Mines of the Callington District - Princess of Wales Mine

OS Explorer Map 108: Grid reference SX368702

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The mines immediately north of Callington have been known by a large number of names throughout their history. Wheal Florence, once it absorbed Wheal Tonkin was known as Florence and Tonkin United and as Wheal Florence Consols. The group became Callington Consols on the addition of Princess of Wales Mine and Lady Ashburton Mine.

The mine worked three main lodes. These were Main Lode worked from Saw's Shaft and Knowling's or Verran's Shaft, Lead Lode and Hooper's Lode. Tonkin Shaft worked the East Wheal Florence (tonkin) section of the mine. Princess of Wales Mine also worked three lodes: Vosper's, Great Gossan Lode and South Tin Lode from Harris' Engine Shaft.

Thomas Spargo, the mining historian, wrires of East Wheal Florence, in his book, 'The Mines of Cornwall and Devon: Statistics and Observations' in 1865, he states '... in Callington, Cornwall, in 6,000 shares. Purser, Mr. Knowling, Devonport. Manager, Captain William Verran, Callington. Landowner, Lady Ashburton. Depth of adit, 15 fathoms ; depth below, 6 feet (shaft now being sunk). 21 men and 1 boy employed. Pumping-engine, 25-inch. Rock, clay-slate.
Commenced Midsummer 1863 — prospects good, for the small amount of development.'.

Now that 'World Heritage' status has been achieved Cornwall in Focus will monitor developments and learn how the mines of the Tamar Valley Mining District fare within the overall Mining framework.

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