The frame was made in the 1960's at Geevor carpenters shop, and was subsequently erected on Contact Shaft at Cligga Where it stayed for a few years before being moved and erected on Engine Shaft at Nangiles. It was used here to muck out the shaft for Wheal Jane and I believe there was also some experimental development here too.
The Manway was also refurbished and formed the southern Emergency Egress for the mine.
Meantime, surface explorations at Wheal Concord Blackwater, had reached a stage where they needed to open a shaft and erect a headframe, and once more the structure was on the move again. It served the mine well, and after the company closed down, the headframe became something of a landmark for people travelling along the A30.
It stayed on this site for a good few years until the owner of the site decided to get rid of it, and it was offered to KEM museum.
After taking down (no mean feat and a story of its own) it was taken to KEM where some parts were stored in the artefact store to dry out and to assess the condition of it.
Needless to say, the frame had suffered from years of exposure to the elements with severe deterioration in some of the timber sections.
The frame was constructed using just 3 timber sizes - 8"x 8", 6"x 8" and 6"x 6"
Other parts were completely unharmed and as good as when first erected; Douglas Fir can be fickle like that.
Anyway, work is progressing well and some new timber has been scrounged from here and there and when necessary, purchased.
Joining the team a few weeks ago we were honoured by a visit from Mike May who was one of the carpenters that built it at Geevor workshops. He has now joined the team, and he and I are working together.
I hope to be posting progress reports as and when, but fairly regularly on here so look out for them.
We work every Sunday from 9am to 1pm in the Green Shed ( left hand side as you drive in ) If you are in the area, poke your face in for a sneak preview.
Some of the rot
Some big Mortice and Tenons to cut
The Manway was also refurbished and formed the southern Emergency Egress for the mine.
Meantime, surface explorations at Wheal Concord Blackwater, had reached a stage where they needed to open a shaft and erect a headframe, and once more the structure was on the move again. It served the mine well, and after the company closed down, the headframe became something of a landmark for people travelling along the A30.
It stayed on this site for a good few years until the owner of the site decided to get rid of it, and it was offered to KEM museum.
After taking down (no mean feat and a story of its own) it was taken to KEM where some parts were stored in the artefact store to dry out and to assess the condition of it.
Needless to say, the frame had suffered from years of exposure to the elements with severe deterioration in some of the timber sections.
The frame was constructed using just 3 timber sizes - 8"x 8", 6"x 8" and 6"x 6"
Other parts were completely unharmed and as good as when first erected; Douglas Fir can be fickle like that.
Anyway, work is progressing well and some new timber has been scrounged from here and there and when necessary, purchased.
Joining the team a few weeks ago we were honoured by a visit from Mike May who was one of the carpenters that built it at Geevor workshops. He has now joined the team, and he and I are working together.
I hope to be posting progress reports as and when, but fairly regularly on here so look out for them.
We work every Sunday from 9am to 1pm in the Green Shed ( left hand side as you drive in ) If you are in the area, poke your face in for a sneak preview.
Some of the rot
Some big Mortice and Tenons to cut
