Worldwide Disasters | Mining Disasters | England Mining Disasters |Cornwall Mining Disasters | Botallack Mine Accident 1863
Contact: Fran Weidman
Summary
- Date: 18 April 1863
- Location: Botallack Mine, Botallack, Cornwall, England
- Casualties: 9
- Cause: Shaft accident
The Botallack Mine is situated in Botallack, Cornwall, England, between St. Just and Pendeen. It was a submarine mine, dating back to the 1700's. It produced tin and copper, as well as arsenic. It's breathtaking surroundings were often referred to as "romantic".
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| Botallack Mine, taken 2005 |
The mine used a tram carriage, known as a skip, to transport workers in and out of the mine shaft. The skip was equipped with wheels that ran on rails, similar to a train. It held 8 men, and it was customary to add a boy as well.
On Saturday, 18 April 1863, one load of men had safely reached the surface before the skip descended to bring up another group. There were 18 miners below, waiting for their turns to get to the surface. Eight men and a boy were loaded into the skip, which began its ascent. It was halfway up when when a chain drawing the skip broke, causing it to careen down the shaft, and the men plummeting to their deaths.
An inquest was held, and the jury's first task was to view the bodies, which was rather gruesome. They returned to the count house in Botallack, where they heard testimonies. They briefly deliberated, and after finding that nobody was at fault, they returned with a verdict of "accidental death".
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| Botallack Count House, where Inquest was held, 2019 |
The accident did not deter tourism at Botallack, which was a popular destination for various Royals and other notables. In 1865, the Prince and Princess of Wales (who later became Edward VII and Queen Alexandra) visited, and descended down into the shaft. Other visitors included Edward's younger brother, Prince Arthur, and author Robert Michael Ballantyne.
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| The Prince and Princess of Wales Descending the Botallack Tin Mine, 1865 |
After the accident, it was decided that visitors would be charged a half guinea to descend into the mine shaft, with the proceeds going to the widows and orphans of the men who died.
Botallack mine closed in 1895, due to the falling tin prices. Today, it is owned by the National Trust and has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2006.
Victims
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