The Penwith Mining District - Tolvadden Mine

OS Explorer Map 102: Grid reference SW531305

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Tolvadden Mine was situated approximately half way between Marazion and Perranuthnoe, in south-west Cornwall. This mine should not be confused with the area of Tolvaddon to the north of Camborne-Redruth.

Tolvadden was an ancient copper and tin mine, it is known to have been at work in 1787. Its sett lay to the east of the hamlet of Trevenner, near Henvor Farm and south of the B3280 road where it meets the main A394 Penzance to Helston road. Its nearest neighbours were Jewell Mine that lay on land to the north of the road, Trenow Consols to the southeast and the mines of Tregurtha Downs to the northeast.

Thomas Spargo reports on the state of Tolvadden Mine in his book of 1865 entitled 'The Mines of Cornwall and Devon; Statistics and Observations'. He reports that Tolvadden Mine was, '... in the parishes of Marazion and St. Hilary, Cornwall, in 6,000 shares. Purser and Manager, Mr. Absalom Bennett, Marazion. Rock: clay-slate, influenced by carns of elvan. Number of persons employed, 75, made up by: 40 men, 20 females, and 15 boys. Landowners, Messrs. St. Aubyn, Bolitho, Patten, Bennett, and Laity. Dues, 1-18th, except in Bolitho's part, where the dues are 1-15th. Depth of mine to adit, 27 fathoms; under adit, 103 fathoms. Workings commenced in 1857. There has been a profit on the working, but the dividend has been in abeyance since.

At one time the prospects in the mine were such as to encourage expectations of large dividends, which have remained unfulfilled. We are glad to hear, however, that the lode is renewing its productive character, in the bottom levels, and that a new range of the ground is likely to be opened by deeper sinkings, which, it is probable, will contribute to the success of the proprietory, who deserve well of the mining world, not only for their geological judgment in the selection of the ground, but also for the perseverance manifested in pursuing the ore deposits, which, as is the case in all mines, have occasionally shown phases of a discouraging nature; but these, we hope, are only temporary obstacles such as are incident to all mundane affairs, and which, when surmounted, open up a field of permanent prosperity.'.

Production records show that between 1857 and 1866, the mine sold 10,742 tons of 6.25% copper ore. In 1864-65 it sold tin worth £2,353, 8 tons of zinc ore in 1865 and 3 tons of 70% lead ore in 1863.

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