A HISTORY OF CORNWALL 



peculiar formation has the advantage of being 

 found in larger and more regular masses or beds 

 than the finer-grained granite of these islands. 

 The composition of Cornish granite also allowed 

 of its being cheaply worked by masons into the 

 various-shaped stones required for large public 

 works, and so in consequence a new industry 

 for Cornwall rapidly sprang up, and till within 

 a few years ago all engineering works of any 

 magnitude on which granite was used were 

 mainly supplied with that material from this 

 county. Cornwall has not only supplied the 

 granite for dock, harbour, and other engineering 

 works in Britain, but has also supplied it for 

 similar purposes to other parts of the world. 



When the demand arose for granite blocks, 

 the ' Moormen ' first used the boulders which 

 were thickly strewn in the granite districts. 

 They were cut up and exported in the rough or 

 cloven state. These surface stones, however, 

 which were in many cases partially decomposed, 

 were not really suitable, and it was soon realized 

 that the material must be quarried systematically, 

 and from a depth which would ensure sound 

 rock ; and further, that the stones should be 

 worked on the spot. Gradually quarries were 

 opened in the most favourable situations, and 

 men were trained to fashion the rough blocks 

 into the required shapes. At first the most 

 primitive appliances were all that were required 

 to quarry and handle the stones, which in these 

 early days were close to the surface. As time 

 went on, and the quarries grew larger, mechani- 

 cal appliances were introduced, until they cul- 

 minated in the equipment consisting of the most 

 modern steam cranes, blondins, etc. 



The transport of the stone from the quarries 

 to the loading quays was at first carried out by 

 means of teams of horses ; but as trade developed 

 tramways and railways were laid down wherever 

 possible, and of late years traction engines have 

 been introduced to supersede the horse on the 

 highways. While the quarries and the transport 

 arrangements were gradually developing, accom- 

 modation for storing the dressed blocks prepara- 

 tory to shipping had to be provided ; and this 

 was done by building loading quays, on which 

 at first hand-cranes, and then hand-travellers 

 running on gantries, covering many hundreds of 

 square feet, and latterly steam-travellers covering 

 many thousands of square feet, were erected. 



The principal districts in which granite quarry- 

 ing is carried on are as follows : 



Gunnhlake. This is a considerable pit, and 

 yields a stone remarkable for its white appearance 

 when taken from the better beds. 



Kithill. Situated near the top of the hill of 

 that name. It was extensively worked in the 

 past, but only on a small scale for the last twenty 

 or twenty-five years. 



Cheesewring. This is near the top of Cheese- 

 wring Hill, and close to the famous pile of stones 

 which forms a noted landmark. It is a large 



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quarry, producing a medium-grained stone which 

 has been largely used in many important works. 

 There are extensive openings near this quarry, 

 such as Kilmar and Bearah Tor, which have not 

 been worked for a quarter of a century. 



Delank. This is situated in St. Breward 

 parish near Bodmin, and is one of the most im- 

 portant quarries in the county. The quality of 

 the granite is highly prized, and the present 

 Eddystone Lighthouse was built of the material 

 from this quarry. 



Par. There are several quarries in this dis- 

 trict, the most important being Colkerrow and 

 Tregarden. The rocks here are remarkably 

 large, and lie in regular beds. Immense quanti- 

 ties have been exported, as no doubt the cost of 

 production and transit by rail to the shipping 

 port of Par is moderate. 



Penryn is the centre of the Cornish quarrying 

 industry. There are scores of quarries near 

 here, the most important being Carnsew, Maen 

 Rock, Rosemenewas, Polkanuggo, Tresaher, and 

 Bosahan, which all produce rock extensively used 

 for engineering purposes. The stone from 

 Carnsew Quarries is much finer in the grain 

 than that procured from the others in this dis- 

 trict, and on that account it is preferred for the 

 more important blocks required in docks, bridges, 

 etc. The Fastnet Lighthouse was built of 

 Carnsew granite, and it has been much used for 

 the fronts of buildings, monuments, and decora- 

 tive purposes. It does not appear that Cornish 

 granite has taken a high position for decorative 

 or polishing purposes, but an extensive polishing 

 works has been in operation at Penryn for some 

 years, and many large contracts have been exe- 

 cuted. 



Carnmarth and Helston. There are several 

 quarries in this district ; they are situated more 

 inland than those near Penryn, and mostly 

 supply local wants. 



Lamorna Cove Quarries are near Penzance. 

 At one time extensive operations were conducted 

 here, but the risk attending shipment, due to the 

 exposed and dangerous coast, led to their aban- 

 donment some years ago. Subsequently steam 

 power was introduced, and by that means the 

 stones were hoisted to the top of the cliff, whence 

 they were conveyed to Penzance for shipment. 

 Newmills and Sheffield are also important 

 quarries in this district. 



Kithill, Delank, Cheesewring, and some of 

 the Par quarries are connected by tramways or 

 by railroads direct to the shipping ports of 

 Calstock, Wadebridge, Looe, and Par respec- 

 tively. The various quarries scattered within 

 a radius of from i to 6 miles of the shipping 

 ports of Penryn and Port Navis are not con- 

 nected by rail : the expense of linking up so 

 many quarries, the majority of which are small, 

 has evidently been prohibitive ; but, as before 

 stated, traction haulage has been successfully 

 introduced. 

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