Wheal Trenwith

Cornwall Information & Accommodation Guide

Wheal Trenwith (later known as Trenwith Mine and became part of St.Ives Consolidated Mines) was working as early as 1792.

The main shafts on the sett were Victory, Berriman's, Old Sump, Wills, Highburrow, Millet's, Engine, Dog and Harvey's Shafts.

Initially produced tin and copper and was later mined for uranium.

Worked between 1825-1849 then 1853-1857.

Between 1825-56 its output was 13,080 tons of 11 per cent copper ore and 20 tons of black tin.

Between 1845 and 1863, copper was the main output.
Tin was produced in 1856–57, 1863, and 1905, and during the reworking between 1912–13.

At work under the name of Trenwith Mine in 1905-1908 and 1917-1920.

The mine was worked by the British Radium Co under the name of Wheal Trenwith between 1909 - 1913 and produced uranium and lead (plumbago)

In 1908, Wheal Trenwith became part of St Ives Consolidated Mines Ltd together with nearby St Ives Consols, Rosewall Hill, Ransom United and Giew Mine.

St Ives Consolidated Mines Ltd continued to rework the Trenwith spoil heaps and levels above 60 fathoms.

Between 1911-17, 694 tons of uranium ore were produced, mainly from spoil heap material with the addition of some newly mined material from underground.

In 1917, St Ives Consolidated Mines were taken over by the Thermo Electric Corporation and the northern mines were abandoned, in favour of focussing attention on Giew Mine.

The following minerals have been found here:
Chalcocite, Cuprite, Erythrite, Haematite, Hornblende, Melaconite, Pitchblende and Torbernite.

The former Count House is now a guest house and the majority of the site of Wheal Trenwith is now covered by Trenwith car park.

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