Wheal Peevor, Cornwall
Wheal Peevor is located on North Downs about 1.5 miles north-east of Redruth. Cornwall. Work originally commenced around 1701 mining copper at shallow depths later switching to tin production in the late 18th Century.
In the 18th Century, the mine was considered part of Great North Downs mine; it was opened separately in 1872 as Wheal Peevor. The mine closed in 1889, almost 20 years after the price of tin was depressed due to the discovery of large, easily mined deposits in the Far East. Some exploratory work was undertaken on the site on several occasions in the 20th century.
In 1911, a company acquired the mine property with the hope of being able to reopen operations. Their plan was to begin by working the surface ground and given satisfactory results, to then remove the water from the mine itself. After the mine was reopened, many of the original structures were altered to accommodate newer and larger equipment. Only a small amount of tin and tungsten was produced and the mine closed again in 1918. There were also two further unsuccessful attempts to work the mine in 1938 and the 1950s but this unsuccessful
Significant conservation work was undertaken on the mine buildings, including the Grade II listed engine houses, in the early years of the millennium The is unusual because it contains the remains of three engine houses: the largest engine, with a 72 inch cylinder, was used for pumping water out of the mine; the second, used for winching material in and out of its shaft was at the eastern side of the sett; and the third with a 32 inch engine operated 48 heads of Californian stamps for crushing the ore. Wheal Peevor is now part of the Mineral Tramways Project and the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site.
Read MoreIn the 18th Century, the mine was considered part of Great North Downs mine; it was opened separately in 1872 as Wheal Peevor. The mine closed in 1889, almost 20 years after the price of tin was depressed due to the discovery of large, easily mined deposits in the Far East. Some exploratory work was undertaken on the site on several occasions in the 20th century.
In 1911, a company acquired the mine property with the hope of being able to reopen operations. Their plan was to begin by working the surface ground and given satisfactory results, to then remove the water from the mine itself. After the mine was reopened, many of the original structures were altered to accommodate newer and larger equipment. Only a small amount of tin and tungsten was produced and the mine closed again in 1918. There were also two further unsuccessful attempts to work the mine in 1938 and the 1950s but this unsuccessful
Significant conservation work was undertaken on the mine buildings, including the Grade II listed engine houses, in the early years of the millennium The is unusual because it contains the remains of three engine houses: the largest engine, with a 72 inch cylinder, was used for pumping water out of the mine; the second, used for winching material in and out of its shaft was at the eastern side of the sett; and the third with a 32 inch engine operated 48 heads of Californian stamps for crushing the ore. Wheal Peevor is now part of the Mineral Tramways Project and the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site.
