Cornwall's rugged north coast is famous for its engine houses, but on the south coast between Praa Sands and Porthleven there are two fine examples of the evocative mine workings.
We took a trip down to Praa sands today, only 20 miles west of Falmouth and walked the lovely 6 miles of coastline to Porthleven. Roughly halfway is a granite outcrop and above Rinsey Cove is the remaining pumping engine of Wheal Prosper, which opened in about 1860 working tin and a little copper, but was anything but prosperous.
About half a mile further eastwards we encountered the two remaining engine houses of Wheal Trewavas, which opened in the mid-1830s, employing around 200 people, but flooding of the undersea working forced closure a decade later. In that time it produced over £100,000 worth of copper ore.
Just east of here the granite ends, and some beautiful banding of the killas rock can be seen in the cliff-face.
By the way, for those of you who may be wondering- Wheal is the Cornish name for place of work, bal meaning mine.
More Cornish Walks
More on Cornish Mining
More on Cornwall
By the way, for those of you who may be wondering- Wheal is the Cornish name for place of work, bal meaning mine.
More Cornish Walks
More on Cornish Mining
More on Cornwall
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