The Wendron Mining District was the scene of industrial activity from prehistoric times until the decline of mining in the late nineteenth early twentieth centuries. It has one of the longest histories of tin working of any district within Cornwall and was the most important source of alluvial tin in west Cornwall. By the 1580's underground mining was well advanced within the District when it was recorded that two of the three most important tin mines in Kerrier were Roselidden, later part of the Trumpet Consols group, and Porkellis Mine. The third was 'Gorlimoe' .

The number of recorded mineral ventures within Wendron is 640, the second highest for any mining district in the Duchy however many of the mines and stream works date from prehistoric times and there are therefore no records of many long forgotten operations.

The District is the least researched in Cornwall. Of the many hundreds of archaeological surveys of mining sites in the County none have been conducted within the Wendron District. Only two books have been published on the mining industry of the District: Wendron Tin by A.K. Hamilton Jenkin (commissioned by Poldark Mine) 1978 and The Tin Streamers of Wendron by Justin Brooke 1994. The District was noticeably missing from Hamilton Jenkin's much sought after series 'The Mines and Miners of Cornwall'. The reasons for the lack of information and understanding appear to be twofold: with little development pressure and a lack of funding the Cornwall Archaeological Unit have had no funding to enable them to carry out surveys here; the district was important during a time for which there is little readily accessible written information. Not surprisingly the final boundary for the Wendron District of the proposed World Heritage Site, drawn up by the 'expert panel' advising the Bid Team, has placed significant mining remains, associated with mines within the boundary, outside it.

Glebe Stamps with the engine house of West Wendron Consols in the background - One of the earliest pictures of the district

Royal Institute of Cornwall Photographic Archive

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Notes on some of the mines of the district

Balcoath or Ballcoath was recorded as working in 1644. It is said to have had the first Newcomen engine in the County C1718. Fueled by turf the engine was later moved to Tregonebris Mine and later to Trevenen Mine. (see Steam in Cornwall)

When the Wendron United Mines were reopened in 1908 the site of lime setting and a pipe dated 1650 were found in the old workings, evidence of 17th century working of the mine and the only record of lime setting in the County. Lime setting was used to racture the rock in the days before the use of explosives. The working of Basset and Grylls Mine go back to at least 1574 as the Redde Worke later turned into the Cornish Ball Reeth. It was at this mine on 24th August 1858 that 7 miners were killed when a surface slimes pond collapse into the mine flooding it. This was the worse mining accident recorded in the district.

Trenethick Wood Mine was described in 1724 as 'an old mine considerably developed, anciently worked for tin which is still found in the upper levels. Worked at present for copper which sells for £15 per ton, 40 tons of ore recovered in 6 months and transported to Warrington via Hayle for smelting'. It was here in 1799 that Richard Trevithick installed a plunger pole pump worked by water pressure.

Wheal Franchise worked principally for copper in 1723, employing 40 miners and selling 18.5 tons of copper ore which sold for £23 per ton plus 3,000 sacks of tin ore, two of which make a seam (horse load). The mine was pumped at one time by a Bull engine. It was known as Franchus in 1670 Balmynheer is recorded as a very ancient mine which was working in 1676. When the Tregonibris Mine was reopened in 1850 a shaft, described at the time as, sunk by 'the old men' and worked by means of a water wheel was opened up in the bottom of which were discovered the remains of tools and a wooden lift of pumps.

Poligey Moor Mine is described as working from 'time immemorial' by streaming and shallow lode mining Calvadnick Mine was reopened in 1850 having been worked 100 years earlier Boswin Mine was reopened in 1907 and was one of the first mines in the County to install electricity to supply power. The electricity was supplied by a gas engine using anthracite fuel. Wheal Puffet was described as an ancient mine worked by the old men centuries before when reopened in 1907.

A rare 'Cost Book company' share certificate for 15 of the 2,784 parts (shares) in Wheal Lovell, April 1872. R.Williams collection

Ninnis Mine was worked by a water wheel, the lode was very flat and easy to walk up and down. Numerous tin veins have been worked in the valleys of this district by ancient tin miners, old miners still speak strongly of the potential, their opinion strengthened by the prevalence of 'ignis fatuus' here known as 'tin lanterns'. Cunnack 1900 Wheal Valls, an ancient mine reopened in 1848 when the lode was for many years the principal support of Trumpet Consols group. It was worked by a 48" engine with wooden beam which previously worked at Wheal Ann, the engine was not removed until 1889, the very last of its type in Cornwall.

Trevenen Mine was described in 1810 as anciently worked by flat rods from a water wheel in the Cober Valley, the mine being described as very rich and working to the 130 fathom level. Great East Lovell is described as 'a swindle got up professedly to work the ground east of East Lovell at the time that Fatwork Mine was rich'. Like numerous Wendron mines it was worked by a Helston company formed by Henry Rogers, a solicitor. No lode was ever found .

