Winding house, William's Shaft, Dolcoath Mine

Image: © Richard Bird Taken: 7 Jul 2019

This was one of the last deep shafts sunk on the Dolcoath Mine. In fact, the deepest shaft in the west of England, sunk in 1910 to open up Main Lode at depth. It passes through Brea and Main Lodes, respectively, at the 220 fm (1320 ft) and 490 fm (2940 ft) levels and reaches a depth of 550 fms or 3300 feet. Inside the winding house was a unique traversing steam whim, or winder, which was made by the local foundry Holmans. Because of the depth of the shaft it was necessary to lay the steel winding rope on the drum in an equal fashion, and by moving the whole winding mechanism, this layered the rope accordingly. The shaft is, of course, capped, but a breather pipe in the cap allows - with the aid of a powerful torch - the water, which now occupies this shaft at water table level to be seen. Strange sounds from below are no doubt caused by the water.

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