Wendron Mining District - North Wheal Lovell

OS Explorer Map 103: Grid reference SW699329

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North Wheal Lovell sett lies one and a half miles northeast of Wendron. The mine includes Garlidna, Ruby and Polengrean Mines and was formerly known as Garlidna United. The sett borders Basset and Grylls Mine on the west. The sett can be thought of as having four distinct sections: To the southwest was North Lovell, to the southeast was Polengrean Mine, to the northwest lay Garlidna and to the northeast lay Wheal Ruby. Taken as a whole, there are reportedly 24 lodes on the sett. The chief lodes were Burning House Lode, Town Lode, Garlidna Lode and New Lode.

Shafts include Plomer's, Cope's, Burning House, Garlidna Engine Shaft, Flat Rod, New Shaft and Ruby Engine Shaft. The Management team at the mine was James Rowe between 1869-71 and Joseph Prisk between 1880 and 1881. Production figures are 136 tons of copper ore in 1847 from Ruby; 174 tons tin and 3 tons copper ore between 1861 and 1880 from Garlidna; North Lovell meanwhile produced just over 5 tons of tin worth just over £389 in 1873-74.

Thomas Spargo writes in his 'The Mines of Cornwall and Devon; Statistics and Observations' (1865) that North Wheal Lovell (aka Garlidna United) was '... in Wendron, Cornwall, in 4,096 shares. Mr. J. G. Plomer Helston, is the Purser. Captain James Rowe, Camborne, Manager. Duke of Cornwall, Mineral Owner. Dues, 1-18th. The rock is granite. Adit, 4 fathoms deep, depth of mine under adit, 24 fathoms. 35 men, 8 females, and 10 boys employed. Pumping-engine, 65 inches ; Stamping-engine, 30 inches.

Mineral Sold In 1864 was 5 tons, 5 cwt. realising £241 10/- 2d

The mineral workings in several parts of Wendron are very ancient—particularly in and near this mine. The most recent workings here, before the present Company took it, were began by a Company formed by the late Captain William Brenton, in or about the year 1840; at which time Ruby Mine was united with it. The present Company commenced in March, 1860 ; since which about £29,000 has been expended, of which £3,000 was expended in 1864. The returns are small as compared with the expense'.

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