Glasgow Caradon Consols

Overview

A copper mine east of Caradon Hill, just north of Pensilva, named for the Glasgow investors who backed it from 1860; it cut rich copper in 1863 and raised over 37,000 tons.

History

Glasgow Caradon Consols lay across the junction of granite and killas east of Caradon Hill, just north of Pensilva, then called Bodminland, in the parish of St Ive, four miles from Liskeard. It took its name from Glasgow, where many of its investors lived. The company started in 1860 with £30,000, leasing the sett from John Elliott for 21 years at a royalty of one-eighteenth. William Taylor, brought in as chief agent, sank a new shaft, later called Dunlop's, on a fresh part of the sett, and in 1863 it cut workable copper. The shares, issued for £30,000, were soon worth £150,000, and by the end of that year a crusher was being built.

Production began in 1864 and peaked at almost 3,000 tons a year in 1876; in all the mine produced 37,188 tons of copper ore. The sett held ten east-west lodes crossed by several north-south cross-courses. The engine shaft was worked by a 40-inch pumping engine and a 24-inch winding engine. The company was a limited one of 40,000 shares, with its secretary in Glasgow, and its ore went out on the Liskeard and Caradon Railway.

Geology

Ten east-west copper lodes at the junction of granite and killas, crossed by north-south cross-courses.

Workings

The engine shaft and Dunlop's shaft, with a 40-inch pumping engine and a 24-inch winding engine.

Closure

Unknown.

What remains

Unknown.

Redevelopment

Unknown.

Related mines

• East Caradon Mine — A combined sett of East, Glasgow and South Caradon was attempted in 1889-90.

What's uncertain

Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.

• The mine was worked to a depth of 110 fathoms. (disputed) ¹
• One shaft was sunk, the engine shaft, to 65 fathoms, with a 40-inch pumping engine and a 24-inch winding engine. (disputed) ²

Recorded claims

Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.

• Glasgow Caradon took its name from Glasgow, where many of its investors lived; it started in 1860 with £30,000. ¹
• The mine was leased from John Elliott for 21 years at a royalty of 1/18th and worked by a limited company of 40,000 shares. ²
• Under the chief agent William Taylor a new shaft, later Dunlop's, cut workable copper, and the £30,000 of shares became worth £150,000. ^2,1
• Production began in 1864, peaked at almost 3,000 tons a year in 1876, and totalled 37,188 tons. ¹
• The mine was worked to a depth of 110 fathoms. (disputed) ¹
• One shaft was sunk, the engine shaft, to 65 fathoms, with a 40-inch pumping engine and a 24-inch winding engine. (disputed) ²

Sources

1. (secondary) Glasgow Caradon Mine — Pensilva History Group
2. (secondary) Glasgow Caradon Consols — Cornwall Calling

Record created: 18 October 2026 · Last researched: 18 October 2026