'Between the Rock and a Hard Place: Attempts at High Explosive Manufacture on the Isle of Man'
Date(s): 2009
Creator(s): Joseph, Pete
Scope & Content: Illustrated article recounting the history and site-surveying of the Bellite explosives works near Port Cornaa, Maughold, Isle of Man. The author also sets out the proposed manufacturing process at Cornaa given the actual method of manufacture is unknown.
The survey was conducted by three members of the Trevithick Society, Pete Joseph (Hon Curator), Kingsley Rickard (Vice Chairman) and Bryan Earl (Society President) over three visits to the Island in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Illustrations include location maps, colour site photographs, a scale plan of the Bellite factory surveyed 14 and 16 March 2007and an interpretive drawing showing the present remains and how the finished factory would have looked.
Administration / Biographical History: Members of the Trevithick Society visited the Isle of Man in 2006 to attend the opening ceremony of the Lady Evelyn waterwheel at Laxey: The wheel had belonged to the Trevithick Society 9which champions Cornwall’s Industrial Heritage) but is now on permanent loan to the Laxey and Lonan Trust following a £90,000 restoration project. Whilst on island they were made aware of the Bellite ruins in Maughold by Bryan Earl, Society President and a former mining and explosives development engineer.
An unillustrated version of this article appeared in British Mining 106 pp24-42 (2018).
Language: English
Extent: 23 pages
Item name: article
Collection: Manuscript Archive
Level: ITEM
ID number: MS 14654
Record class: Private
Access conditions: No regulations or restrictions are implemented on this material. Advance notification of a research visit is advisable by emailing library@mnh.gov.im