The post Gravel Hill Mine appeared first on Explore Cornwall.
]]>At the northern end of Perranporth beach smuggled in the cliff is the scant remains of Gravel Hill Mine.
Once part of Penhale Iron Mine, this small working remained an iron mine throughout its life, although under several different ownerships. While the mine was at work from 1724, little to no information remains from its earlier periods. By the 1860’s it had a 11.5” puffer engine at work, which powered the incline down to the main mine entrance. Ore was then taken from here to the Gannel for shipment.
In 1872 it was under the ownership of Cornish Consolidated Iron Mines Corporation, under which it was reached by the Cornwall Minerals Railway; Gravel Hill was the terminus of the Shepherd’s to Gravel Hill branch which was constructed in 1874 and was used until 1888. The line of the railway now roughly follows the road paved through the dunes.
From 1877 the mine was then owned by Great Perran Iron Ore and Iron Company Ltd and by 1878 was under New Perran Mineral Company Ltd. While the output is reported up until 1882, there is little extra information about this mine, suggesting it was likely abandoned at this time.
Dine’s names two shafts, Borlase (60 fathoms/110m) and Shepherd’s, although there are many others dotted around the site. The primary lode is the Great Perran Iron Lode which was also worked by its neighbours Halwyn, Duchy Peru and Deerpark among others. Penhale mine may have also worked part of this lode in its most southern section.
The site did boast at least two engine houses, although by the 2004 survey only a little remained of one. Output between 1874 and 1882 came to 7,400 tons (7,518,747 kg) of brown haematite (Fe2O3), 300 tons (304,814 kg) of mixed limonite (a mix of hydrated iron oxides) and spathic ore (siderite, FeCO3) and 40 tons (40,642 kg) of 40% zinc.
Access to the adit area on the beach level is available either from the beach or following the incline trail down from the coastpath. While both adits have been securely gated, this is still a dangerous area.
The area that supposedly has the remains of the engine houses is on private land.
The nearest parking is either available at Perranporth or Holywell Bay.
Cole, R. and Tapper, B. (2004) Penhale Training Area, Cornwall. Available at: http://map.cornwall.gov.uk/reports_event_record/2004/2004R014.pdf.
Dines, H. G. (1956) The metalliferous mining regions of south-west England. British Geological Survey.
Hamilton-Jenkin, A. K. (1963) Mines and Miners of Cornwall: VII Perranporth & Newquay. Truro: Truro Bookshop.
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]]>Dotted along the coast between Holywell and Perranporth are the remains of several lead and silver mines, the two largest being Penhale and Wheal Golden. Both of these followed a north to south lode and were worked as both independent companies and joint ventures with some of its neighbours.
The Penhale section was first recorded in 1777 although little else is known about this period. The next mention is in 1820 when an engine was erected and Penhale and two years later a smelting house put to work at Wheal Golden. The same year 60.5 pounds (27 kg) of silver was removed from Wheal Golden. However, this progress came to a halt in 1824 when a drop in lead prices resulting in Wheal Golden’s closure, with Penhale following not long after.
Penhale reopened for a short time in 1830, but it wasn’t until 1848 when a new company named Wheal Golden Consols was formed with Wheal Golden and East Wheal Golden that much work occurred. In 1851 flooding in the Penhale section of the group cost its profits for that periods in repairs. The mine closed again in 1855.
The years 1866 to 67 saw another attempt at reworking Wheal Golden, again unsuccessful. In the same year Penhale was reopened under the Penhale and Lomax Company; during this reworking two new engines, a count house and numerous other buildings were erected at great expense. This quickly led to the bankruptcy of one its main shareholders and placed the business into liquidation. Two further attempts were made to work both Penhale and Wheal Golden between 1867-71 and 1871-73, respectively, with some success, but this was the sections final hurrah.
Over the course of their many lives, both mines and its amalgamations had a number of engine houses. Prior to 1820 a 58″ double acting engine was installed at Penhale and during the 1850’s a 50″ pumping engine, a hauling and crushing engine and three horse whims were erected at Wheal Golden Consols. The Penhale and Lomax Company installed a 66″ pumping engine and a 24″ whim during their expensive refitting of the site.
Both sites used numerous shafts, only some of which were named. These include Young (70-fathoms/128m), Maxwell’s (70-fathoms/128m), Engine (100-fathoms/183m), Whim (100-fathoms/183m), Hall’s (90-fathoms/165m) and Leggo’s (70-fathoms/128m).
A fenced shaft with the count house in behind, and Scott inspecting the remains of something.
In 1777 Penhale raised 41 tons (41,658 kg) of ore. Between 1849-55 Wheal Golden produced 2,560 tons (2,601,080 kg) 68% lead and 24,200 oz (686 kg) silver. From 1849-70 Penhale brought up 100 tons (101,605 kg) 8% copper, 1,270 tons (1,290,380 kg) 69% lead, 7,150 oz (203 kg) silver, 7,060 tons (7,173,291 kg) brown haematite (Fe₂O₃) and 82 tons (83,316 kg) of spathic ore (FeO₃).
Access is available to anyone along the coastpath between Perranporth and Holywell Bay, although some sections may be unsuitable for those with mobility issues. While the vast majority of the shafts in this section have been secured in some fashion, many are very close to the cliff edge and remain dangerous. While you can view many of the shafts from the coastpath they shouldn’t been approached.
The closest parking is either at Perranporth or Holywell Bay.
Cole, R. and Tapper, B. (2004) Penhale Training Area, Cornwall. Available at: http://map.cornwall.gov.uk/reports_event_record/2004/2004R014.pdf.
Dines, H. G. (1956) The metalliferous mining regions of south-west England. British Geological Survey.
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