The Caradon Mining District - South Phoenix Mine

OS Explorer Map 109: Grid reference SX262716

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South Phoenix Mine, including Greenhill Mine and formerly known as Wheal Prosper, lies just to the south of Phoenix United Mine and north of Minions Village, in the Caradon Mining District. The mine worked six main lodes (from north to south: Trelawney's (otherwise known as Shelstone's) Lode; Greenhill Lode worked from New shaft and North (or Hazeldine's) Shaft; Grace Dieu Lode, worked from Parson's Shaft and Houseman's Shaft and Prosper No.1, No.2 and No.3 Lodes, worked from New Shaft and Wheal Prosper Shaft. Incidentally, the engine house over Houseman's Shaft, now 'Minions Heritage Centre', housed a 50-inch pumping engine and was built in 1881 and was named in honour of the Company Chairman. The engine was sold on in 1895.

Thomas Spargo, the mining historian, writes a little in his book 'The Mines of Cornwall and Devon: Statistics and Observations' in 1864, that South Phoenix Mine was '... In Linkinhorne, in Duchy land, and adjoins Phoenix sett at the west. There are six of the Marke Valley lodes in this sett. Deepest level is 166 fathoms, at which the company are now driving a cross-cut to take the lodes. One 28-inch pumping and winding engine. Men employed, 20 (1861.) Agent, Captain J. Barkell; purser, Mr. J. J. Truthan; secretary, Mr. H. Heane, London'.

Now that 'World Heritage' status has been achieved Cornwall in Focus will monitor developments and learn how the mines of the Caradon 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