Carnyorth Mine

Overview

A tin mine at Carnyorth in St Just parish that paid £922 in dividends in 1855 and later became part of the Botallack sett, where Botallack's first steam engine is said to have worked.

History

The first steam engine on what became the Botallack sett was put to work at Carnyorth Moor, in 1795 or about 1810 depending on the account.

In 1856 Carnyorth Mine was held on a 21-year lease at a royalty of one twenty-fourth and worked for tin with a 30-inch steam engine. Its costbook company of 2,048 shares, with £3 paid on each, represented a capital of £6,144, and in 1855 it paid dividends of £922, or 9s. a share. The purser was Richard Pearce of Penzance, the nearest port and railway station, six miles off.

Carnyorth was later worked as part of Botallack. In 1884 its engine shaft was 130 fathoms deep with a 30-inch engine, its skip shaft 124 fathoms, and it had a 24-inch stamping engine and a further 22-inch engine. In October 1883 the Botallack setts, Wheal Cock, the Crowns, Carnyorth and Higher Mine, were put up for auction as a going concern and drew no bids.

Geology

Unknown.

Workings

An engine shaft 130 fathoms deep with a 30-inch engine, a skip shaft 124 fathoms deep, a 24-inch stamping engine and a 22-inch engine (1884).

Closure

In October 1883 the Botallack setts, Carnyorth among them, were offered at auction as a going concern and drew no bids.

What remains

Unknown.

Redevelopment

Unknown.

Related mines

• Botallack Mine — Carnyorth was later worked as part of the Botallack sett and was auctioned with it in 1883.
• Wheal Cock — Wheal Cock and Carnyorth were among the Botallack setts put up for auction together in 1883.

What's uncertain

Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.

• The first steam engine on the Botallack sett was put to work at Carnyorth Moor in 1795. (disputed) ¹
• The first steam engine on the Botallack sett was put to work at Carnyorth Moor in about 1810. (disputed) ¹

Recorded claims

Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.

• The first steam engine on the Botallack sett was put to work at Carnyorth Moor in 1795. (disputed) ¹
• The first steam engine on the Botallack sett was put to work at Carnyorth Moor in about 1810. (disputed) ¹
• In 1855 Carnyorth paid dividends of £922, or 9s. a share, on 2,048 shares with £3 paid. ²
• In 1856 it was held on a 21-year lease at 1/24th, worked for tin by a 30-inch steam engine. ²
• In October 1883 the Botallack setts, including Carnyorth, were put up for auction as a going concern and received no bids. ¹
• In 1884 the Carnyorth engine shaft was 130 fathoms deep with a 30-inch engine and the skip shaft 124 fathoms. ¹
• A plan of the Carnyorth Mine workings is among the deposited mine plans. ³

Sources

1. (secondary) Botallack Mine — Wikipedia
2. (secondary) 1856 Mines in Devon and Cornwall — Grace's Guide
3. (primary) BGS mine plan: Carnyorth Mine, plan of workings — British Geological Survey / Mining Remediation Authority

Record created: 19 October 2026 · Last researched: 19 October 2026