Charlotte United Mine

Overview

A copper mine up the valley from Chapel Porth near St Agnes, opened about 1805 as North Towan and renamed New Charlotte and then Charlotte United; it raised over 23,000 tons of copper ore, and its 1869-70 engine house is now in National Trust care.

History

Charlotte United lies about 500 metres up the valley from Chapel Porth beach, a mile south of Towanroath. It opened about 1805-06 as North Towan, its backers hoping to follow the rich copper lode of Wheal Towan, and its engine is said to have come from Wheal Freedom across the valley; the results disappointed and it soon closed. Reopened for copper in the 1830s, it was named New Charlotte after Great Wheal Charlotte nearby, was working in 1856, and in 1877 was renamed Charlotte United, before being put up for sale for the last time the following year.

For a short-lived mine it did well, raising over 23,100 tons of copper ore between 1820 and 1856, though it produced only 3 tons of tin in 1870. Two shafts are named, Engine and Harvey's, among at least a dozen on the 1880 Ordnance Survey map. Its pumping engine house was built in 1869-70 for a 36-inch engine on Engine shaft. The mine lay derelict until the National Trust bought it in 1956, and the engine house was consolidated in 2014, together with the Old Century Tin Works further down the valley. Engine shaft remains open and is fenced.

Geology

Copper lodes, with a little tin.

Workings

Engine and Harvey's shafts among at least a dozen; a 36-inch pumping engine on Engine shaft from 1869-70.

Closure

Offered for sale for the last time in 1878, a year after taking the name Charlotte United.

What remains

The engine house, owned by the National Trust, was consolidated in 2014; Engine shaft is open and fenced.

The 1869-70 pumping engine house and its open, fenced shaft.

Redevelopment

National Trust land since 1956.

Related mines

• Great Wheal Charlotte — Neighbouring mines above Chapel Porth; New Charlotte took its name from Great Wheal Charlotte.
• Wheal Towan — North Towan was opened in 1806 to follow Wheal Towan's rich copper lode.

What's uncertain

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

• Opened in 1806 as North Towan to exploit the copper lode working at Wheal Towan; soon closed. (disputed) ¹
• Opened around 1805 as North Towan. (disputed) ²

Recorded claims

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

• Opened in 1806 as North Towan to exploit the copper lode working at Wheal Towan; soon closed. (disputed) ¹
• Opened around 1805 as North Towan. (disputed) ²
• Reopened in the 1830s as New Charlotte after Great Wheal Charlotte, and renamed Charlotte United in 1877. ^2,1
• Between 1820 and 1856 it raised over 23,100 tons of copper ore. ²
• The pumping engine house was built in 1869-70 for a 36-inch engine. ²
• Bought by the National Trust in 1956. ^2,1

Sources

1. (secondary) Wheal Charlotte — Northern Mine Research Society
2. (secondary) Charlotte United Mine — Explore Cornwall

Record created: 17 October 2026 · Last researched: 17 October 2026