Lanescot

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Lanescot
Cornwall
Location
Location: 50°22’1"N, 4°42’0"W
Data
Local Government

Lanescot is a village in Cornwall. It is in a former mining area, about four miles east-northeast of St Austell and four miles west-northwest of Fowey. The Saints' Way long distance footpath passes through Lanescot.

History

Lanescot is recorded in the Domesday Book (1086) as Lisnestoch.[1] The manor was held by Richard from Robert, Count of Mortain. There was land for 5 ploughs. There were 2 ploughs, 2 serfs, 4 smallholders, 1 acre of woodland, 20 acres of pasture, 4 cattle, 2 pigs, 40 sheep and 12 goats. The value of the manor was 10 shillings though it had formerly been worth 15 shillings.[2]

At the turn of the 18th century Lanescott was reputed to have the largest tin and copper mine in the world at that time. The only remaining parts of this time are buildings that were used as stables for the donkeys to transport the copper ore to Fowey docks and the remnants of an engine house.

A company to work the Fowey Consols Mine was formed in 1813. It was purchased in 1822 by J. T. Treffry and others; they also purchased the Lanescot Mine in 1836. By the 1840s 1,800 workers were employed and the mine had seven large engines and 13 waterwheels supplied with water from Molinnis Moors more than 4 miles to the northwest by a leat and Treffry's aqueduct at Luxulyan. By 1867 the working of the mine had finished; at its peak it had 17 waterwheels. As of 1972 suggestions had been made that the engine house built for the 80 in pumping engine should be preserved.[3] The Fowey Consols Mine was the 3rd greatest copper mine in Cornwall; together with the Lanescot mine it produced 382,910 tons of ore from 1822 to 1867.[4]

Outside links

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References

  1. [1] National Archives website. Retrieved April 2010
  2. Thorn, C. et al., ed. (1979) Cornwall. Chichester: Phillimore; entry 5,3,17
  3. Todd, A. C. & Laws, Peter (1972) The Industrial Archaeology of Cornwall. Newton Abbot: David & Charles; p. 264
  4. Todd (1972), p. 39