 million Bq/m³ which is 50+ years of exposure in a normal house (50 Bq/m³) and radon is not detected by a Geiger counter. .
Funny thing is, you find original shovels, in 'relatively' good condition, but Chinese shoves, that have been use for digs, within 3 years, they are falling to bits. In a 200 mile local mine complex, I only know of one kibble. An 'Oresome' mine cart lol
Hi Ben - I'm a documentary filmmaker and really interested in filming these types of mines with a slightly larger film camera (FS7 or Blackmagic 4k). I'd love to chat with you further about collaborating if you had a spare moment? Is there any way of contacting you privately? All the best, Hugh
Yeah no problem , send me an email at bin_dustbin@hotmail.com or find me on Facebook, I have a page called Ben o cam productions 🤣 I can give you my mobile number from either of them if you want it .
In bits I guess . Although I think there may have been another shaft nearby in that area that has now been capped and filled in. Many years ago were used for tipping rubbish down and backfilled.
Hang on… drop number 2? Kind of begs the question doesn’t it? I wonder how the miners would have dealt with getting caught short or the aftermath of a cider and pastie binge.
OGMizen haha this ones pretty easy going to be honest . We have been down it quite a few times too. The rock is good and so is the ventilation so all you have to worry about is not slipping/falling and hurting yourself !
Oh this is fantastic. My Direct Ancestors worked in the mines at St. Just and quite a few other mines in Cornwall. Some of my relatives died in the Levant disaster too. Trembath, Stevens, Rowe, Angwin, Richards, Lawry, Mann, Warren, Woolcock, Trewolla all my Direct Ancestors :) Thank you for showing us though, it's fascinating to actually see in a way how they would have worked!
I've been consistently impressed that none of the old ladders you've ascended/descended have failed you yet.
Haha maybe they have I just haven’t included it on video !
The short curved shovels we called banjos in my late teens mining and ideal in confined spaces . The kibble generally was for shaft sinking purposes although not exclusively . The artefacts have faired relatively well considering the damp conditions and age . Typical Cornish tin mine where only the barest amount of rock necessary was removed as seen in the very narrow stopes . That winze was tight though . Great video ,well done .
Cheers Adrian, always nice to hear from an ex miner !
IfR all QA was
Hard rock mining it’s called, the workers certainly were hard. I’ve only been down, a couple levels aniseed to recall, vertical ladders the way down, very quiet, but then no one working, no machinery etc. Miners deserve medals.
My grandfather worked at Geevor. died 1914. William Woolcock 4 Victoria Row St Just
I thought I recognised that cart. Good show.
Tight squeeze, but less waste rock to deal with. Cool mine cart. Love the 2 different wheels on the one side. Haven't seen a lot with 4 straight spokes, mostly the like the other with the curve in the spoke and at least 6. Very cool video. Yall be safe out there
This is the best vid in this genre I've seen! Thanks so much. Beautifully presented and very nicely lit, lovely to hear the accent again too.
Nice bal, lovely artefacts, I'm deeply jealous and would love to do this, excellent!
Thanks Sam that’s very nice of you. More to come when this lockdowns finally relaxed .
@@BenoCam I'm an old Cornish maid, just tell it like it is. Very impressed.
👍 Thank you
Absolutely brilliant. Tx u for sharing...what amazing artefacts...and you guys smiling all the way through!!
5:19 anyone noticed that plastic bottle?
you got sum great videos along side cornish mine explorers keep it going :)
We coming to Cornwall end of the month we need to find a few places explore .You are brave .
Fascinating !. However, I wouldnt have the guts to go down there, boll***s to that 😯. Strangely, some of my ancestors were tin miners, but the bravery didnt pass onto me !. Tough bastards in those days....
Must have been a bit different working down there with a candle stuck on your head for light ! 😮
Nice find
Loving these videos Ben o Cam! Discovered a lovely tunnel in the cliff at Portheras cove a couple of summers ago, I assume part of a mine. Have you explored that one?
