Wheal Prosper is a lovely little engine house right on the coast at Rinsey Head. Unlike its name, this mine was fairly unsuccessful, opening in 1860 on the end of Trewevas’s sett, mining mostly tin and a little copper. It worked for six years, closing in 1866.

Wheal Prosper

The only real prominent remaining feature is the 30″ pumping engine on Engine shaft. It was built using local slate and granite, and when consolidated with local materials by the National Trust in 1970-71. The only other engine house on the site was the combined whim and stamps engine. This housed a 20″ rotative engine, also built in 1860, and drove 16 heads of stamps. Nothing of this remains today.

Wheal Prosper
Wheal Prosper

The adit comes out at the foot of the cliffs, which can be reached down the path to the beach.