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Archiver > DEVON > 2003-03 > 1048355365


From: "Chris Goddard" <>
Subject: Re: [DEV] Stupid questions
Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2003 17:49:25 -0000
References: <16224461781.20030322171255@pthompson20.plus.com>


> Are there any Copper Mines in Devon?

Yes, Pam there are/were.

The largest in the world was Devon Great Consols about 3 miles from
Tavistock. The land belonged - as did the whole of Tavistock - the Dukes of
Bedford, who grew *very* rich on the proceeds of mining what had formerly
been their shooting woods.

There were others around Tavistock but DGC was by far the largest. When the
market collapsed due to imports, the trade changed to working through the
waste products to produce arsenic to kill the cotton bole weevil which was
ravaging the cotton crops in the U.S.

There is still plenty of arsenic there - enough to kill the entire
population of the world, alledgedly.

Morwellham Quay has its origins in the trade:

http://www.morwellham-quay.co.uk

There is a lot more I could tell you about the copper trade and its impact
on the town if you want it.


Chris

--
Chris Goddard
Plymouth, U.K
www.webrarian.co.uk




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