Cheers.. ooo no , I know where you mean, it’s that lovely beach north of pendeen lighthouse! Walked up too but never been down onto the beach… might be worth a look 🙂
Amazing, I wish I could do this, I would just end up as a statistic that makes them bolt up the entrance though
If you really want to scare yourself look up “nutty putty cave disaster” it’s pretty nasty stuff be warned 😮
@@BenoCam Indeed the stuff of nightmares!
You've got some fantastic videos
KERNOW. EXP ha cheers they are all just a bit of fun really .
Hey Ben, love ya vids 👍
Im in your neck of the woods and did loads of this in the 80’s such as caradon, kit hill, lucket, gunnislake etc
Im right up for more adventures do you want any more help digging etc, I have plenty of useful skills to put to use.
Surley is a beautiful place, I'd love to see it in person unfortunately I'm partly disabled so unless I can take my walking sticks which I'd certainly be game to, but buggered otherwise! 😂
Can you do South Terras near St Stephens would love to see that one. FYI it's a uranium mine but lots of vertical shafts
Haha are you trying to kill me off ? You can get a yearly dose of radiation in a couple hours in there ! Even the surface is very hot on a gieger counter!
@@BenoCam What about some of the old shafts around Carn Grey in the old pits then? Loads of shafts in luxulyan valley aswell but never see anyone explore our local ones
@@BenoCam A wise man! The radon levels in an unventilated uranium mine would be about 1 million Bq/m³ which is 50+ years of exposure in a normal house (50 Bq/m³) and radon is not detected by a Geiger counter. .
Off hear tomoro, its very well hidden. 🙂
Ideal. Are you going with someone or do you need me to scribble down a map ?
@@BenoCam hi thanks, going with my mate but its a new mine to us both. Ill message you on facebook 🙂
Interesting
Funny thing is, you find original shovels, in 'relatively' good condition, but Chinese shoves, that have been use for digs, within 3 years, they are falling to bits. In a 200 mile local mine complex, I only know of one kibble. An 'Oresome' mine cart lol
200 mile 😮 that sounds pretty mental !
@@BenoCam it is, yes :)
Hi Ben - I'm a documentary filmmaker and really interested in filming these types of mines with a slightly larger film camera (FS7 or Blackmagic 4k). I'd love to chat with you further about collaborating if you had a spare moment? Is there any way of contacting you privately? All the best, Hugh
Yeah no problem , send me an email at bin_dustbin@hotmail.com or find me on Facebook, I have a page called Ben o cam productions 🤣 I can give you my mobile number from either of them if you want it .
@@BenoCam Amazing! Just sent you an email.
How deep is this mine?
Not very deep at all. 10m first drop them maybe 8m second drop. That’s the lowest you go .
Who’s Iron Bru bottle was down there?!
Don’t know it was there when we got there, I hardly noticed it at the time. Will pick it up if it’s still there next time.
Did you pick it up? It’s 2024 now
🤔 A Cornish mine you say? Hmm, looks like they've already mined out all the Cornish hens and maize(thats the traditional Cornish term for "corn"). 😁
How the hell did they get that cart down there?
In bits I guess . Although I think there may have been another shaft nearby in that area that has now been capped and filled in. Many years ago were used for tipping rubbish down and backfilled.
People in Cornwall used to pronounce 'Mine' as 'Maahn'. Now it's 'Moyn'. Funny how Wurzel talk took over.
Hang on… drop number 2? Kind of begs the question doesn’t it? I wonder how the miners would have dealt with getting caught short or the aftermath of a cider and pastie binge.
It looked to me to be a date 1691
Could be… that’s super old though ! And this place was only mined in the early 20th century!
How are you not just sh***ing yourselves the whole time? Could never do this ! lol
OGMizen haha this ones pretty easy going to be honest . We have been down it quite a few times too. The rock is good and so is the ventilation so all you have to worry about is not slipping/falling and hurting yourself !
@@BenoCam Still impressive.. I cant even stand under the cliffs sometimes without doom and dread scaring me away lol