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Joseph TreffryEnglish engineer, miner and industrialist
Country:
 Great Britain |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Mining and Industrial Developments
- Establishing a Transportation Network
- Investments in Railways and Water Supply
- Expansion and Railway Projects
- Building Railway Lines
- Engineering Marvel: The Luxulyan Viaduct
- Later Life and Legacy
- Industrial Pioneer
Early Life and Education
Born Joseph Thomas Austen in Plymouth, Devon, EnglandJoseph Treffry was the son of former Plymouth mayor Joseph Austen and his wife Susanna Treffry. In 1808, he inherited his uncle William Esco Treffry's estate in Fowey, Cornwall, and changed his name to Joseph Treffry. He briefly studied at Exeter College, Oxford, but returned to Fowey to oversee the renovation of his family home, Place House.
Mining and Industrial Developments
Developing Cornwall's Mining IndustryTreffry possessed a deep understanding of civil engineering. He constructed a new harbor in Fowey, enabling larger ships to dock. He became a partner in the Wheal Regent copper mine and later acquired interests in the Fowey Consols and Lanhydrock mines. By 1822, he had merged two mines and became their sole manager, making Fowey Consols the most productive mine in Cornwall, employing over 1,680 workers.
Establishing a Transportation Network
Recognizing the geographical isolation of Cornwall, Treffry sought ways to improve transportation. In 1828, he began constructing a harbor at Par. By 1829, he had built a 12,000-foot breakwater, losing three of his own ships in the process. The harbor was completed in 1833 and could accommodate 50 vessels of 200 tons each.
Investments in Railways and Water Supply
Treffry invested heavily in local transportation. He built railways connecting the harbor to the Par Consols mine, simplifying the movement of ore and coal. He also constructed an aqueduct to supply water to the mines.
Expansion and Railway Projects
Acquiring Ports and LandTreffry acquired the declining port of Newquay and land with mines at Goss Moor. He planned to link them with railways.
Building Railway Lines
Treffry initiated the construction of lines from Ponts Mill to Newquay in 1837. He extended the lines to Bugle and built the Luxulyan Viaduct, which carried both railway tracks and water conveyances. He collaborated with William Pease on an inclined railway from the canal across Carmears Rocks to the valley's peak.
Engineering Marvel: The Luxulyan Viaduct
Due to the steep terrain, a viaduct was necessary to carry the railway across the Luxulyan River. Treffry's viaduct was a masterpiece of engineering, 98 feet high and 650 feet long. Constructed from stone from Carbeans and Colcerrow quarries, it served as part of both the railway and the water transportation system.
Later Life and Legacy
Civic Involvement and DeathTreffry served as Vice-President of the Royal Polytechnic Society of Cornwall in 1849 and was High Sheriff of Cornwall from 1839 to 1840. He died of pneumonia in 1850.
Industrial Pioneer
Joseph Treffry transformed the mining and transportation industries in Cornwall. His legacy as a visionary engineer and industrialist continues to this day.
