A HISTORY OF CORNWALL Mr. William Vivian carried on the works conjointly until about the year 1865, when he found it necessary, owing to the severe strain on his financial resources through mining under- takings, to transfer a large proportion of his interest to a company with fresh capital. Soon afterwards Mr. Vivian's connexion with the two concerns ceased. He acquired a small foundry at St. Agnes, the centre of an important mining district, and died September, 1870. Subsequent proprietors have been : 1840 1860, William Vivian, junr. and his sons; 1860-1868, Captain Wm. Teague, J.P. (the well-known mine proprietor); Richard Trevi- thick (Devon), Edward Burgess (mine proprietor), George Smith, LL.D., J.P., etc. (safety-fuse maker), Major John Bickford (safety-fuse maker); 18681904, William Bickford-Smith, M.P. (died 1898, safety-fuse maker); John Pike (died 1874), Sir George J. Smith, J.P. (fuse maker), John R. Daniell (solicitor), H. P. Vivian. Since 1904 Sir G. J. Smith has been the sole proprietor. Besides being extensive makers of general mining machinery, the Tuckingmill Foundry Company began, about the year 1889, to make rock drills for the Rio Tinto mines, and have since to a great extent specialized in drills and air-compressors. Their ' Little Hercules ' rock drill and ' Economic ' compressors have been supplied in great numbers throughout the world. At the old Roseworthy hammer mills are made, in addition to ordinary work, the Cornish steel-faced shovels which, owing to their superior quality, appear to have ousted other kinds from the Cornish mines. Numbers are exported to various foreign mining camps where Cornishmen are at work. The greatest number of persons employed at any time is from 200 to 300. The Perran Foundry was situated in the charming Kennal Vale, on the right of the main road leading to Truro, and at the head of Restronguet Creek, about midway between Penryn and Truro. From its magnitude and the importance of its manufactures, as well as from its interesting history, the Perran Foundry ranks next to that of Hayle. It was established in the year I79I. 1 The original founders were George Fox, of Perran Wharf, ancestor of the well-known family of that name at Falmouth, and Peter Price, of Neath Abbey. Several changes of proprietorship have taken place. Mr. Price died 13 September, 1821, when it is probable the connexion with the Neath 1 The catalogue issued by the company in August, 1870, gives 1795 as the date; this is an error, as on three arches in buildings still standing the figures 1791 are clearly discernible. works and also with Mr. Price's family was severed. 2 About this time it appears that Mr. Benjamin Sampson, one of the principal share- holders of Tresavean mine, whence he derived great wealth, and also the principal owner of the Kennal Vale gunpowder works, became connected with the foundry. He built Tulli- maar House, a short distance from the foundry, in the year 1828, at which time and for some years previously, he was manager of the works. He died on 7 November, 1840, aged seventy years, leaving with other property his interest in Tremough, the Kennal Vale works, and the Perran Foundry to his nephew of the same name. About the year 1848 or 1849 Mr. Michael Williams, of Trevince (born 1784) became the principal partner, and appointed his son, Mr. Michael Henry Williams, of Tredrea, manager, under whom Mr. James R. Carnall was works manager. In 1857 the Fox family disposed of their interest or the remaining part of it to Mr. Michael WiUiams. A year later, on the death of that gentleman at Trevince (15 June), Mr. John Michael Williams, of Pengreep, his eldest son, succeeded to his large interest in the works, which shortly afterwards were closed for a brief period. Evidently negotiations took place about this time or soon after between various members of the Williams family relative to the foundry, for we find that Mr. John Michael Williams retained his interest for only a short time, selling it to his uncle Mr. (afterwards Sir) William Williams, of Tregullow. There were recon- structions and alterations, and the firm assumed the title of Williams' Perran Foundry Company. On the death of Mr. Benjamin Sampson, in | 1864, his share and other property passed by will to Mr. William Shilson, of St. Austell. Sir William Williams died March, 1870, his eldest son, Sir Frederick M. Williams, Bart., M.P., becoming the principal partner and manager $ the other partners were Mr. George Williams, of Scorrier; Mr. Michael Williams, of Tregullow; and Mr. Shilson, of Tremough. For several years after the starting of the business only small machinery and comparatively light forgings were made. ' Shingling,' the faggoting or welding together of scrap wrought iron with tilt hammers, was extensively carried on. Heavy forgings and castings were made at the Neath Abbey works. The days of the Nasmyth steam hammer were not yet; it is doubtful whether it was adopted in any Cornish foundry earlier than about the middle of the century. It is stated that the first heavy forging ' In Francis Trevithick's Life of Richard Trevlthick, vol. ii, p. 169, it is stated that the steam-cylinder of Dolcoath 76-inch engine was cast in South Wales (presumably at the Neath Abbey works) in 1816; ' the beam, still working in the new engine of 1869, was cast in the foundry of the Williams at Perran.' 572
