This is a section on local mining history.
The mine workings themselves are almost non-existant today being either
covered over, sealed and capped or overgrown and on private property.
In 1853 the village population was 1500+, almost all employed at Wheal Friendship. Also in this year there were only 66 houses according to a census! The area now known as Blackdown was where most of the population lived - in conditions similar to those encountered in the gold fields of America and Australia in those days - except for a more clement climate of course!
Scarlet fever and accidents and other diseases and misfortunes took a steady
toll of the inhabitants as church and other records indicate.
Poverty was rife, as it was of course anywhere else in the Westcountry where
hard-rock mining was carried out. It was a pernicious trade which created
massive wealth and abject poverty all in one go! To live beyond the age
of 40yrs generally meant that you would probably survive into your 70's.
Not many did!
Much has been written about Wheal Friendship, the famous copper mine where
a young man, John Taylor of Norwich, took over the management at the young
age of 19yrs in the early 1800's.
Taylor was an enlightened man and was consious of the needs and the trials
and tribulations of those who worked under him. He was aware of the poverty
that followed hand-in-hand with hardrock mining.
Much misery was caused by the indifference of the Mine Owners - always absent
and rarely seen or heard from, unless dividends were low.
The main companies, based in London and elsewhere, were often late in
sending monies to pay the workers. As these workers were always paid one
month in arrears anyway it was doubly important that wages arrived on time.
They rarely did and the men had to apply for "subsist".
This tied the men even tighter to the particular mine, even when wages were
low - they couldn't afford to lose outstanding wages nor pay off their
debts if they did decide to leave.
Because this was potentially a source of discontent as well as distress John Taylor instituted the production of a "token" or coin - not of the realm, but of the mines. In other words private money!
These tokens or "chips" were accepted in almost all shops and pubs in the area
and as a result debts could be paid and credit arranged.
When the cash did finally arrive from the Head Offices, then the coins, or "chips"
as they became known, were redeemed at the mine Accounting House - ('Count House).
The coin or "chip" was locally known as a "Tavistock Token".
Tavistock has a small square named after John Taylor. I personally feel he deserves a statue!