First, allow me to say that while I have tried to be accurate, this book is a work of fiction, and a hundred percent precision is fairly impossible to achieve. Even so, I relied heavily on my research to ensure my representation of bal maidens was as truthful as possible. Below, I’ve included a few fascinating details about bal maidens and their incredible work at the mines—mines that would not have been profitable without them.
To begin, it’s important to know the meaning behind their name. Bal is the Old Cornish word for ‘mining place.’ The earliest known reference to the name bal maiden was recorded in 1819. As this book takes place in 1815, I was a few years short. For clarity’s sake, I did use the full name bal maiden, though I did my best to use simply ‘maiden’ whenever possible.
Next, I want to make it clear that while some women despised their work at the mine and the hardships they suffered there (like the minor character, Kerensa’s sister, Mary Hocking), there were maidens who took great pride in their work, like Gwynna and Kerensa. These were a special sort of women—resilient and independent.
Alongside the older maidens, the children were also an integral part to any working mine. Often, I toyed with the idea of saving them at the fictional Wheal Favour, or not including them at all. However, their hard labor was commonplace and used to benefit their families as a whole. I didn’t feel it accurate to champion them too greatly, and I felt it would be an injustice to them to exclude them completely, but I like to imagine Gwynna and Jack doing their best to ease the burdens these children suffered.
Another fact I feel is important to point out is that each mine had its own unique way of processing ore. The dressing floor—where the maidens saw to the ore—as well as where the shafts were located were both mainly dependent on the mine’s proximity to running water. I based the exterior of Wheal Favour off of Towanroath Engine House from Wheal Coates. However, my shaft is located inside the engine house, while the Towanroath shaft is located just outside of its engine house.
The state of the actual tunnels also varies from mine to mine. Some mines may have, indeed, been boiling hot, dry, and rocky belowground, but my mine—based on others around Cornwall—was cold, damp, and muddy. Alongside that fact, some maidens were provided with shelters, while other were not. The decision depended greatly on the funds available, the year and progress of mining, and the decisions of the owners, agents, and captains.
Now, one of my favorite things about writing this book was being able to pull actual events from history and tweak them into fitting with my story. One of these events was the brawl that took place on the beach between the two opposing mines’ maidens. This actually did occur, although the fight was over a shipwrecked box of figs instead of wine and navigational tools. The scuffle also lasted over two hours—which just proves the stamina of these women, to be able to fight for so long after a full day’s work at the mine!
The other truths I pulled upon were far less charming and reveal just how harsh their lives really were. The story Gwynna told of the mine captain tipping a pitcher of water over a girl’s head was also accurate, as well as the sobering truth of a young woman being crushed to death by the working gears—just like how Gwynna obtained the scar at the back of her arm. The tragic story of Gwynna’s aunt was also based on facts. Many women were assaulted by gentlemen though they were often not believed and were subsequently punished because they were thought to be lying. The last horrifying fact: most of the maidens’ deaths at the mines were not even recorded by the captains.
Finally, to end on a slightly lighter note, I want to share a few more quick facts. Some mine surgeons did take a ridiculously long time to arrive and help injured miners, spallers were considerably skilled to be able to break the ore down in a single blow, and stockings were used to fashion makeshift gloves. I also read accounts that did say they could hear the boulders on the seabed above the tunnels in the mine, and while some maidens were fine working in service, others greatly resisted the idea early on. There were so many other things I wished to add, like the nightly shifts held at the mine and the protective legwear and armwear worn by the maidens to avoid injury, but alas, my page count did not permit it.
Is it just me, or are all of these little details incredible? The lives these women must have led…I can’t even imagine it. Thank you for making it through this author’s note with me and taking the time to humor my passion for these inspiring women. I hope to one day in the future write a whole series based on them! Until now, I’ll just stay busy by reading more about their extraordinary lives.
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Curious about a certain aspect you read in Near the Ruins of Penharrow that I didn’t mention? Contact me! I’d love to answer any questions you might have regarding the book, bal maidens, Cornwall, or my writing.
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I hope to connect with you soon!
Deborah
Acknowledgements
I always think that each new book will be easier than the last. Unfortunately, this has never been the case. Near the Ruins of Penharrow has been a constant mental battle for me from the start, one that I couldn’t have won without the help of so many of the people I love and admire!
I first need to thank the many writer friends I have made who opened their hearts—and homes—and invited me along to their writing retreats this year. Mindy, Arlem, Anneka, and Shaela—because of your generosity, I was able to find the encouragement and stamina to push through my doubts and finally finish this book. Plus, the retreats were just amazing. So. Thanks for that, too.
As always, I need to thank my editor, Jenny. Even with the world going crazy, you still managed to make my story shine. Thank you for your help!
I’m also insanely grateful for my author friends who have helped so much with this book. Kasey Stockton, Joanna Barker, Esther Hatch, Arlem Hawks, Martha Keyes, and Ashtyn Newbold—whether you helped in the beginning brainstorms or by beta reading this book, I couldn’t have done it without you!
A special thanks goes to my sisters and mother for always reading my books. Thanks also for letting me go MIA from all family gatherings during my deadlines. Heh.
Last, I want to thank my husband for humoring me with all our late night chats and brainstorms about my books and painting my office. You’re the best. Even when you correct my Americanisms…
About the Author
Deborah M. Hathaway graduated from Utah State University with a BA in English, Creative Writing. As a young girl, she devoured Jane Austen’s novels while watching and re-watching every adaptation of Pride & Prejudice she could, entirely captured by all things Regency and romance.
Throughout her early life, she wrote many short stories, poems, and essays, but it was not until after her marriage that she was finally able to complete her first romance novel, attributing the completion to her courtship with, and love of, her charming, English husband. Deborah finds her inspiration for her novels in her everyday experiences with her husband and children and during her travels to the United Kingdom, where she draws on the beauty of the country in such places as Ireland, Yorkshire, and her beloved Cornwall.
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Near the Ruins of Penharrow (A Cornish Romance Book 3) Page 29