The Mines of Redruth - Wheal Sparnon

OS Explorer Map 104: Grid reference SW704417

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Wheal Sparnon sett lies about a quarter of a mile southeast of Redruth Station. It is bounded on the west by East Carn Brea Mine and by Wheal trefusis on the south. The mine worked four main lodes. Sparnon Lode was worked from Elvan Shaft, New Engine Shaft; Garby's Shaft, Old Engine Shaft, Sprague's Shaft, Opie's Shaft, Carbis' Shaft, Footway Shaft, Diagonal Shaft and Water Whim Shaft. Cobalt Lode was cut by Opie's Shaft and Belfry's Shaft. Belfry's Lode was worked from Belfry's Shaft. There was also another lode called North Lode, but there are no reports of shaft names on this lode. Wheal Sparnon produced 1,547 tons of 8.5% copper ore between 185 and 1827 as well as traces of cobalt and gold especially from Cobalt Lode.

Thomas Spargo states in his book The Mines of Cornwall (1865) that Wheal Sparnon was '... in the parish of Redruth, Cornwall, in 6,000 shares. Secretary, Mr. G. H. Cardozo, London. Purser, Mr. W. P. Cardozo, Camborne. Manager, Captain Wm. Tregay, Redruth. Rocks, granite and clay-slate, 60 men employed in the mine, operations on the surface of which commenced in 1864. Landowner, Lord Clinton. Dues, l-20th. Depth of adit, 18 fathoms; depth under adit, 60 fathoms. A 70-inch pumping-engine just completed, also a 22-inch winding-engine. Little has been as yet done by the present Company under the surface; but it is generally believed that enormous quantities of tin will be raised after the mine has been cleared of water'.

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).

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