Providence Mines

Overview

A group of ancient tin and copper mines between St Ives and Carbis Bay, consolidated in 1832 around Wheal Providence; by 1873 it ran five steam engines, an engine shaft 200 fathoms deep and 450 people.

History

Providence Mines combined the ancient mines of Wheal Providence, Wheal Comfort, Wheal Laity, Wheal Speed, Good Fortune and other small workings between St Ives and Carbis Bay, in Lelant parish; Wheal Providence had been opened more than two hundred years before. They were consolidated in 1832 in 112 shares, later raised to 500 and then 1,200ths, with Samuel Higgs of Penzance as purser, and held from Mr Praed, the Basset family, Mr Stephens and Mr Gilbert. Philip Dunstan was manager for many years.

In 1856 the mines worked numerous lodes in granite and greenstone for tin, copper and pitchblende, with one steam engine for pumping and stamping and one for winding; the adventurers had spent £11,569 and the mines' produce and outlay to the end of 1855 totalled £183,003, with dividends of £40 a share. From 1858 Providence worked the Trelyon Downs section of its northern neighbour jointly as Providence and Trelyon United. In 1873, on a 21-year lease from 1871, the engine shaft was 200 fathoms deep and five steam engines of 45 to 12 inches worked the mines, which employed 450 people under William Hollow as manager. Adits that drained and ventilated the workings can still be seen along the Carbis Bay coast.

Geology

Numerous east-west and a few north-south lodes in granite and greenstone, carrying tin, copper and pitchblende.

Workings

An engine shaft 200 fathoms deep and five steam engines by 1873; drainage adits to the Carbis Bay coast.

Closure

Unknown.

What remains

Adits can still be seen around the Carbis Bay coastline.

Drainage and ventilation adits on the coast.

Redevelopment

Unknown.

Related mines

• Trelyon Consols — Worked jointly as Providence and Trelyon United from 1858.

Recorded claims

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

• The ancient mines of Wheal Providence, Wheal Comfort, Wheal Laity, Wheal Speed, Good Fortune and others were consolidated in 1832 in 112 shares, with Samuel Higgs as purser. ¹
• In 1856 Providence Mines worked tin, copper and pitchblende in granite and greenstone; dividends totalled £40 a share; the captain was Philip Dunstan. ^2,1
• In 1873 the engine shaft was 200 fathoms deep, five steam engines worked the mines and 450 people were employed. ¹
• From 1858 the Trelyon Downs section of Trelyon Consols was worked jointly with Providence Mines as Providence and Trelyon United. ³
• Wheal Providence was an extensive mine; its drainage and ventilation adits can still be seen around the Carbis Bay coastline. ⁴

Sources

1. (secondary) Providence Mines (Wheal Providence), St Ives — Cornwall Calling
2. (secondary) 1856 Mines in Devon and Cornwall — Grace's Guide
3. (secondary) History of Trelyon Consols — Steeple Woodlands
4. (secondary) Centenary: Mining — St Ives Museum

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