Page:VCH Cornwall 1.djvu/675

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INDUSTRIES He discovered in some way the art of casting pumps, and other parts of machines, but when is unknown doubtless between the years 1776 and 1790. It has been stated that he found out the method in South Wales, possibly at the Neath works, which it appears he visited in 1776. This enterprising man died in October 1 803, at the age of 73 years, and was interred at Gwinear Churchyard, the I4th day of the same month. He was succeeded by his son Henry, ' the great Mr. Harvey,' as he was called, who was not an engineer in the technical sense. He regarded the foundry as only a factor in the development of the port. The foundry being well established, he threw his energies into the work of developing the harbour and its trading advantages, in which he was fortunate in having the advice of his brother-in-law, Richard Trevithick, the great engineer. Henry Harvey died 7 May, 1850, aged 75 years. The tombstone in Gwinear Churchyard records ' After an active life in which he largely developed the Harbour of Hayle, together with the Foundry, and the trade at that Port.' Mr. Nicholas Oliver Harvey succeeded to the man- agement. He was a great nephew of the founder, and died on 7 June, 1861. Later managers of the foundry were Mr. William Husband, who died on 10 April, 1887 (he was a man of striking personality, and was one of the most able of Cornwall's modern engineers); Mr. Nicholas John West; Mr. Henry Nicholas Harvey, who died 14 December, 1892, and Mr. Francis Haniel Harvey. The late Mr. Jebus Bickle was for a great many years the superin- tending and consulting engineer of the works; he was a man of great experience, and his opinion was always highly valued. It is impossible to convey an adequate idea of the quantity and diversity of the machinery which has been supplied to mines in all parts of the world by Messrs. Harvey & Co. In this country there were few mining districts forty years ago where the Hayle engines were not to be found. Metalliferous and coal mines throughout Great Britain have been indebted to this firm for some of the largest pumping, winding, crushing and other machines for which for a long series of years they had an unrivalled reputation. Abroad, their engines have been used exten- sively for all kinds of mining. It is worthy of mention that the first pumping engine on the compound principle employed on any considerable scale was made by them for Great Wheal Alfred in 1823, Wolff being the engineer. The principal extensions of the works and developments of the business were in the years 1847, 1854, 1888-1890. In the year 1883, for family convenience, the business was con- verted into a limited liability company. In the year 1888 the company laid them- selves out for large shipbuilding operations, and expended a very large sum of money in enlarging their premises and laying down the requisite plant. Experienced shipbuilders were imported from the north, and a considerable number of additional men were employed; but the enterprise proved a failure and involved the company in a great loss. During this period, 1888-1893, the tota l number of men and boys employed was about 1,200, including the foundry employe's. Previous to this the number employed was about 700 to 800. Shipbuilding was abandoned in 1893; not long afterwards it became only too apparent that the engineering business was rapidly declining, and that the closing of the works sooner or later was inevitable. This calamitous event for the town of Hayle took place in October, 1903. The smelting works of the Cornish Copper Company, built about or soon after the middle of the eighteenth century and situated at the eastern end of Copperhouse, and to the right of and alongside the main road leading to Camborne and facing Phillack Church, being unremunera- tive by reason of the cost of bringing coal to the works, were abandoned about the year 1806. In the same or the following year Messrs. Sandys, Carne, and Vivian having become owners of the property, including Ventonleague and part of Trevassack, the works were con- verted into a foundry. Later, on the retirement of Mr. Carne, who removed to Penzance and engaged in banking with others under the title of Batten, Carne & Carne, the name of the firm was changed to Sandys, Vivian & Co. The greatest number of persons employed at anytime was from 300 to 350. The works were conducted on a scale of considerable magnitude, as might have been seen a few years ago from the abandoned buildings, which extended from the present Market House to Ventonleague. The firm made their own gas; the remains of the gas-works could be seen a few years ago. The foundry was closed in the year 1869. The decline of these important works was due to the closing of the local mines, the com- petition of other works and, it is stated, the lack of enterprise. As a locally well-known fact it may be stated that there was always a great deal of rivalry between the Copperhouse and Hayle foundries, and as a consequence between the two places. The Tuckingmill Foundry was established about the year 1833 by Mr. William Vivian, who up to that time and for several years previously was employed by the Copperhouse Foundry Company. About ten years later he acquired the hammer mills and forges at Rose- worthy belonging to his cousins, Joseph and John Vivian. These had been carried on since about the year 1815, the originator being Mr. John Vivian, the father of the two gentle- men named. 571