dk nkf - Nordisk Konservatorforbund Danmark

also much lighter in colour, and was generally
applied to a greater (i.e. less recessed) depth,
which had a significant visual impact on the newly
consolidated structures, especially when contrasted
with the ‘invisible’ pointing which had defined
earlier works. Despite this, the later mixture and the
methods for its application are now widely regarded
by many masons, archaeologists and industrial
experts as the best and most historically accurate
for consolidating the County’s industrial buildings
illustrating its significant conservation value.
Over 100 dangerous mine-shafts and workings
located close to publicly accessed areas have been
addressed by the Coast Project since 1995. The
vast majority were treated by the construction of an
encompassing Cornish Hedge, and internal fence
with attached signs. The Trust in West Penwith has
always resisted the use of concrete plugs, and have
instead favoured keeping shafts open to retain their
archaeological and interpretive value and to maintain
their role as a habitat for bats. The construction of
a prototype hedge at Ballowall in 1995 convinced
the funding bodies that the methodology was
appropriate in both conservation and safety terms.
As a result this method has been widely used ever
since, both in West Penwith and elsewhere, and is
now frequently regarded as the most desired and
sensitive model for dealing with Cornwall’s many
open mine-workings.
The design was based on the practice employed
during a mine’s lifetime, when it was required to
make the old shafts safe for the public and local
grazing stock. These original hedges were generally
dry-stone constructions, often with an internal rab
core, and were built out of local stone and minewaste.
The hedges constructed by the Trust have
adhered to this style, having been constructed with
locally sourced materials of the same type as those
originally used. Indeed, in many cases the required
stone was found on-site, particularly when a hedge
formerly existed, shafts generally tend to be more
isolated than structures, and have therefore often not
suffered from the same degree of stone-robbing.
During the 10 year life-span, which was divided
into four phases, the project has conserved 106
mine shafts, conserved 71 structures, supported
54
and worked with local craftsmen, businesses and
the community, secured 8 km of industrial coast for
ever for everyone and underpinned Cornwall’s bid
for World Heritage Site status.
St Just Coast Project Phase 1:
1995
The first physical works to be undertaken as
part of the St Just Coast Project’s launch was the
consolidation of two engine houses at Kenidjack,
Wheal Edward and West Wheal Owles. Wheal
Edward was unlikely to survive another winter, so
decrepit and dangerous was its remaining stonework,
yet it remained an important contribution to the St
Just landscape. Considering the importance of both
sites and the imminent loss, the work was undertaken
and 100% funded by the National Trust.
St Just Coast Project Phase 2:
1996 - 1998
Following the removal of a long-term traveller’s site
at Kenidjack, a partnership between the National
Trust, Cornwall County Council and the Cornwall
Archaeological Unit was formed. The first part of the
work was to secure a small clearance grant to remove
a substantial amount of landfill material which had
been dumped on the cliffs at Wheal Edward, to reprofile
and cloak the remainder of the site, and to
erect a safety hedge around Wheal Edward incline