Morvah Consols

Overview

A small tin and copper mine on the coast north-east of Morvah, reopened in 1871-75 by a company whose collapse ended with its unpaid miners stopping the auction and the Stannaries Court closing the mine.

History

Morvah Consols lies on the coast north-east of the hamlet of Morvah, by the Pendeen-St Ives road. A mine called Whele Chapell Morveth or Whele Myther was at work here in 1508, but Morvah Consols itself was probably first opened in the 1820s. In 1851 it was reported as a new mine on the coast, where a very promising copper lode had been found that could be worked by a waterwheel; its 160 shares were held by Levant shareholders, and the manager was a Captain Goldsworthy.

The present remains date from 1871-75, when John Hammon acquired the sett from the White brothers of Bojewyan and sold it to a new company with a nominal capital of £15,000 for £1,000 and 1,000 paid-up £3 shares. In 1873 it was held on a 21-year lease from Richard Henry and Thomas White, with six known lodes running north-east and south-west through granite, an engine shaft 17 fathoms deep and a 30-inch steam engine; a 24-inch engine bought from Balleswidden that year pumped and stamped. It raised 6 tons of black tin in 1873, but very little work was done. In January 1875 there was no money for wages, and when the mine was put up for sale its workers turned out and intimidated the auctioneer into abandoning the sale. The Stannaries Court closed it after it had produced only 5 tons 18 cwt of tin concentrate, and its inquiry into some of the directors ran until 1877; in 1875 the Court of Appeal held that shares the vendor had promised the company's secretary were his on trust for the company. The plant was auctioned in February 1884, and an attempt to reopen the mine in 1929 came to nothing.

Geology

Six lodes running north-east and south-west through granite, with numerous cross-courses.

Workings

An engine shaft 17 fathoms deep with a 30-inch steam engine and a 24-inch engine from Balleswidden for pumping and stamping.

Closure

Closed by order of the Stannaries Court in 1875; plant auctioned in 1884; a 1929 reopening came to nothing.

What remains

The remains of the 1871-75 working lie on the coast.

Remains of the 1871-75 buildings.

Redevelopment

Unknown.

Recorded claims

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

• In 1851 Morvah Consols was reported as a new copper mine on the coast, funded by Levant adventurers. ^1,2
• In 1873 it was held on a 21-year lease from Richard Henry and Thomas White, with six lodes, an engine shaft 17 fathoms deep and a 30-inch engine. ^1,3
• It raised 6 tons of black tin in 1873. ¹
• In 1875 the Stannaries Court closed the mine after it produced only 5 tons 18 cwt of tin concentrate and wages were unpaid; workers intimidated the auctioneers into abandoning the sale. ^1,2
• In re Morvah Consols Tin Mining Co (CA 1875): shares in the vendor promised to the company's secretary were held by him for the company. ⁴
• Abandonment plans of Morvah Consols in tin ore are dated 1874. ⁵
• The mine was put up for auction on 16 February 1884; an attempt to reopen it in 1929 came to nothing. ^1,2

Sources

1. (secondary) Morvah Consols Mine — Cornwall Calling
2. (secondary) Morvah — Wikipedia
3. (primary) Mines from Kelly's Directory 1873 (West Penwith) — West Penwith Resources
4. (secondary) In re Morvah Consols Tin Mining Co, McKay's Case: CA 1875 — swarb.co.uk
5. (primary) BGS mine plan: Morvah Consols, tin ore, 1874 — British Geological Survey / Mining Remediation Authority

Record created: 18 October 2026 · Last researched: 18 October 2026