Mines of Redruth - Wheal Union

View Larger Map

Located between the Blowinghouse area of western Redruth and the centre of town, Wheal Union lies mainly south of the Camborne - Redruth road and adjacent to Carn Brea and Tincroft Mine. Records state that the mine produced over 3800 tons of tinstone between 1853 and 1866 and also some black tin.

The mine is thought to have been an amalgamation of the former mines of Gweal Paul, Wheal Goodspeed, Hoskings Wheal Silver and Wheal Captain. Wheal Union itself opened in about 1848 producing little and closing again in 1854. The mine worked on the following lodes: Druid's, MacDonald's, Vigur's, Old North, Teague's, Chyandower and Wheel Breeches Lodes. There were at least seven shafts on the sett including: Old Engine Shaft, Western Shaft, Engine Shaft, Eastern Shaft, Breeches Engine Shaft and Moyle's Shaft.

The following year the mine was reopened but costs outweighed production so the mine struggled on until 1866. In 1864 according to Thomas Spargo in his book The Mines of Cornwall, the Purser was Mr George Lightley, the Manager was Captain Thomas Glanville and the land was owned by James Wentworth Buller Esq., William Williams Esq., and Thomas James Agar-Robartes of Lanhydrock.

There are a few records for Wheal Union in 1870 and also between 1879 and 1882 but Wheal Union could never be regarded as a successful mine.

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