CORNISH-L Archives

From: philip ellery <>
Subject: Treacle mine at Talskiddy
Date: Mon, 2 Nov 1998 20:11:16 +0000

In message <>, writes
>In an attempt from Cornwall to lighten the tone of the list I am asking those
>of you with Cornish ancestors if you ever heard the legend of the above mine..
>it was said that wherever Cornish gathered together in the world, they would
>attempt to convince any listening audience of the existance of the mine where
>treacle was brought to the surface in big iron buckets
>
>Ann in a very wet & windy St Breward
>

Hi Ann
We also have treacle mines here at Talskiddy. It is exported all over
the world from Talskiddy harbour!

I don,t know much about the history of Talskiddy mines but I have some
info on the Treacle mines founnd in Devon.

This is from Chips Barber the Devon story teller....

The Treacle Mines
Three million years ago moss-like plants and sugar cane existed in
this area. Through the ages these became compressed to form the
treacle beds which exist today. In Devon there are three districts
where treacle quarries or mines are to be found. These are at
Daccombe near Newton Abbot, Tamerton Foliot in Plymouth and
lastly in the Dunchideock district.
Fortunately it is the latter which is the most famous and prolific.
The two main sources in the Dunchideock area are in the quarries
above the village at School Wood and beneath Dunchideock House.
Being particularly interested in industrial archaeology, I con-
tacted Mr Archibald N. Winckworth to arrange a visit to the treacle
mines beneath his Dunchideock House home. We descended into the
mine at midday one Sunday. Production was at a standstill as the
miners had a well-earned day off but evidence of their labours could
be seen as barrels of treacle, sold in measures called `watkins', were
located in the corners of the mine. Various items of machinery and
implements were left around ready for the next shift to begin or go
`on core' without delay.
Production figures for Devon Treacle is difficult to obtain as the
majority of this gourmet brew is exported notably to the USA. In
Cambridge, Massachusetts a `Circle of Treacle Tasters' has been
formed consuming quite a considerable amount of Dunchideock
Treacle.
A television company have filmed the mine as some people have
been known to doubt its very existence. To allay these doubts the
treacle mine is open to the public once every two years when a fete
takes place in the grounds of Dunchideock House. A small entrance
fee is charged which goes to charity. Fresh treacle can be purchased
which is most popular.
The processing of the treacle is simple. It is picked or blasted out,
crushed and ground. Vacuum distillation concentrates it, producing
a heavy liquor. Sealed within wooden vats it matures within ten
years. Each batch is different in flavour with expert blending neces-
sary to produce a smooth taste.
The earliest mining is thought to have existed since 1550 when a
family called Pitman owned the house. This name originates from
people who worked in pits.
Mr Winckworth, mine owner, has received many strange re-
quests. One tourist operator wanted to organise visits for parties on
a regular basis. Alas, for insurance purposes the risks were too great
and the package to the treacle mines was impracticable: treacle,
when freshly mined, is highly explosive. Mr Winckworth would not
want anyone to come to a `sticky' end.
For people not prepared to swallow this story, the treacle also has
medicinal uses which can be verified. If bitten by an adder, an un-
likely event, treacle can be applied externally to the bite. As a
remedy, this compound is highly rated.
--
phil ellery in wet 'n windy Talskiddy

This thread:

• Treacle mine at Talskiddy by philip ellery <>