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Wheal Coates, Cornwall

The buildings to be seen at Wheal Coates date from the reopening of the mine in 1872 but work was sporadic until its 1889 closure. For some years, the yield was 20lb of tin per ton of ore. In 1906, new ownership hoped to work the mine for both tin and copper. At the height of its production, 140 people were employed at the site to mine a seam of tin just below sea level but this and a subsequent period of operation from 1911-1913 were not very successful because tin production was sporadic. The mine finally closed in 1914.

The surviving buildings date from the 1870s when deep underground mining began at the site and were stabilised and preserved in 1986. There are three engine houses that formerly housed Cornish engines. Towanroath Pumping Engine House (1872) was used to pump water from the adjacent 600 ft Towanroath shaft. There are two Whim engine houses which were used to crush ore for processing. "Old Whim" was built in the mid-19th century, while "New Whim" was built in the late 19th centuery. A calciner dating from 1910–1913 when the mine was reopened, roasted the tin to remove impurities such as arsenic.

The surviving structures were all listed as Grade II buildings on 31 October 1988: The Stamps House, the chimney east of the New Whim engine house, the Old Whim and New Whim engine houses, the Towanroath engine house, and the calciner. Wheal Coates is part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site and is maintained by the National Trust. Along with the Botallack Mine (Crowns Section) the Towanroath Pumping Engine is considered to be one of the iconic mining structures on the Cornish Coast.
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  • Wheal Coates, Cornwall - September 12, 1981

    Wheal Coates, Cornwall - September 12, 1981

    Wheal Coates viewed from the west side of Chapel Porth showing the Towanroath pumping engine house and above the whim and stamps engine houses.

  • Wheal Coates, Cornwall - September 12, 1981

    Wheal Coates, Cornwall - September 12, 1981

    Towanroath Pumping Engine House which housed a 36 - inch Cornish Engine.. The engine house is conserved by the National Trust.

  • Wheal Coates, Cornwall - September 12, 1981

    Wheal Coates, Cornwall - September 12, 1981

    National Trust plaque mounted on the Wheal Coates Towanroath Shaft pumping engine house..

  • Wheal Coates, Cornwall - September 12, 1981

    Wheal Coates, Cornwall - September 12, 1981

    Engine houses at Wheal Coates.

  • Wheal Coates, Cornwall - September 12, 1981

    Wheal Coates, Cornwall - September 12, 1981

    Towanroath Pumping Engine House which housed a 36 - inch Cornish Engine.. The engine house is conserved by the National Trust.

  • Wheal Coates, Cornwall - September 12, 1981

    Wheal Coates, Cornwall - September 12, 1981

    Towanroath Shaft - the grid cover which was installed by the National Trust when the site was conserved in 1973.

  • Wheal Coates, Cornwall - June 08, 1984

    Wheal Coates, Cornwall - June 08, 1984

    Towanroath Pumping Engine House which housed a 36 - inch Cornish Engine.. The engine house is conserved by the National Trust.

  • Wheal Coates, Cornwall - September 12, 1981

    Wheal Coates, Cornwall - September 12, 1981

    Towanroath Pumping Engine House which housed a 36 - inch Cornish Engine.. The engine house is conserved by the National Trust.

  • Wheal Coates, Cornwall - April 30, 1990

    Wheal Coates, Cornwall - April 30, 1990

    The safety cover installed on Tubby's Head Shaft at Wheal Coats.

  • Wheal Coates, Cornwall - April 30, 1990

    Wheal Coates, Cornwall - April 30, 1990

    Wheal Coates viewed from the east

  • Wheal Coates, Cornwall - April 30, 1990

    Wheal Coates, Cornwall - April 30, 1990

    These are believed to be the foundations of the crushing plant.

  • Wheal Coates, Cornwall - April 30, 1990

    Wheal Coates, Cornwall - April 30, 1990

    !8th Century open workings on the back of a lode.

  • Wheal Coates, Cornwall - April 30, 1990

    Wheal Coates, Cornwall - April 30, 1990

    Wheal Coates stamps engine house cylinder bed stone showing the bolt holes which secured the engine cylinder.

  • Wheal Coates, Cornwall - April 30, 1990

    Wheal Coates, Cornwall - April 30, 1990

    Whim Engine House after conservation.

  • Wheal Coates, Cornwall - April 30, 1990

    Wheal Coates, Cornwall - April 30, 1990

    Stamps Engine House shortly after conservation work. This was criticised at the time as collapsed stone from elsewhere in the building had been concreted in place at the top of the "Bob" wall - it can be clearly seen in this view.

  • Wheal Coates, Cornwall - April 30, 1990

    Wheal Coates, Cornwall - April 30, 1990

    Beside a silver sea - Towanroath Engine House.

  • Wheal Coates, Cornwall - April 30, 1990

    Wheal Coates, Cornwall - April 30, 1990

    Dressing floors at Wheal Coates.

  • Wheal Coates, Cornwall - April 30, 1990

    Wheal Coates, Cornwall - April 30, 1990

    Beside a silver sea (2) - Towanroath Engine House in dramatic lighting.

  • Wheal Coates, Cornwall - April 30, 1990

    Wheal Coates, Cornwall - April 30, 1990

    Stamps Engine House with the chimney and part of the Whim Engine house visble.

  • Wheal Coates, Cornwall - April 30, 1990

    Wheal Coates, Cornwall - April 30, 1990

    Dressing floors at Wheal Coates.

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