Ding Dong mines
Encyclopedia
The Ding Dong mines lie in an old and extensive mining area situated in the parish of Gulval
, in Land's End
, Cornwall
. They are about two miles south of the St Just
to Penzance
road. They look out over Mount's Bay
and St Michael's Mount
to the south west.
church there is a ‘Ding Dong Bell’ that was rung to mark the end of the last shift of the miners.
A folk song was written in 1986 called "Ding Dong Mine" by Westcountry singer Jerry Johnson and is well known amongst folk aficionados of the area. It does however have one verse which tells of a mining disaster although no official records or documents seem to exist to confirm that such a disaster happened. Johnson may have been using poetic license to describe such similar occurrences in the area.
Nine Maidens Stone Circle
, the Men-an-Tol
and Lanyon Quoit
and the Ding Dong mines themselves. These are reported to be the oldest in the West of England
, dating back to prehistoric times. There is a legend that Joseph of Arimathea
visited the area, and that he brought the young Jesus to address the miners, although there is no evidence to support this.
at the beginning of the 17th century. In 1714 three separate mines were operating: Good Fortune, Wheal Malkin and Hard Shafts Bounds. By the middle of the 18th century at least seven small concerns had sprung up although the name Ding Dong did not become the usual name until after the turn of the 19th century.
By 1782 sixteen working mines were to be found in the area and the present sett include Ding Dong in the middle, Providence, Tredinneck and Ishmael’s to the east and Wheal Malkin and Wheal Boys to the West.
Ding Dong obtained notoriety during the 18th century because of an infringement lawsuit. A 28 inch cylinder inverted engine designed by Edward Bull, chief designer for Boulton and Watt
, was put into Ding Dong in 1796; James Watt
saw this as an infringement of his ‘condenser patent’. One of these engines was erected at Ding Dong in 1797, when a conventional Boulton and Watt engine was inverted by Richard Trevithick
and William West. Trevithick worked with his father at Wheal Treasury mine and, after making improvements which increased the operating pressure of the Bull Steam Engine, Trevithick was promoted to engineer of the Ding Dong mine in 1796. Today the ruined Count ( Account) House is the only remaining structure from Richard Trevithick's time at Dong Dong.
In 1814 it was reopened and worked until 1878. But during the 1870s the price of tin dropped due to the opening of tin deposits in Queensland
and other parts of the British Empire
. Due to this, and local exhaustation, Ding Dong finally ceased production in 1879. Attempts were made in 1912 and 1928 to reopen it but these failed.
Gulval
Gulval is a village in the former Penwith district of Cornwall, United Kingdom. Although historically a parish in its own right, Gulval was incorporated into the parishes of Penzance, Madron and Ludgvan in 1934, and like Heamoor, is now considered to be a suburb of Penzance...
, in Land's End
Land's End
Land's End is a headland and small settlement in west Cornwall, England, within the United Kingdom. It is located on the Penwith peninsula approximately eight miles west-southwest of Penzance....
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. They are about two miles south of the St Just
St Just in Penwith
St Just is a town and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The parish encompasses the town of St Just and the nearby settlements of Trewellard, Pendeen and Kelynack: it is bounded by the parishes of Morvah to the north-east, Sancreed and Madron to the east, St Buryan and Sennen to...
to Penzance
Penzance
Penzance is a town, civil parish, and port in Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom. It is the most westerly major town in Cornwall and is approximately 75 miles west of Plymouth and 300 miles west-southwest of London...
road. They look out over Mount's Bay
Mount's Bay
Mount's Bay is a large, sweeping bay on the English Channel coast of Cornwall in the United Kingdom, stretching from the Lizard Point to Gwennap Head on the eastern side of the Land's End peninsula. Towards the middle of the bay is St Michael's Mount...
and St Michael's Mount
St Michael's Mount
St Michael's Mount is a tidal island located off the Mount's Bay coast of Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is a civil parish and is united with the town of Marazion by a man-made causeway of granite setts, passable between mid-tide and low water....
to the south west.
Etymology
The name may refer to the ‘head of the lode’ or the outcrop of tin on the hill. In MadronMadron
Madron is a civil parish and village in west Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is a large rural parish on the Penwith peninsula north of Penzance.Madron village is situated approximately two miles northwest of Penzance town centre....
church there is a ‘Ding Dong Bell’ that was rung to mark the end of the last shift of the miners.
