Great Rough Tor Consols Mine

Great Rough Tor Consols was a tin mine with two shafts worked using a steam engine. A system of flat rods (horizontal wooden beams) were used to transport power from the engine over a distance of a quarter of a mile. The mine turned out not to be that productive and closed in the 1850s.

One of the reasons that little remains of the mine is that during the late 1850s, materials such as timber and stone were salvaged and sold off to reduce the losses. Recorded in the West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser. 21st August, 1857:

FATAL ACCIDENT - On the 11th instant, Mr. RICHARD PIKE, of Davidstow, was in the act of removing some of the timber from Great Roughtor Consols mine, when the sollar on which he was standing, gave way, and he was instantly precipitated into the shaft. His friends and some men from Bray Down Mine, have used every exertion to recover the body, but the shaft being nearly full of water, they have not yet succeeded. His father was quite close to him at the time of the accident, but could render no assistance.

Despite the salvage of materials, this didn't turn out to be a good investment for the venture capitalists (known at the time as "adventurers"). A solicitor's letter in 1860 to a Mr Bodenham states that he is instructed on behalf of the Adventurers to apply for arrears of calls, and that unless he pays within the week, proceedings will be taken. Attached was a letter on blue paper from W. Thomas, Purser (mine Accountant), asking for payment "being your proportion of the loss incurred in winding up the Great Rough Tor Consols Mine", and saying he will put the matter with his Solicitor.