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The river entering
the sea at Penanwell (Porth Nanven on the OS map) rises 3 kilometres to
the east, in the Balleswidden sett. Flowing west it passes near Douran where it was streamed in the 18th century, then on down past
Kelynack. At Lower Bosavern the water powered a grist mill which had
two wheels, one above the other. Just west of here the stream was
dammed to provide a more reliable
source of water for powering a number of
water-powered tin dressing sites; this section is the Cot Valley.
Mining was being carried out in Medieval times and it is not inconceivable
that tin dressing was also being carried out then. West of the dam I
have located 9 mills although one, Wheal Bellan, is 20th century and was
electrically powered. In addition, Wheal Kelynack to the east
retains its mill although this too dates
from the electricity boom of the
early 1900s. More detailed information on this area will appear in
the Journal of the Trevithick Society later this year - below are plans
and photographs of some of the sites.
This is
a really interesting area to explore; the valley
slopes are smothered in shafts and outcrop workings, several adits have
been driven and there are numerous mining remains. Please note that
site 1 (on the location map) is entirely on private property (in a garden); I
don't believe there are any remains here in any case.
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