Swanpool Mine

Overview

A silver-lead mine beside, and partly beneath, the Swanpool lagoon at Falmouth, 80 fathoms deep, which produced about £60,000 worth of ore and was revived in 1880 with money from Sir Julius Vogel.

History

Swanpool Mine lay in Budock parish, a mile from Falmouth, beside the small coastal lagoon of Swanpool, and its workings extended beneath the pool. It started in the early 18th century. In 1856 it was held under leases for 21 years from 1851 at one-fifteenth from the trustees of Lord Wodehouse, Dr. Richards and the late R. B. Fox. The Swanpool lode, running 10° north of east in killas, carried lead mixed with mundic, spar and flucan. Five shafts had been sunk; the engine shaft was 80 fathoms deep, with levels every ten fathoms from the 20 to the 80, and the mine was worked by a 40-inch steam engine with a steam whim that also crushed the ore. It produced 400 tons of metal in 1852 and 500 tons in 1855, including lead, silver and tin; the cost-book company of 1,800 shares had spent about £23,000 by 1855, with Francis Todd of Falmouth as purser and James Trewren as captain.

In all the mine produced about £60,000 worth of silver-lead ore. It closed in 1865 and was restarted on 22 November 1880 with finance from Sir Julius Vogel and his friends, but closed again shortly after 1885.

Geology

The Swanpool lode in killas, carrying lead with mundic, spar and flucan, cut by a cross-course.

Workings

Five shafts, the engine shaft 80 fathoms deep with levels from 20 to 80 fathoms, a 40-inch steam engine and a steam whim that also crushed ore; workings extended beneath the pool.

Closure

Closed in 1865; reopened in 1880 and closed again shortly after 1885.

What remains

Unknown.

Redevelopment

The pool is a local nature reserve.

Recorded claims

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

• There was formerly a mine extending beneath the Swanpool lagoon. ¹
• In 1856 Swanpool Mine, in Budock parish, was held under 21-year leases from 1851 at 1/15th; its engine shaft was 80 fathoms deep and it was worked by a 40-inch steam engine. ^2,3
• The produce was 400 tons of metal in 1852 and 500 tons in 1855; about £23,000 had been spent by 1855. ²
• Swanpool mine, 80 fathoms deep, produced £60,000 worth of silver-lead ore. ¹
• The mine closed in 1865 and recommenced on 22 November 1880, financed by Sir Julius Vogel and his friends; it closed shortly after 1885. ¹
• Plans of Swanpool in silver-lead ore are held in the national mine plan catalogue. ⁴

Sources

1. (secondary) Swanpool, Cornwall — Wikipedia
2. (secondary) 1856 Mines in Devon and Cornwall — Grace's Guide
3. (secondary) Swanpool Mine — Grace's Guide to British Industrial History
4. (primary) BGS mine plan: Swanpool, silver-lead ore — British Geological Survey / Mining Remediation Authority

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