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]]>All along the cliffs from Perranporth to Cligga Head are prosperous mine workings that have worked under several names and often together. These include: Great St George, Perran St George, Wheal Perran, Perran United, Good Fortune and Droskyn.
The workings all along this stretch of coast are ancient, the cliff face littered with old adits. While all of the old mines were separate ventures under their own names, they’ve crossed over and amalgamated so many times that it’s difficult to distinguish where one ends and another begins. For that reason they’re all going to be included in the same post, covering all of the workings from Droskyn (which has its own post), up to Cligga Head.
Great St George was first mentioned as far back as 1589. In 1779 there were some disputes over land ownership. From 1825 the sett was acquired by English Mining Association along with Wheal Leisure, a prominent mine in Perranporth.
Over the next ten years the miners found a rich pillar of copper, producing very pure ore with few impurities. In 1831 it worked alongside Droskyn again, sinking a new shaft; unfortunately no copper was found and this was abandoned. By 1836 output was also falling in the Wheal Leisure section.
In 1838 there was another legal dispute, this time between the English Mining Company and local Captain Vivian. The former had lost their grant, with Captain Vivian taking over the mine; Vivian won and was paid substantial damages. Unfortunately this lead to the closure of Wheal Leisure and soon after St George. Locals would then head out to the cliffs with their bucket and spade to collect fallen rocks, dress them and made a small profit. There was an attempt to amalgamate the mine in 1857, but the heyday of this mine was over. Small amounts of tin and tungsten were produced up until the 20th century, and some scratching around was done at Good Fortune shaft between 1901-09, its long history came to an end.
Wheal East (50 fathoms/91m), Mudge’s (50 fathoms/91m), Campbell’s (50 fathoms/91m), Burton’s (40 fathoms/73m), Vectis’ (40 fathoms/73m), Goyne’s (60 fathoms/110m), Humphrey’s (70 fathoms/128m), Engine (70 fathoms/128m), Stephen’s (60 fathoms/110m), Henry’s (60 fathoms/110m), Tregonning’s (60 fathoms/110m), South Engine (93 fathoms/170m), Catcher’s (30 fathoms/55m), Luke’s (40 fathoms/73m), Old Engine (80 fathoms/146m), Painter’s (50 fathoms/91m), Michell’s (50 fathoms/91m), Sump (43 fathoms/79m), Hawk’s, Letcher’s (106 fathoms/194m), Lemon (50 fathoms/91m), Devonshire (72 fathoms/132m), Giddy’s (30 fathoms/55m), Hodge’s, Footway (43 fathoms/m), East St George (40 fathoms/79m), Wheal Valley, New, Good Fortune, John’s/New Good Fortune and Pill’s.
Droskyn, Kernick’s North/Wheal East, Kernick’s South/Humphrey’s, Calloway’s, Dashwood’s, Lemon, Truscott’s, Coom’s, Hawk’s, Way’s, Letcher’s, Good Fortune/Great St George, Wheal Prudence and Caunter.
1800-04, 1808, 1828-32 and 1835-36 Great St George
29,544 tons (30,018,090 kg) of copper
1834-42 and 1862-64 Wheal Perran
3,200 tons (3,251,350 kg) of 7.75% copper, 20 tons (20,321 kg) of black tin and 10 cwt (508 kg) of lead
1854-55 Wheal Perran and Wheal Leisure
4,550 tons (4,623,013 kg) of 3.25% copper
1814-40, 1886-94 and 1899 Great St George and Droskyn
73,705 tons (74,887,737 kg) of 6% copper, 80 tons (81,284 kg) of black tin and 1.5 tons (1,524 kg) of tungsten
1815-16, 1845-60 and 1853-58 Perran St George
32,925 tons (33,453,344 kg) of copper, 16 tons (16,257 kg) of tin, 7 tons (7,112 kg) of zinc and 305 tons (309,894 kg) pyrite
1901-06 Good Fortune shaft
50 tons (50,802 kg) of tin, 4 tons (4,064 kg) of copper and 10 cwt (508 kg) of tungsten
There are few records pertaining to these mines, so its likely that more engine houses stood here. By 1830 there were 70″, 60″ and 40″ pumping engines. A year later a 36″ pumping engine was erected on a new shaft.
Access to the whole site is free for everyone as it all sits on public footpaths and open access land, however while many of the shafts have been filled in and fenced, stick to the paths to avoid falling down any holes.
The closest parking is at Perranporth.
Dines, H. G. (1956) The metalliferous mining regions of south-west England. British Geological Survey.
Hamilton-Jenkin, A. K. (1962) Mines and Miners of Cornwall: II St Agnes & Perranporth. Truro: Truro Bookshop.
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]]>On the cliffs between St Agnes and Perranporth are the ancient remains of Wheal Prudence.
