Ding Dong mines

He also notes that in Madron church there is a 'Ding Dong Bell' that was rung to mark the end of the last shift of the miners.

[10] In 1714 three separate mines were operating: Good Fortune, Wheal Malkin and Hard Shafts Bounds.

[a] Trevithick worked with his father at Wheal Treasury mine and, after making improvements which increased the operating pressure of the Bull Steam Engine, Trevithick was promoted to engineer of the Ding Dong mine in 1796.

[12] Today the ruined Count (Account) House is the only remaining structure from Richard Trevithick's time at Ding Dong.

[10] In 1814 it was reopened and worked until 11 July 1877, when an attempt to sell it at auction as an active mine failed.

Due to this, and exhaustion of the local deposits, Ding Dong finally ceased production on 11 July 1877.

California stamps were installed; during the period from September 1912 to March 1915, 51 tons of tin were extracted from the hand-picked ore.

Another legend was that Joseph of Arimathea visited the area accompanied by the young Jesus to address the miners; there is no evidence to support these beliefs.

[24][25] An old miner told A. K. Hamilton Jenkin "Why, they do say there's only one mine in Cornwall older than Dolcoath, and that's Ding Dong, which was worked before the time of Jesus Christ.

"[26][27] A folk song called "Ding Dong Mine" was written in 1986 by West-country singer Jerry Johnson.

A closeup showing the engine house in 2023
A shaft at the Ding Dong mine