Wendron Mining District - Ennys Wheal Virgin

OS Explorer Map 103: Grid reference SW562324

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Ennys Wheal Virgin lies one mile northeast of St. Hilary in the Wendron Mining District. The mine included nearby Wheal Gurlyn in its operations from time to time and like Wheal Gurlyn, it worked two lodes.

Ennys Wheal Virgin worked North Lode from Francis' Shaft, Vincent Engine Shaft, Gregor's Shaft and Craze's Shaft. South Lode was developed from Old Engine Shaft, Taylor's Shaft and Gurlyn Shaft.

There is not a lot of information on Ennys Wheal Virgin but there are reports stating that between 1845 and 1847 it produced 2,065 tons of 7% copper ore.

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