Rosevale Mine

Located in Zennor near St Ives, Rosevale Mine is privately owned by the “Rosevale Historical Mining Society”. This is a small group of underground enthusiasts and ex-miners. Tony Bennett is the Mine Manager. Work has been going for the last 40 years in order to restore and preserve this typical Cornish Mine.

They are dedicated to the restoration of the underground workings using traditional mining methods.
More information on the site can be found by clicking Here.

These images were taken with Tracy on a trip during August 2013.
Rosevale Mine
Rosevale Mine 1 – The first image is looking down the main drive into the mine on No2 level. Also Tracy is in the distance holding a slave flashgun.
Rosevale Mine
Rosevale Mine 2 – No2 Level looking down the drive towards the mine entrance.
The site was worked during the 18th Century as Wheal Chance. Operations were concluded finally during 1840. During the early years of the 20th Cenury the mine was re-opened as Zennor Mine. It worked until 1914, but closed  with the advent of World War One.
Rosevale Mine
Rosevale Mine 3 – Very much preserved as a working mine, this is an old wagon on No2 Level.
It was a small scale operation but one that had had significant investment and showed good promise. Output for the mine was sadly low, before closure only 26 tons of ore had been produced.
Rosevale Mine
Rosevale Mine 4 – A Cousin Jack chute used to load the ore onto the wagons from the stope (working area) above.
The site remained abandoned until the 1970’s when the team took it on. The long term aim of this group is not to have a museum, but an authentic set of underground working. Traditional methods are used but incorporating modern Health and Safety Standards. Much of the work has been privately funded along with monies from visitor donations.
It is equipped as a working mine, but many relics and tools are also preserved. There is a constant push to open up old workings and furthur explore. On my last visit the deep adit was being cleared of debris. This is an amazing place and is unique in Cornwall.
Rosevale Mine
Rosevale Mine 5 – A compressed air Eimco 12B Rocker Shovel tucked out of the way on No2 level.
Rosevale Mine
Rosevale Mine 6 – Heavy timbers can be clearly seen supporting the roof of the drive.
Rosevale Mine
Rosevale Mine 7 – A Cousin Jack chute with an ore wagon in the background.
Rosevale Mine
Rosevale Mine 8 – Another of the same chute from the other side.
Rosevale Mine
Cornish Mine Images 9 – The timbering here was very extensive. The area above would have needed to support the ore and waste from the stope above.
Cornish Mine Images
Cornish Mine Images 10 – A final piture of the timbered section on No2 drive.
The mine consists of two levels. No1 and No2 levels. No1 level is furthur up the hillside and has been mined to a length of 200m. No 2 level is driven from the base of the valley and extends for 300m. At the end the passage is almost 200 ft underground.
The two levels are 30m apart and are connected by a stope. There are fixed ladders installed here to access No1 level. Deep adit is 9m below No2 level. A winze was mined to access the level. This is currently where the work of the group is focused.
Cornish Mine Images
Cornish Mine Images 11 – Drills and tools stacked to one side on the drive.
Cornish Mine Images
Cornish Mine Images 12 – The stope above No2 level. The ladder leads up to a working area, supporting timbers are on the right of the image.
Cornish Mine Images
Cornish Mine Images 13 – Fixed ladders on No2 towards No1 level . Also at the top of each ladder there is a platform on which the next ladder is attached.
Cornish Mine Images
Cornish Mine Images 14 – Finally looking down a fixed ladder to the Deep Adit level of the mine. This small shaft (Winze) was recently mined to allow access to the adit. Restoration work is in progress in this area, the pipe coming up the shaft is attached to a pump to keep the water level down.
On the surface there are the remains of a processing mill which was completed only a short time before the mine closed.

It’s a great place to go visits maybe arranged with the owners.

The mine, which is held under a lease agreement with the local land and mineral owner, is on private property.  Access to the mine and into the underground workings is private and restricted.

China Clay Area

Contact

error: Copyright Simon Jones 2022