Wheal Henry

Overview

A small, poor mine west of Twelveheads in the Poldice valley, recorded from 1734, whose killas-built engine house of about 1800-20 is thought to be one of the oldest standing in Cornwall.

History

Wheal Henry lies west of the village of Twelveheads, on the side of the Poldice valley. It is first mentioned in 1734, though like the other mines around it, it was probably older. In 1837 it was amalgamated with Killicor, an ancient sett across the valley, but the union was short-lived because both had poor tin. In 1856 the mine, in Kenwyn parish within Lord Falmouth's manor, was held on a 21-year lease from 1842 at one-fifteenth granted by Lord Falmouth; the present adventurers had opened it under the name of Wheal Henry in 1842, it was worked for copper, and it was drained to the 130-fathom level by the engines of St Day United. Ore and machinery went through Devoran, three miles away; the purser was Francis Pryor of Redruth and the captain William Kitto.

From 1841 the mine paid for drainage by the Great County Adit, although when the adit reached it is not recorded, and it stopped paying in the 1860s. It was described as very poor; there is no recorded output after 1847, and it probably closed for good in the 1860s, by one account at a depth of 90 fathoms. Besides the pumping shaft there were Goodluck, Cornish and Reeve's shafts. The engine house, built of killas without timber strengthening, probably held a small Watt-type rotative engine of no more than 24 inches working the shaft below by flat-rods; it faces away from the shaft because of the steep hillside. No record of its building survives, but it probably dates from between 1800 and 1820, and surveys class it as probably one of the oldest standing engine houses in Cornwall.

Geology

Poor tin and copper lodes in killas.

Workings

A pumping engine shaft, Goodluck, Cornish and Reeve's shafts, a small adit, and drainage to the Great County Adit and St Day United engines.

Closure

No recorded output after 1847; probably closed in the 1860s.

What remains

The shell of the engine house and a couple of shafts remain.

A killas-built engine house of about 1800-20 and shafts.

Redevelopment

Unknown.

Related mines

• Great County Adit — Wheal Henry paid for drainage by the Great County Adit from 1841.
• Poldice Mine — Neighbour in the Poldice valley; both drained by the Great County Adit.

What's uncertain

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

• The mine was first opened in 1842 by the present adventurers under the name of Wheal Henry. (disputed) ²

Recorded claims

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

• The first official mention of Wheal Henry dates to 1734. ¹
• In 1837 Wheal Henry amalgamated with Killicor mine across the valley, but the union was short-lived because both had poor tin. ¹
• In 1856 Wheal Henry, in Kenwyn parish, was held under a 21-year lease from 1842 at 1/15th from Lord Falmouth, was worked for copper and was drained to the 130-fathom level by steam power on St Day United Mines. ²
• The mine was first opened in 1842 by the present adventurers under the name of Wheal Henry. (disputed) ²
• From 1841 the mine paid for access to the Great County Adit and stopped paying in the 1860s; there is no recorded output after 1847. ¹
• The engine house probably dates from 1800-20 and is classed as probably one of the oldest standing engine houses in Cornwall. ¹

Sources

1. (secondary) Wheal Henry — Explore Cornwall
2. (secondary) 1856 Mines in Devon and Cornwall — Grace's Guide

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