North Wheal Basset

Overview

A copper and tin mine on the north side of the Basset sett at Carnkie, said to have been found by following a Jack o'Lantern; it paid large dividends in the 1850s, merged with Wheal Basset in 1879 and became part of Basset Mines in 1896.

History

North Wheal Basset lay at Carnkie in Illogan parish, the main road forming its boundary with West Wheal Basset. It was worked from the 1840s, or begun about 1852 by another account as a fair-weather mine meant to profit from a rise in tin prices. Its copper was said to have been found after an old woman claimed to have seen a mysterious light, a Jack o'Lantern; miners investigated and found rich copper ore, and she was rewarded with a monthly payment, a dress each year and a shaft named after her, Grace's Shaft.

In 1855 the cost-book company of 6,000 shares paid dividends of £21,750, with its secretary in London. Between 1846 and 1869 the mine raised 30,157 tons of copper ore and 169 tons of black tin. Its shafts included Miner's, Lyle's, New, Grace's, Flat Rod, Western and North. In 1879 it merged with Wheal Basset and took that name, and in 1896 the combined mine joined South Frances United and West Wheal Frances as Basset Mines Ltd.

Geology

Copper and tin lodes on the south side of Carn Brea.

Workings

Miner's, Lyle's, New, Grace's, Flat Rod, Western and North shafts.

Closure

Merged with Wheal Basset in 1879; part of Basset Mines Ltd from 1896.

What remains

Large buildings remain where the shaking tables and buddles stood.

Dressing-floor buildings for shaking tables and buddles.

Redevelopment

Unknown.

Related mines

• South Wheal Frances — Both became part of Basset Mines Ltd in 1896.
• West Wheal Frances — Both joined Basset Mines Ltd in 1896.
• Wheal Basset (Basset Mines) — North Wheal Basset merged with Wheal Basset in 1879 and took its name.

What's uncertain

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

• North Wheal Basset was worked from 1844 to 1872. (disputed) ¹
• North Wheal Basset was a small operation begun about 1852, a fair-weather mine. (disputed) ²
• Legend has it the mine was discovered after an old woman claimed to have seen a Jack o'Lantern; she was rewarded with a monthly payment, a yearly dress and a shaft named after her. (uncertain) ¹

Recorded claims

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

• North Wheal Basset was worked from 1844 to 1872. (disputed) ¹
• North Wheal Basset was a small operation begun about 1852, a fair-weather mine. (disputed) ²
• Legend has it the mine was discovered after an old woman claimed to have seen a Jack o'Lantern; she was rewarded with a monthly payment, a yearly dress and a shaft named after her. (uncertain) ¹
• In 1855 the cost-book company of 6,000 shares paid dividends of £21,750. ³
• Between 1846 and 1869 it produced 169 tons of black tin and 30,157 tons of copper. ¹
• North Wheal Basset merged with Wheal Basset in 1879, taking the latter's name. ¹
• Basset Mines Ltd was formed in 1896 from South Frances United, Wheal Basset (with North Wheal Basset) and West Wheal Frances. ⁴

Sources

1. (secondary) North Wheal Basset (Buddlepit Mine Database) — Buddlepit Mine Database
2. (secondary) South Wheal Frances (with North Wheal Basset) — Cornwall Calling
3. (secondary) 1856 Mines in Devon and Cornwall — Grace's Guide
4. (secondary) Basset Mines — Wikipedia

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