Wendron Mining District - East Wheal Lovell

OS Explorer Map 103: Grid reference SW704318

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East Wheal Lovell tin mine lies about one and threequarter miles northeast of Wendron and includes Tregonebris and Fatwork mines. The sett can be thought of as an amalgamation of three distinct sections, with one centered on Tregonebris Mine, one on Fatwork Mine and the third section on the area around Colonel's Shaft to the north of Seworgan.

The Tregonebis section of the mine worked a number of lodes, including: Engine Lode, worked from New Engine Shaft; Roger's Lode, worked from Highburrow Shaft, New Whim Shaft, Roger's Shaft and Lanyon Shaft. North Lode meanwhile was also cut by Roger's and Lanyon Shafts.
The Fatwork section of the mine worked North Lode from New Shaft and South Lode from Wheel Pit Shaft and Engine Shaft. Also present was Turnpike Shaft.

Records show that Tregonebris Mine was at work by 1850 but was not viable and so was abandoned in 1854 with the main focus of working moved to the Fatwork Mine area. Work on Colonel's Shaft commenced as late as 1880 and there was a brief reworking here between 1926 and 1929. Production records are as follows: 2,405 tons of black tin raised beteen 1859 and 1891, as well as 2 tons raised in 1901.

Thomas Spargo writes in his 'The Mines of Cornwall and Devon; Statistics and Observations' (1865) that East Wheal Lovell was '... In the parish of Wendron, about three miles eastward of Helston, was set to work in May, 1857. The dues are to Duchy l-15th, Hon. A. M. Agar, 1-lSth. It was worked at a loss for some time and in 1,860 shares which a short time before were purchased at £7, could be had for 6d. The agents however, had hopes that by working; the part called " Fatwork," they would redeem their position — which hopes have been fully realised by the declaration of a dividend of 7s. 6d. per share, in September, 1863. The following report of the manager shows the present value of the different workings:—

The sump-shaft, sinking below the 26, is down 6 fathoms towards the 36; the lode over is 6 feet wide, worth £100 per fathom, and it has been worth quite £100 per fathom from the 17 to the present depth ; and considering that it is only about twelve months since this discovery took place, the reserves are very considerable. The back of the 26 is worth £70 per fathom, stoping by two men. The rise against the new discovery is worth £60 per fathom; and the winze sinking below the 14 is worth £70 per fathom; altogether, therefore, the mine never looked so well as at present, and fully improving in its position and profitableness, and in the next 12 months we shall, I think, increase our returns by three times the present quantity of tin. Purser, Henry Rogers, Helston; Manager, John Burgan, Helston; agents, Joseph Bryant. and S. Davey, jun.'.

For more information on production dates and so on please see Roger Burt's excellent book Cornish Mines: Metalliferous and Associated Minerals, 1845-1913 (Mineral Statistics of the United Kingdom, 1845-1913) or what is widely regarded as the mining enthusiasts bible by H G Dines - The Metalliferous Mining Region of South-West England: Vols I & II (Economic Memoirs).

For those of you with possibly a little more time to explore, once you've done 'the tourist bit', why not explore Cornwall's industrial heritage through its Tin and Copper Mines or learn more from my Cornish Bookstore