A folk song was written in 1986 called "Ding Dong Mine" by Westcountry singer Jerry Johnson and is well known amongst folk aficionados of the area. It does however have one verse which tells of a mining disaster although no official records or documents seem to exist to confirm that such a disaster happened. Johnson may have been using poetic license to describe such similar occurrences in the area.
Legend and prehistory
Near the mine ruins can be found the Bronze AgeBronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
Nine Maidens Stone Circle
Boskednan stone circle
Boskednan stone circle is a partially restored prehistoric stone circle near Boskednan, around 4 miles northeast of the town of Penzance in Cornwall, United Kingdom...
, the Men-an-Tol
Mên-an-Tol
The Mên-an-Tol is a small formation of standing stones near the Madron-Morvah road in Cornwall, United Kingdom . It is about 3 miles north west of Madron...
and Lanyon Quoit
Lanyon Quoit
Lanyon Quoit is a dolmen in Cornwall, 2 miles southeast of Morvah. It stands next to the road leading from Madron to Morvah. In the 18th century, the structure was tall enough for a person on horse back to stand under. The capstone rested at 7 feet high with dimensions of 9 feet by 17.5 feet...
and the Ding Dong mines themselves. These are reported to be the oldest in the West of England
West of England
The West of England is a loose and locationally unspecific term sometimes given to the area surrounding the city and county of Bristol, England, and also sometimes applied more widely and in other parts of South West England.-Use in the Bristol area:...
, dating back to prehistoric times. There is a legend that Joseph of Arimathea
Joseph of Arimathea
Joseph of Arimathea was, according to the Gospels, the man who donated his own prepared tomb for the burial of Jesus after Jesus' Crucifixion. He is mentioned in all four Gospels.-Gospel references:...
visited the area, and that he brought the young Jesus to address the miners, although there is no evidence to support this.
History
The earliest record of Ding Dong is given by John NordenJohn Norden
John Norden was an English cartographer, chorographer and antiquary. He planned a series of county maps and accompanying county histories of England, the Speculum Britanniae...
at the beginning of the 17th century. In 1714 three separate mines were operating: Good Fortune, Wheal Malkin and Hard Shafts Bounds. By the middle of the 18th century at least seven small concerns had sprung up although the name Ding Dong did not become the usual name until after the turn of the 19th century.
By 1782 sixteen working mines were to be found in the area and the present sett include Ding Dong in the middle, Providence, Tredinneck and Ishmael’s to the east and Wheal Malkin and Wheal Boys to the West.
Ding Dong obtained notoriety during the 18th century because of an infringement lawsuit. A 28 inch cylinder inverted engine designed by Edward Bull, chief designer for Boulton and Watt
Boulton and Watt
The firm of Boulton & Watt was initially a partnership between Matthew Boulton and James Watt.-The engine partnership:The partnership was formed in 1775 to exploit Watt's patent for a steam engine with a separate condenser. This made much more efficient use of its fuel than the older Newcomen engine...
, was put into Ding Dong in 1796; James Watt
James Watt
James Watt, FRS, FRSE was a Scottish inventor and mechanical engineer whose improvements to the Newcomen steam engine were fundamental to the changes brought by the Industrial Revolution in both his native Great Britain and the rest of the world.While working as an instrument maker at the...
saw this as an infringement of his ‘condenser patent’. One of these engines was erected at Ding Dong in 1797, when a conventional Boulton and Watt engine was inverted by Richard Trevithick
Richard Trevithick
Richard Trevithick was a British inventor and mining engineer from Cornwall. His most significant success was the high pressure steam engine and he also built the first full-scale working railway steam locomotive...
and William West. Trevithick worked with his father at Wheal Treasury mine and, after making improvements which increased the operating pressure of the Bull Steam Engine, Trevithick was promoted to engineer of the Ding Dong mine in 1796. Today the ruined Count ( Account) House is the only remaining structure from Richard Trevithick's time at Dong Dong.
In 1814 it was reopened and worked until 1878. But during the 1870s the price of tin dropped due to the opening of tin deposits in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
and other parts of the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
. Due to this, and local exhaustation, Ding Dong finally ceased production in 1879. Attempts were made in 1912 and 1928 to reopen it but these failed.