Bal

The Cornish word for a mine, from 'pal' meaning a shovel — literally, 'a digging'.

Historical usage

Bal was originally used for small, shallow surface tin workings, and became embedded across Cornish and west Devon mining vocabulary and place-names — most visibly in 'Bal Maiden' (see that term), the female ore-dressing workers found at surface across the region's mines.

Regional variation

Bal survives directly in Cornish place-names such as Baldhu (literally 'black mine'), and as an element in historic mine names such as East Pool's original name, Pool Old Bal — evidence of just how ordinary and everyday the word was in naming a working mine.

Related terminology

Bal Maiden, Wheal

Mines associated with this term

Included only where MineArchive's own research gives a reasonable evidential basis — not every mine where this might plausibly apply.

• Balleswidden Mine — Cornwall (well documented example)
  Named in this record’s history: “Balleswidden takes its name from the Cornish bal, a mine, at Leswidden, a place-name spelt Lesewyn, Leswen and…”
• Wheal Cock — Cornwall (well documented example)
  Named in this record’s history: “…became one of several small setts -- alongside Wheal Chase, Zawn a Bal, Wheal Hazard and Wheal Hen -- amalgamated into Botallack Mine after…”
• East Pool Mine — Cornwall (historical documentary reference)
  The mine's earliest recorded name, 'Pool Old Bal' (1698 lease), used the word directly.

Sources

1. (secondary) Bal maiden — Wikipedia
2. (secondary) Selected Cornish Place Name Elements — Cornish Place Names

Record created: 22 August 2026 · Last researched: 22 August 2026