New Chiverton Consols

Overview

A small lead and silver mine on Calley Lane, Perranwell, one of the satellites that borrowed West Chiverton's name, worked from 1863 to 1877 or 1878; its 1868 engine house still stands.

History

New Chiverton Consols, also called New Wheal Chiverton, Old West Anna and Calley Mine, lay in the valley at Calley Lane, Perranwell, on Lord Falmouth's land. It was one of several small mines that borrowed the name of the large and successful West Chiverton lead mine nearby. It opened in 1863 and stayed small, changing hands several times; it employed 30 men, a woman and four boys, rising to about 50 people by 1870. A second-hand 40-inch pumping engine bought from Wheal Alfred in 1864 was followed in 1868 by the 40-inch engine whose house still stands. There were four shafts in the valley, among them New Engine Shaft, 65 fathoms deep, Flat Rod and Whim.

The mine raised 300 tons of lead ore, 1,300 ounces of silver, zinc, 15 tons of pyrite and 25 tons of arsenic. The mine carpenter, William Jewell, was killed at work there in 1878, and the pumpman, William Tamblyn, was also killed. The engine and a crusher were put up for sale when the mine closed in 1877, or in 1878 by another account. The engine house is of local stone with a small dry beside it, and the count house survives.

Geology

Lead lodes yielding silver, zinc, pyrite and arsenic.

Workings

Four shafts in the valley, including New Engine (65 fathoms), Flat Rod (40) and Whim (20), with a 40-inch pumping engine.

Closure

The engine and a 4 hp crusher were offered for sale in 1877.

What remains

The ivy-covered engine house stands near the former Truro-Newquay railway beside an overgrown dump at Engine Shaft.

Engine house, a small dry and the count house.

Redevelopment

Unknown.

Related mines

• West Chiverton Mine — One of the small mines that took the name of the rich West Chiverton lead mine nearby.
• Wheal Alfred — New Chiverton's first 40-inch pumping engine was bought second-hand from Wheal Alfred in 1864.

What's uncertain

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

• It opened in 1863 and closed in 1877. (disputed) ¹
• New Wheal Chiverton Mine was worked from 1864 until 1878. (disputed) ²
• Zinc output is given as 640 tons. (disputed) ¹

Recorded claims

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

• New Chiverton Consols was also known as New Wheal Chiverton, Old West Anna and Calley Mine. ¹
• It opened in 1863 and closed in 1877. (disputed) ¹
• New Wheal Chiverton Mine was worked from 1864 until 1878. (disputed) ²
• The surviving engine house held a 40-inch pumping engine erected in 1868; an earlier 40-inch engine came second-hand from Wheal Alfred in 1864. ¹
• It employed 30 men, a woman and four boys, increasing to 50 employees by 1870; the landowner was Lord Falmouth. ²
• It produced 300 tons of lead ore, 1,300 oz of silver, 64 tons of zinc, 15 tons of pyrite and 25 tons of arsenic. ²
• Zinc output is given as 640 tons. (disputed) ¹
• The mine carpenter William Jewell was killed at work there in 1878; the pumpman William Tamblyn was also killed. ²

Sources

1. (secondary) New Chiverton Consols — Explore Cornwall
2. (secondary) Mining in our Area — Goonhavern & District History

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