East Wheal Russell

Overview

A copper mine near Morwellham on the Duke of Bedford's land, worked from 1850 to 1869, whose 100-fathom engine shaft cost its adventurers £16,600 by 1855; its sett was later joined to Wheal Russell's as Russell United.

History

East Wheal Russell lay three miles from Tavistock on the Duke of Bedford's estate, a mile from the quays at Morwellham. It was held on a 21-year lease from 1850 at a royalty of one fifteenth. Four lodes were known in the killas, the main one running east and west of caple, prian, spar, gossan, mundic and copper ore. By 1856 three shafts had been sunk: the engine shaft to 100 fathoms, with an adit driven 300 fathoms and a 45-fathom tunnel level 230 fathoms long, and the Murchison and Homersham shafts. A 40-inch steam engine worked and drained the mine. It sold 36 tons of ore worth £160 in 1851 and 60 tons worth £545 in 1853, and the costbook company of 4,000 shares had spent £16,600 by October 1855; William Metherell was captain.

The mine was worked for copper between 1853 and 1869, raising a fair tonnage, though on the whole without great success. In 1881 the new Russell United Mining Company took over the leases of the neighbouring Wheal Russell together with the already closed East Wheal Russell sett, and worked to join their levels: the 88-fathom level was driven west from Hitchins Shaft towards the new Stephens Shaft, and around 1890 the western part of the sett was worked for tin until falling prices ended the venture in the 1890s.

Geology

Four east-west lodes in killas; the main lode of caple, prian, spar, gossan, mundic and copper ore dips south.

Workings

An engine shaft of 100 fathoms with an adit of 300 fathoms and a 45-fathom tunnel level, the Murchison and Homersham shafts, and a 40-inch steam engine; later the 88-fathom level from Hitchins Shaft.

Closure

Copper working ended in 1869; the sett was taken into Russell United in 1881 and worked for tin around 1890.

What remains

Unknown.

Redevelopment

Unknown.

Recorded claims

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

• East Wheal Russell was held from the Duke of Bedford on a 21-year lease from 1850 at a royalty of 1/15th. ¹
• By 1856 its engine shaft was 100 fathoms deep and the mine was worked and drained by a 40-inch steam engine. ¹
• The costbook company of 4,000 shares had spent £16,600 by the end of October 1855. ¹
• East Wheal Russell was worked for copper between 1853 and 1869, raising a fair tonnage without great success. ²
• In 1881 Russell United Mining Co. took over the Wheal Russell leases together with the already closed East Wheal Russell sett. ²
• Deposited plans of Russell United record copper ore. ³

Sources

1. (secondary) 1856 Mines in Devon and Cornwall — Grace's Guide
2. (secondary) Buck, C. Stephens Shaft, Russell United Mine: Archaeological Assessment (Historic Environment Projects, Cornwall Council) — Archaeology Data Service
3. (primary) BGS mine plan: Russell United (copper ore) — British Geological Survey / Mining Remediation Authority

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