Middle Dimson

Settlement in Cornwall

England

Middle Dimson

Tamar Trails Centre - car park Activity centre in Devon with walks and trails around mining heritage. — Tamar Trails Centre - car park Credit: Chris Allen

Middle Dimson is a small village located in the county of Cornwall, in the southwestern part of England. Situated near the town of Bodmin, Middle Dimson is nestled amidst the picturesque landscapes and rolling hills that Cornwall is renowned for. The village is part of the civil parish of St. Mabyn and falls within the North Cornwall District.

With a population of around 300 residents, Middle Dimson exudes a charming rural atmosphere. The village is characterized by its quaint cottages, many of which boast traditional stone architecture and thatched roofs, adding to its idyllic appeal. The surrounding countryside is predominantly agricultural, with vast fields and meadows providing a scenic backdrop.

Middle Dimson offers limited amenities, with a small village store catering to the daily needs of its inhabitants. However, residents have access to a wider range of facilities in nearby towns and villages such as Bodmin, which is just a short drive away.

The village's location grants easy access to various attractions and activities in the area. The nearby Bodmin Moor, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, offers ample opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts, including hiking, cycling, and horseback riding. Additionally, the historic Bodmin Jail and the picturesque Camel Trail are popular attractions in the vicinity.

Overall, Middle Dimson presents a serene and tranquil setting, ideal for those seeking a peaceful countryside retreat while still being within reach of larger towns and amenities.

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Middle Dimson Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 50.523964/-4.2191828 or Grid Reference SX4271. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Tamar Trails Centre - car park

Activity centre in Devon with walks and trails around mining heritage.

Chris Allen

One of the paths in the Tamar Trails

The positions are a best guess and are on the path heading towards the site of Wheal Emma.

Chris Allen

Wheal Josiah waste tip

I believe this includes a partially collapsed railway tunnel - probably straight ahead behind the no entry sign. I was not really looking for this at the time or I would have peered a bit closer. This area shows mounds of presumed toxic waste with very little vegetation. Some structured masonry is seen to the right.

Chris Allen

Wheal Anna Maria arsenic tailings

Toxic waste from arsenic mining and refining in the 1920s. Further along the path (behind the photographer) are the remains of the arsenic refining plant and associated chimney stack.

Chris Allen

Devon Great Consols Mine - former mine office

Now home to several display boards on the history of this mine that was an amalgamation of several older mines. The mine was last used for arsenic production and refining and there is a large arsenic calcining and milling plant nearby.

Chris Allen

Wheal Anna Maria Calciner Complex

Part of the Great Devon Consols mine complex. This was an arsenic calcining and milling plant. On the right is part of the labyrinth flue that was used to condense the arsenic out of the flue gases. It was then dug out for milling.

Chris Allen

Devon Great Consols - chimney

This is the chimney for the arsenic calcining plant at Wheal Anna Maria that was part of Devon Great Consols. The relative absence of vegetation is due to the contamination of the ground by toxic materials.

Chris Allen

Wheal Anna Maria Calciner Complex

Devon Great Consols latterly concentrated on mining and refining arsenic. This is part of the arsenic refining complex. On the right are the remains of two Brunton calciners that roasted the ore. They were connected by flues to the labyrinthine condensing flue on the left. The chimney is some distance away on the hillside. The complex also contains the remains of a second type of furnace and a mill for grinding the finished product. The explanatory display board is sadly faded but just about legible.

Chris Allen

Wheal Anna Maria calcining complex

Part of Devon Great Consols Mine from the period of arsenic production. This shows the labyrinth condensing flue where the arsenic condensed to be dug out later. At one time there was a second set of condensing flues for the gases from the final reverberatory furnace but these have now gone although the remains of the furnace are still to be seen.

Chris Allen

Wheal Anna Maria Calciner Complex

This is the base of reverberatory furnace that was used in the early 20th century for arsenic processing. The ore was crushed, roasted in the two Brunton calciners and then condensed and collected from a labyrinthine flue. This material was then roasted with a smokeless fuel in this furnace. The efflux from this furnace was condensed as 99.5% pure snow white arsenic trioxide. This was then milled and packed into barrels. It was mainly used as an insecticide.

Chris Allen

Wheal Anna Maria Calciner Complex - Brunton calciner

This complex dates from the early 20th century and was used for arsenic production from Devon Great Consols Mine. It apparently closed in 1925 after a life of around 5 years. The ore was crushed and roasted in two Brunton calciners (the other is partly seen on the left). The arsenic rich gases were conducted by the hot flue in the foreground to a labyrinth condensing flue where the arsenic was condensed and deposited to be dug out. It then went through a second stage of purification by roasting and condensing before being ground to a fine white powder. The arsenic trioxide that was produced is very toxic and was mainly used as an insecticide.

Chris Allen

Wheal Anna Maria Calciner Complex - mill

This arsenic processing complex was in use from about 1920 to 1925. The last stage was to mill 99.5% pure arsenic trioxide to a fine powder for packing into barrels. It was mainly used as an insecticide. This shows the millstones that are analogous to a flour mill. I do not know how long the timbers will continue to support them as it all looks a bit decayed.

Chris Allen

Wheal Anna Maria Calciner Complex

Part of Devon Great Consols Mine and used from about 1920 to 1925 for the production of finely ground arsenic trioxide. Bottom right is the edge of the reverberatory furnace that was used for the final refining to produce a white material that was then ground by the millstones on the left before packing into barrels. The arsenic was mainly used as an insecticide. Waste tips in the distance are largely devoid of vegetation due to the toxic nature of the waste.

Chris Allen

Wheal Anna Maria Calciner Complex

Part of Devon Great Consols Mine. This complex was used from about 1920 to 1925 for the production of arsenic trioxide, mainly for use as an insecticide.

Chris Allen

Wheal Anna Maria - trail marker and chimney

The position is a best guess. Wheal Anna Maria is part of grouping of mines into Devon Great Consols. The chimney is on the end of a long flue from the arsenic refining plant that was in use from about 1920 to 1925.

Chris Allen

Bus shelter by A390 in St Ann's Chapel

St Ann's Chapel is a hamlet in the parish of Calstock, Cornwall. It is west of Gunnislake on the A390 between Tavistock and Liskeard. The hamlet has a pub - The Rifle Volunteer.

David Smith

Winter light on Tamar, New Bridge

The Tamar (Cornish: Dowr Tamar) is in south west England, it forms most of the border between Devon and Cornwall. The Tamar's source is 3 miles from the north Cornish coast, but it flows southward and its course runs across the peninsula to the south coast. The total length of the river is 61 miles. At its mouth, the Tamar flows into the Hamoaze before entering Plymouth Sound. Tributaries of the river include the rivers Inny, Ottery, Kensey and Lynher (or St Germans River) on the Cornish side, and the Deer and Tavy on the Devon side.

David Smith