Parkenoweth Mine

Overview

A tin mine in the Pendeen district of St Just, named among the area's more prosperous mines in an 1868 parochial history, though nothing is recorded of its own working life.

History

Parkenoweth worked tin in the Pendeen district of the St Just mining area, part of one of Cornwall's most important 19th-century mining districts for both copper and tin, where large-scale production ran from around 1820 to about 1930. An 1868 parochial history of St Just names Parkenoweth among 'the more prosperous' tin mines of the district, in the same company as Levant, Boscaswell Downs, Balleswidden, Boscan, Wheal Owls and Wheal Boys -- but despite a genuine search of the specialist sources covering this well-documented district, including a detailed history of neighbouring Pendeen village, no operator, working dates, output or closure specific to Parkenoweth itself could be located.

Geology

Tin lodes in the Pendeen district of St Just, absorbed into the wider Wheal Owles group alongside Wheal Edward, Wheal Grouse and Cargodna.

Workings

Parkenoweth was one of the lodes and workings absorbed into the wider Wheal Owles group, alongside Wheal Edward, Wheal Grouse, Cargodna, Wheal Boys, Wheal Gendall, Wheal Chase and Lower Boscean.

Closure

No closing date is recorded; the mine was absorbed into the wider Wheal Owles group.

What remains

Unknown.

Related mines

• Wheal Owles — Parkenoweth was one of the lodes and workings absorbed into the wider Wheal Owles group.

What's uncertain

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

• Parkenoweth was one of the constituent lodes/workings of the wider Wheal Owles group at Botallack, alongside Wheal Edward, Wheal Grouse, Cargodna, Wheal Boys, Wheal Gendall, Wheal Chase and Lower Boscean. (uncertain) ³

Recorded claims

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

• The St Just district was one of Cornwall's most important 19th-century mining areas for both copper and tin, with large-scale production running from around 1820 to about 1930. ¹
• An 1868 parochial history of St Just names Parkenoweth among 'the more prosperous' tin mines of the district, alongside Levant, Boscaswell Downs, Balleswidden, Boscan, Wheal Owls and Wheal Boys. ²
• Parkenoweth was one of the constituent lodes/workings of the wider Wheal Owles group at Botallack, alongside Wheal Edward, Wheal Grouse, Cargodna, Wheal Boys, Wheal Gendall, Wheal Chase and Lower Boscean. (uncertain) ³

Sources

1. (secondary) Geevor Tin Mine Museum: Ten Thousand Years of History (History of Pendeen) — Geevor Tin Mine Museum
2. (primary) Information about St Just in Penwith (Lake's Parochial History, 1868 extract) — West Penwith Resources
3. (secondary) Wheal Owles — Wikipedia

Record created: 31 August 2026 · Last researched: 31 August 2026