Publisher's Synopsis
"A mineralogical thriller!" says, Peter Stucley, the youngest son of Sir Hugh Stucley and the Great-grandson of George Wentworth Warwick Bampfylde, 4th Baron Poltimore (1882-1965) What you are about to read is an extraordinary detective story about the gold mines of North Molton, where one hundred and fifty years ago extensive mining operations took place and where hundreds of people were employed. During our investigation we will meet incredible people whose parents and grand-parents were involved in the mines and who tell extraordinary stories of what happened there. Conspiracies, intrigue, fraud and gold fever - it is all here and more. But what about the gold? Was gold ever found at the mines or were the tales of nuggets and reports of gold discoveries all part of an elaborate scheme designed to entice would-be investors to part with their money on false hopes of rich rewards. And if the stories of gold are true, what about today? Can we still find gold there now? A four day survey was carried out in 2013 and confirmed that commercial quantities of gold existed in the spoil heaps of the mines, but then... Upon first reading my book Peter Stucley wrote to me and said: "You have done a really marvellous job! It was a fascinating read. Over the last 30 years or so I have gleaned various snippets of information from the family archives, but this is the first time (that I am aware of) where somebody has pulled everything together in such a detailed and concise manner. It is a mineralogical thriller!" It was that good that he put his name to the book and agreed to write the FOREWORD. What better accolade could their be than that?
