St Just Consols

Mining and streaming operations have taken place at the seaward end of the Nanjulian Valley for some time. The earliest record appears to be that of South Levant which worked in 1862. This was a cost book operation, probably started by John Carthew. The only work carried out appears to have been exploratory, in preparation for larger operations. These appeared in April 1863 when St Just Consolidated Tin Mines was formed. The mine was equipped with two 24 feet by 3 foot breast water wheels, one for pumping and one working 16 heads of Cornish stamps. The mine also had two adits, one at 17 fathoms (below what is not know, presumably one of the cliff tops) the other 9 fathoms deeper. Two of the directors were Henry Phillips and John Ward, both directors of Cape Cornwall. Managing agent was the omnipresent John Carthew and the purser William Angwin. One of the reports in the prospectus was given by George Henwood, who was one of the principle mineral lords.

Reports for St Just Consols appeared in the Mining Journal until 1865 but the mine seems to have closed shortly after this. In 1870 the sett was taken up by the South St Just Tin Mining Company Ltd. Agents were appointed and the old machinery set to work again but the company disappeared shortly after, having produced no concentrate. The sett was acquired for £5000, half in cash, an arrangement that would save 'years of time and thousands of pounds sterling'.

St Just Consols produced 16 tons 8 cwts of concentrate prior to May 1866. Burt et al state that output is included with that of Cape Cornwall Mine, which I doubt. I have two arguments. Firstly, the two mines had quite similar names, Cape Cornwall being worked by the Cape Cornwall St Just Consolidated Tin and Copper Mining Company Ltd. Concern about potential confusion was voiced when Cape Cornwall Mine reopened in 1864. Secondly, the mines are some distance apart, with no direct road contact. Despite an overlap of personnel, the mines were worked by separate concerns.

Some bits and pieces can still be seen at the end of the Nanjulian Valley, which is worth visiting anyway, just for the view. One wheelpit is still visible (dangerously near the footpath) and there are odd fragments of wall as well as an adit and some opencast workings. Near the coast to the north, towards Carn Ding Dong, are curious holes which appear as if weathered material between the soil and the granite bedrock has been extracted. This needs further research, when I have some time. Waste tips alongside the stream look as if they belong to a stream works, but this needs to be confirmed.

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