A HISTORY OF CORNWALL The Delabole Slate Quarries are in the parish of St. Teath. They are nearly three miles from Camelford and about two miles from the sea, at an elevation of over 500 feet above the sea level. It is supposed that in the first instance the slate was discovered in the bed of a small water-course at the junction of two rivulets. The land on the east belonged to one owner, on the north to another, and on the west to another. The quarrying was carried on for many years only on the west side. In 1750 several men were at work, and during the following fifty years the quarry became con- siderably enlarged. At the end of this time also operations had been begun on the north side, which was worked on a lease by twelve quarrymen, who employed others, and about 1844 operations were commenced on the east side. In the earlier period men carried the slate out of the quarry on their backs ; then donkeys were employed, as many as forty at one time ; later still horses were used, and these were succeeded by a horse-whim. Previous to the introduction of steam power the rock could be worked only to a certain depth, and then as one part was worked out it was filled in with rubble from the new excavations. The first steam engine, named the Speedwell, was erected in 1834 on the west property, and was principally used for drawing rubble over a short incline. In a few years other steam engines were erected on the other properties. In 1841 a joint-stock company was formed under the name of the Old Delabole Slate Company, for the purpose of working the two quarries on the east and west sides, and in 1 849 the quarry on the north side came into their possession. At first the quarries were held on lease, but after a few years the company pur- chased the freehold of the quarries and a con- siderable quantity of land, and the three quarries were merged into one. In 1898 the company disposed of their interest to a syndicate, and a new company under the Limited Liability Act was formed under the old name. The quarry is about 25 acres in extent, and the rubble heaps or spoil banks occupy about 130 more; altogether there are 155 acres. In the early days as the quarry deepened the drainage became a difficulty. About 100 years ago an adit was driven from the valley beneath for nearly half a mile to the quarry, and this carried off the water to the depth of about 200 feet, but when the depth increased a water wheel was erected for pumping the water to the adit, and several years ago two other larger wheels were added, which are driven by water from the surface, and are so arranged that the water passes over each. When the surface supply is not sufficient in summer to keep the wheels going, steam is used for working the pumps. After the introduction of modern machinery the following method was adopted for hauling the top-rock and slate-rock to the surface : Parapet-heads, or poppets as they are locally called, were employed, which consisted of strong wooden stays secured at one extremity to the surface, and projecting 14 feet over the edge of the quarry ; these were furnished at the other extremity with a pulley, over which the chain used for hauling was passed. One end of this chain was wound round a cage or drum near the engine-house, while the other, after passing over the pulley, was left free so that it could be taken to that part of the quarry from which the rock was being extracted and attached to the load. Afterwards, when the parapet- heads were discarded, wire ropes were substituted for chains, the ropes being found cheaper, stronger, and more durable. In place of parapet-heads inclines have now been con- structed, and the rock and rubble are hauled in wagons over them to the surface by means of stationary engines at the top. The operations in the quarry are as follows : Powder is usually used for blasting the ordinary rock, but for hard and unproductive rock dynamite is sometimes used, and the men who do the blasting are called rock men. If the rock is useless the payment is by the ton, if slate- producing it is by the dozen for roofing slate or by the foot for slabs. After being blasted the rock, whether good or bad, is taken in charge by men called fillers, who load the wagons and send it over the inclines or the parapet- heads, whence it is received by men called landers, and then taken by locomotive engines, the useless to the waste tip, and the good to the deposit floors or to the manufacturing sheds. At the sheds the men called splitters or cleavers take charge of those blocks which are to be converted into roofing slates. By means of a mallet and flat chisel the blocks are split into slabs 2 in. or 3 in. thick, and if too wide to work to advantage they are placed on a circular saw-table and sawn at right angles to the cleavage, and then further subdivided into the required thickness. Then the several pieces are passed to the slate-dresser, who cuts them into the largest sizes they will make. The slates are then taken charge of by men called pitchers, who sort them, placing each kind by itself. The foreman takes the count, and the men are paid according to his return. What- ever damage is done before the count takes place is at the loss of the men. A considerable quantity of slate is made into what is called scantle, which is squared both sides and at one end, and is irregular in length and breadth. About 700 scantle slates are required to do a square (i.e. 100 superficial feet) of roof- ing. These are used principally in West Corn- wall and Belgium. Many years ago a number of churches in Devon and Cornwall were covered with them. A large quantity of another kind is made, called rags. They are like scantle, irregular 520
