Wheal Busy Mine with “Another Uproar at Chacewater”

Categories Commerce & Industry10 Comments

Tony Mansell brings us the story of Wheal Busy Mine and a lesson that it does not pay to celebrate success too early.

Chacewater Mine is in the area referred to as “the richest square mile on Earth and during its lifetime it produced enormous amounts of copper and to a lesser extent, tin and arsenic. Its output rose during the 1720s and from then until its closure in the 1920s, it experienced both good and bad times. Unusually for Cornish mines, it smelted its own copper but not continuously.

Sometime around 1820 it was renamed Wheal Busy Mine and, presumably because of its high output, was often referred to as Great Wheal Busy Mine.

There was considerable optimism in 1856 when the mine was restarted. Huge celebrations were followed by a feast in nearby Chacewater when a whole ox was roasted and enjoyed by the residents. The euphoria was short-lived, however, and within a few years the mine was again unprofitable. From then until its closure, it mirrored the fortunes of many other Cornish mines where success was so often followed by disappointment.

 

“Another Uproar at Chacewater” was written circa 1900 by George Tallack and C Varker, both of Mount Hawke. It is included here by permission of Rodney Grant, George’s great nephew and read by Tony Mansell. It reflects the event of 1856 and includes a clear warning that such celebrations could be premature.

 

Tony Mansell is the author of several books on aspects of Cornish history. In 2011 he was made a Bardh Kernow (Cornish Bard) for his writing and research, taking the name of Skrifer Istori. He has a wide interest in Cornish history and is a researcher with the Cornish National Music Archive and a sub-editor with Cornish Story: an Institute of Cornish Studies initiative.
Tony Mansell
Tony Mansell is the author of several books on aspects of Cornish history. He was made a Bardh Kernow (Cornish Bard) for his writing and research, taking the name of Skrifer Istori. He is a sub-editor with Cornish Story and a researcher with the Cornish National Music Archive specialising in Cornish Brass Bands and their music.

10 thoughts on “Wheal Busy Mine with “Another Uproar at Chacewater”

  1. Deluightful Tony. This poem, sums up in a few words the expecttions of a mine opening, but also the fears for its future, bearing in mind its past. Thanks for this.

  2. Good day, I have a few Green clear (with bubbles)stones from on top my 2nd great Grandparents graves in a cemetery in Cornwall.

    Anyone have an idea if they might be Torbernite?

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