RESTORATION WORK
The restoration of Rosevale Mine began in 1974 when the lease of the mine was taken on by the West Cornwall Mining & Minerals Club with the aim of restoring the mine as a society activity. The mine had remained abandoned since the 1930s and the entrances to both levels had collapsed. Restoration started on No.1 Level. However the society folded in 1975. Two of the members of the society decided to maintain the lease on the mine and formed the Rosevale Historical Mining Society(RHMS) later that year. Since this date RHMS has consisted only of 2-3 people, each of whom have mining experience, with all work being carried out in-house as a pastime activity.
The restoration has comprised of a wide variety of works, including installing new timberwork and replacing old timbering, track laying, surveying, removing collapses and blockages of waste rock, rock-bolting, and stabilisation works. Most of the equipment was obtained during the 1980s as unwanted stock and scrap from the local mines and other related organisations. As well as restoration the mine requires continual on-going maintenance, especially of timberwork and steelwork.
Diary of work:
Drilling the new crosscut in No.2 Level
[photograph by John Peck]
| 1974 | Cleared the entrance to No.1 Level. |
| 1975 | Started to clear the collapse at the end of No.1 Level. |
| 1977 | Cleared and re-timbered the entrance to No.2 Level |
| 1979 | Started to build a ladderway between No.1 and No.2 Level. |
| 1980 | Started to refurbish the access shaft to Deep Adit Level. |
| 1983 | Completed the ladderway between No.1 and No.2 Levels. |
| 1984 | Started to lay rail track in No.2 Level. |
| 1986 | Acquired a battery locomotive, wagons and an air compressor. |
| 1987 | Completed the installation of compressed air pipe . |
| 1989 | Started to clear No.2 Level beyond the ladderway. |
| 1990 | Completed the refurbishment of Deep Adit Level access shaft. |
| 1993 | Replaced timbering at the entrances to No.1 and No.2 Levels. |
| 1994 | Completed the rail track in No.2 Level. |
| 1996 | Cleared and restored the air raise at the end of No.1 Level. |
| 1997 | Started the 'new crosscut' in No.2 Level. |
| 2002 | Completed the 'new crosscut' (20 metres). |
| 2003 | Removed a major blockage near the end of No.1 Level. |
This is the only mining heritage project of its type in the South West!
Funding
There is no long-term commercial objective for the mine. Most of the restoration and general maintenance work has been privately funded by members of the Rosevale Historical Mining Society, however considerable assistance has also been received through donations from visitors.
Future Projects
The main projects for the next few years include sinking a 6-7 metre deep winze from the end of the 'new crosscut' in No.2 Level and stabilising access into the end part of No.2 Level where there is a connection into flooded workings at Deep Adit Level. The aim of the new winze is to intersect Deep Adit Level close to the point of its collapse, which will then enable the collapse to be cleared with a view to dewatering and gaining access into the remainder of Deep Adit Level. The hope is this level may lead into the unrecorded and currently inaccessible workings of old Wheal Chance; the full extent of these workings is unknown.
It is anticipated that these proposed works will take many years to complete, but in the meantime maintenance of the existing workings will need to be continued.
Refurbishment of No.2 Level
[photograph by John Watton]
Document maintained by tony@rosevalemine.co.uk. Material Copyright © 2000 Rosevale Mine