Great Wheal Lovell was worked as Wheal Lovell between 1840-45 by Mrs. Lydia Taylor, Cornwall's only lady mine manager. The earliest known lease for a tin stamps in Cornwall dates from 1493 when a lease was issued to John Trenere, freeman, for Trenear Tin Stamps and leats supplying water to them by the Duchy of Cornwall. Unique evidence of prehistoric tin working in the form of mortar hole depressions in bed rock was discovered in 2000 following heavy rain in the car park of Poldark Mine. Following inspection by Dr. Sandy Gerrard, Monuments Protection Officer, English Heritage the site is to be declared a Scheduled Ancient Monument. In 1779 Wendron Parish was the most populated mining district with 9,000 inhabitants - Camborne, Redruth and Illogan, considered by many the most important mining districts, had a combined population of 4,400 demonstrating that Wendron was still the most important mining district.

A postcard of the Polighey Mine, one of the last mines to work in the District - note the airial tramway

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Wendron District Survey

Dr. Sandy Gerrard, the authority on the ancient British tin industry, surveying the Poldark Mortar Stone for English Heritage

 

At Poldark we have commenced the first detailed survey of the Wendron Mining District. The plan is an overlay of the 6" OS map and includes information from all known sources and from the start of field surveys..

Wendron Mines

 

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WENDRON CONSOLS

We are currently copying the entries in the Wendron Consols Tribute Setting Book for the period 1857 to 1860. The pages contain a lot of valuable information including the names of many of the miners employed during that period. One fact that has come to light and not before recorded is that a lode known as Engine Lode was worked.

Examples of the many hundreds of entries:

Sett October 30 th 1857 Wendron Consols Tribute Setting for November 1857

Leavings at Trenear Stamps

Peter Moyle all the frames stuff at Trenear Stamps west of the east end of the Great Catch Pit with the coming stuff. To employ not less than 10 able bodied persons to provide all materials except frames and hand barrows, to sample as often as the Agents direct, to be paid £60 per ton for black tin. The returning cheque subject to the rules of the Mine and to forfeit for every neglect or breach of duty as the Agents shall fix, until the setting for March 1858.

Taken @ 10/- in the £ By Peter Moyle

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Sett November 27 th 1857 Wendron Consols Tribute Setting for December 1857

The Tributors to be paid £50 per ton for Black Tin and to pay 3/- per 100 sacks for drawing

Richard Wearne and partner. The leavings in the Adit to extend from the bridge leading to Hill’s Shaft 30 fathoms south and 30 fathoms north for one month by one man and a boy.

Taken @ 15/- in the £

By: Richard Wearne and sons

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Wendron Consols Tribute Setting for June 1858 Set May 28 th 1858

The Tributors to be paid £60 per ton for Black Tin and to pay 3/- per 100 sacks for drawing.

Bennett Treloar & partners: a Pitch in the bottom of the 40 Fathom Level west of Hill’s Shaft on Flander’s Lode. To extend from Prisk’s Winze 5 fathoms west and 3 fathoms below by 4 men for one month.

Taken @ 5/6 in the £

By: Bennett Treloar, Thomas Richards, Bennett Treloar jnr., Jenkin.

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Wendron Consols Tribute Setting for January 1860

Hurler’s Lode

Henry Dennis. A Pitch in the bottom of the 22 Fathom Level west of Hurler’s Shaft. To extend from a mark in the south wall 5 fathoms west and 7 fathoms east of the East Tackle. X fathoms below by four men for month to expiry when holed.

Taken @ 7/6 in the £

By: Henry Dennis, Henry Pryor, John Pascoe, Henry Dennis jnr.

There are many entries in the book showing relatives working together, as was the custom in Cornish mines

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Names of Tributors listed in the Tribute Book of Wendron Consols Mine during 1857

43 Tributors are named. The name of the Tributor taking a Pitch appears on each entry however only in a few cases has the name of the Tributor’s partners been included.

The names of Tutworkers are not included within the Tribute Setting Book.

John Bishop, James Champion, Samuel Christopher, Henry Dennis, Henry Dennis jnr., James Dennis, James Dunstan, John Dunstan, John Gluyas

Henry Hodge , John Jeffery, Henry Jenkin, Thomas Jenkin, William Jenkin, Josiah Jewell, Bennett Pryor, John Reed , James Richards

Thomas Richards, Walter Richards, William Roberts , Samual Rogers, James Moyle , Peter Moyle, James Oppie, Alexander Pearce ,

John Pearce, John Perry, Richard Perry, James Tailour

 

 

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Wendron Consols was situated to the west of this site and immediately adjoining it. In 1864 the mine sold 117 tons of Black Tin for £7,153 17 shillings and 6 pence. 184 men, 61 women and 50 boys were employed. The mine was 72 fathoms (150 meters) deep. Its machinery included a 60inch cylinder Cornish Pumping Engine and a 20 inch cylinder winding engine. The tin ores were brought to Poldark, then known as Trenear Stamps, where they were treated ready for sale to the smelters. All the women were employed above ground in dressing the tin ores.

If you have any information on or are interested in the Wendron Mining District contact Richard Williams at Poldark Mine, email: info@poldarkmine.co.uk Telephone +44 (0)1326 573 173