Redruth Mining District

The Redruth Mining District: this and the previous page Camborne Mining District make up the area known as “The Central Mining District”.

I have split the pages because it makes things simpler to separate the images and locations. However, it’s not a definitive listing, it’s the way that I felt would be easier to follow. So, this page covers the mines of: Redruth, Illogan and Scorrier.
Redruth Mining District
Redruth Mining District 1 – The Basset Mines, these are the impressive remains at Marriott’s Shaft South Wheal Frances section which was built during 1897. In the centre is the 80″ Engine House, the shaft here is brick lined with a 14ft diameter and reached a depth of 340 Fathoms.
Redruth Mining District
Redruth Mining District 2 – An image of Wheal Basset Stamps, the engine house contained two 30″ rotary beam engines which drove 96 heads of stamps to crush the ore. The stamps would have been infront of the engine house at right angles. One of the mounting blocks is in the foreground. Certainly one of my favorites sights in the area.
Redruth Mining District
Redruth Mining District 3 – An image of West Basset Stamps. In the background is the Carn Brea monument, the heart of the Mining District.
For more images follow this link: Basset Mine Gallery
Redruth Mining District
Redruth Mining District 4 – The scant remains of Copper Hill Mine, formally part of Wheal Buller, this is the bob wall of a 40″ pumping engine. The mine worked 1819-1875, it produced 140,000 tons of Copper making it the fourth largest producer in Cornwall.
Redruth Mining District
Redruth Mining District 5 – This is Reade’s shaft 70″pumping engine house, of Hallenbeagle Mine. Located near to Scorrier, the mine worked from 1835-1846 producing 30,580 tons of Copper.
Redruth Mining District
Redruth Mining District 6 – A detailed image of the engine house arch, in the distance is the house of North Treskerby Mine.
Redruth Mining District
Redruth Mining District 7 – The sad remains of the whim house, these were taken in the late 1990’s. Today the site has been cleared and levelled, the engine houses remain but everything else has been cleared for an “Industrial Estate”.
Redruth Mining District
Redruth Mining District 8 – An image of Hallenbeagle Mine looking across the railway, the chimney of the whim house can be seen above the treeline.
For more images follow this link: Hallenbeagle Mine Gallery
Redruth Mining District
Redruth Mining District 9 – North Treskerby Mine, the 80″ Pumping Engine House on Doctor’s shaft. This mine worked from 1859-1892 producing 19,270 tons of copper and 150 tons of tin.
Redruth Mining District
Redruth Mining District 10 – When I visited the site in the mid 1990’s the shaft in front of the house was still open.
Redruth Mining District
Redruth Mining District 11 – A final image of the graceful engine house, standing on a hill it is a landmark that can be seen for miles around.
Redruth Mining District
Redruth Mining District 12 – The Engine House of Pennance Mine near Lanner, it worked from 1866-1872 producing 590 tons of Copper.
Redruth Mining District
Redruth Mining District 13 – This is Baronet’s Engine House, built in 1866, this held a 50″ pumping engine.
Redruth Mining District
Redruth Mining District 14 – Since these images were taken in the mid 1990’s the site has been cleared and stabilised.
Redruth Mining District
Redruth Mining District 15 – Tresavean Mine was the third largest copper producing mine in Cornwall, this is the 32″ Stamps Engine House. It worked during the years 1815-1927 producing 197,720 tons of Copper and 1,678 tons of Tin.
For more images follow this link: Tresavean Mine Gallery
Redruth Mining District
Redruth Mining District 16 – Standing high above the town of Redruth the stack of Penandrea Mine. The mine worked from 1854-1891 producing 7,700 Tons of Tin and 1,090 Tons of Copper.
Redruth Mining District
Redruth Mining District 17 – Redruth was once the mining capital of the world. Surrounded by mines it became the centre of commerce for the Cornish Mining Industry. This is the Mining Exchange building, it dates from 1880. The building to the right was the old Post Office and the Bain and Field’s Bank.
Redruth Mining District
Redruth Mining District 18 – These ornate buildings are opposite the train station in Redruth. The one on the left is dated 1891, mining stocks and shares would have been traded here.
For more images follow this link: Redruth Town Gallery
Redruth Mining District
Redruth Mining District 19 – The impressive survival of the Tolgus Calciner along the Old Portreath road. This was taken in the 1990’s, but since then it has deteriorated significantly.
For more images follow this link: Tolgus Calciner Gallery
Redruth Mining District
Redruth Mining District 20 – The Tolgus Tin Streaming Mill was the last to work in Cornwall. It sadly closed in the late 1980’s following the crash in Tin prices, today it’s a Working Museum. These are the preserved Cornish Stamps in the processing sheds.
For more images follow this link: Tolgus Tin Gallery
Redruth Mining District
Cornish Mine Images 21 – The area around in and around Tolskithy Valley also bears the scars of much mining activity. The Tolgus mines, Wheal Tehidy, Wheal Fortune to name but a few. Taken during the early 1990’s this image shows the huge spoil heaps (burrows) that still existed.
Cornish Mine Images
Cornish Mine Images 22 – Close to the A30 bridge that crosses the Tolskithy Valley are the remains of some Arsenic flues. The photo dates from the 1990’s,  but I should probably check to see how the area has changed.
Cornish Mine Images
Cornish Mine Images 23 – A closer image of the remains, also the A30 bridge can just be seen on the right.
Cornish Mine Images
Cornish Mine Images 24 – The three chimneys that stand on the West side of Tolskithy Valley at West Tolgus. This was taken during the 1990’s, certainly one of the historic landmarks of the Redruth area.
Cornish Mine Images
Cornish Mine Images 25 – A closer images of the chimneys, they are very visible from the A30 and are a main feature of the landscape. One of the chimneys belongs to Wheal Raven pumping engine, the house of which is long sadly demolished.
For more information on the Chimneys Click Here
Cornish Mine Images
Cornish Mine Images 26 – Wheal Rose Mine near Scorrier worked between 1826-1872. The engine house was converted to a dwelling several years ago.
Cornish Mine Images
Cornish Mine Images 27 – Another image of the finely proportioned engine house.
Cornish Mine Images
Cornish Mine Images 28 – A final image of the engine house from the boiler house side. Scaffolding at the rear indicates the conversion work had recently started (mid 1990’s).
Cornish Mine Images
Cornish Mine Images 29 – An image of Wheal Peevor Mine framed by the buildings at West Peevor Mine. This mine worked from 1872-1918 producing 3,280 tons of tin. The three engine houses from left to right are: the 32″ Stamps, 70″ Pumping house on Sir Frederick’s shaft and the 18″ whim (winding) house.
Cornish Mine Images
Cornish Mine Images 30 – A dramatic image of the 70″ Pumping house on Sir Frederick’s shaft. Certainly, one of the most well known mines in the area as they can be seen from the main A30.
For more images follow this link: Wheal Peevor Mine
Cornish Mine Images
Cornish Mine Images 31 – The derelict site of Wheal Concord Mine. This was taken in the 1990’s before the site was sold, the wooden headframe still survives.
For more images follow this link: Wheal Concord Mine
Cornish Mine Images
Cornish Mine Images 32 – Wheal Uny Mine, the two engine houses on Hind’s Shaft. The further engine house contained the mine’s 70″ Pumping Engine, the closer contained the Whim. The mine worked during the years 1800-1930 producing 2,825 ton Copper and 7,660 tons of Tin.
Cornish Mine Images
Cornish Mine Images 33 – The final image on this page, a photograph of the 70″ Pumping Engine house of Wheal Uny.
For more images follow this link: Wheal Uny Mine

So that is the end of The Central Mining District pages.

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