Records date back to 1812, but many of the adits and other markers of the mine date from long before this. From 1825 it was purchased by English Mining Association along with Cligga and Perran St George, a venture which came to a halt in 1839 having reached 78 fathoms (143m) below adit. There was a 33″ pumping engine on the site at this time.
In 1862 it was reopened to work the seaward lodes and the western end of Perran St George, with the sinking of the very unique Island shaft. This was done on a rocky outcrop that the miners would reach via a wooden bridge, however by November of the same year the Mining Journal was calling it a failure. It was during 1862-3 that a 70″ pumping engine and 24″ whim were installed on the mine, these were destroyed in 1942 as they were believed to be too prominent a feature on the coastline during WWII (like those at Penhale and Wheal Golden, although many others were left standing).
From 1864 further attempts were made, but this came to a halt in 1868.
Old Engine (107 fathoms/196m), New Engine (72 fathoms/132m), Jacka (48 fathoms/88m), Pearce’s (48 fathoms/88m), Wheal Cock and Davey/Island (112 fathoms/205m).
Wheal Meadow, North/Prudence, South/New, Wheal Cock and Caunter Copper.
1821-65
7,000 tons (7,112,328 kg) of 5.75% copper.
1847-9
1 tons (1,016 kg) of black tin.
The whole site is on a public footpath and free to visit.
The closest carpark is a very small one at Trevellas Coombe, or slightly further away at Perranporth or St Agnes.
Acton, B. (2005) Around Perranporth, St Agnes and Portreath. Truro: Landfall Publications.
Dines, H. G. (1956) The metalliferous mining regions of south-west England. British Geological Survey.
Hamilton-Jenkin, A. K. (1962) Mines and Miners of Cornwall: II St Agnes & Perranporth. Truro: Truro Bookshop.
Ordish, H. G. (1968) Cornish Engine Houses: a Second Pictorial Survey. Trurp: D Bradford Barton Ltd.
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]]>The post St Agnes to Perranporth Walk appeared first on Explore Cornwall.
]]>The north coast of Cornwall has more beautiful stretches of coast path than you can shake a chough at, and the section between St Agnes and Perranporth is a popular one.
This walk will start off in the thriving village of St Agnes. Littered with quaint little streets, quirky shops and quintessential views, this is a great little visit. The coastpath begins just up from Trevaunance Cove, the main beach and climbs to give fabulous views.
Reaching the top, you’ll pass through the site of Wheal Kitty, with the remains of its later concrete workings on your right. The path winds through some of the waste dumps, and even without the sun out you can see the distinctive red and green colours.
Past the workings you should get your first view of Trevellas Combe. The path here is quite steep, but eventually makes its way down to the bottom of the valley, where you can take a short detour to visit the 60″ pumping engine house of Blue Hills mine. There are more bits and pieces of the mine scattered down by the little beach.
The paths goes up the other side of the valley and stretches on through the gorse before reaching the edge of Perranporth Airfield. The path does stray along the edges of the runway, but don’t go too far as planes do regularly use the area.
Past the airfield you’ll start heading into mining country again. The first being Wheal Prudence, of which little remains bar a large clwyd cap; this is a very ancient mine that was actually made up of several smaller ventures. This mine is unique in that it had a shaft sunk on one of the rocky prominences, stretgically named Island Shaft. This would have been reached via a wooden bridge, which must have been a beautiful spot on sunny days, but miserable when pelted with the full might of the Atlantic winter gales.
Next up are the striking red cliffs of Cligga Head, another ancient mine with the older workings taking the form of the pock marked cliff ahead. The concrete structures at the top of mine are from the early 20th century when it was reworked for tungsten.
The coastpath is also a great place to spot the locals. Choughs were reintroduced into Cornwall in 2001 and are a real treat to see. Other birds such as fulmar’s, black backed seagulls and stonechats are also a common site.
The coastpath winds through these concrete remnants and continues on towards Perranporth. The next red section of ground belongs to Perran St George, a very old copper mine. Little remains of this workings, although there are shafts and low stone walls dotted around.
As you get closer to the grand expanse of Perranporth, you’ll begin to see the rock arch and pitted cliffs of Droskyn Mine. Just after the youth hotel, if the tide is out, there’s a set of steps that head down to the beach and you can get a good look at the old adits.
This is the end of the walk, although Perranporth beach makes a good extra emplore, especially with Chapel Rock in the centre.
The whole walk is on public footpaths and open access land. Quite a lot of the paths are rocky and uneven. While much of the mine workings have been stabilised or fenced off, it’s advised to stick to the main path to avoid falling down any holes.
There is an old adit along the footpath – it doesn’t lead anywhere but that doesn’t mean it’s safe to enter.
There is a small pay and display carpark (free in Winter) at Trevaunance Cove, a very small free carpark at Trevellas and ample pay and display parking at Perranporth.
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