Wheal Trewavas Mine Panorama
by Terri Waters
Title
Wheal Trewavas Mine Panorama
Artist
Terri Waters
Medium
Photograph
Description
It was just before Storm Brian hit Cornwall on 23rd October 2017 that the weather broke for a while. Making the most of the opportunity to get out for some air I decided to avoid the usual storm chaser spots and went to the quieter area of Rinsey between Porthleven and Mounts Bay. It was a good choice as the cliffs and sea looked spectacular.
Perched precariously on the cliffs to the east of Trewavas Head on the south coast of Cornwall are the two engine houses that form the remains of Wheal Trewavas mine. The mine worked four copper lodes which ran in a south easterly direction under the sea bed. These were the North Lode; Sowan Way Lode; Trewavas South (Old) Lode and Nimble Cutter Lode. There was also a tin lode which ran across the other lodes in an east to west direction. Three shafts were sunk.
The operation ran between 1834 and 1846 and was a moderately succesful mine employing around 160 men and bringing up around 17,500 tons of copper ore valued at over £100,000 in those days. The mine was eventually flooded and abandoned. It is likely this was allowed to happen due to the diminishing yield making it unviable to continue mining.
Because of the way the engine houses cling to the cliff side the walls on the seaward side of the engine houses are significantly taller to compensate for the slope.
Featured in the groups:
Art District10/23/2017
Lady Photographers10/28/2017
No Place Like Home11/05/2017
Uploaded
October 22nd, 2017
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