Wheal Jennings

Overview

Wheal Jennings, also known as Parbola Mine, at Reawla in the parish of Gwinear-Gwithian, was worked exclusively for tin -- unusual in a district otherwise dominated by copper -- and was the only mine in the parish reworked on any scale at the start of the 20th century, though the attempt was ultimately unsuccessful.

History

Wheal Jennings, recorded under several names over its working life including Parbola Mine, lay at Reawla in the parish of Gwinear-Gwithian. Unlike neighbouring workings in this predominantly copper-producing district, it was worked exclusively for tin, though its yield was never large: production during active periods ran to around 7 tons of tin a month, with black tin output in 1873-74 recorded at 52 tons 3 cwt. Dines documented seven principal shafts on the sett -- Tregoning's, Dock, Main (Engine) Shaft, Williams's, Thomas's, Blewitt's and Eastern (Derry's) -- along with a shallower, 60-foot Middlin's Shaft and a further shaft southeast of Wall Methodist Chapel. The mine worked sporadically through the 19th century, and was the only mine in the parish of Gwinear reworked on any scale at the start of the 20th century, though this final venture also proved unsuccessful. The mine's frequent name changes across its working life have complicated its historical record. The peculiarity of its mineral deposits and geology drew scientific interest during both the 19th and 20th centuries, though no specific findings have been located for this pass.

This is an active mining operation. It is not open to public access, and this entry describes its history and general location only.

Recorded claims

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

• Wheal Jennings was worked exclusively for tin, unlike the predominantly copper-producing mines around it, though its yield was never large. ¹
• Production during active periods ran to around 7 tons of tin a month, with black tin output in 1873-74 recorded at 52 tons 3 cwt. ¹
• Dines documented seven principal shafts on the sett -- Tregoning's, Dock, Main (Engine) Shaft, Williams's, Thomas's, Blewitt's and Eastern (Derry's) -- plus a shallower 60-foot Middlin's Shaft and a further shaft southeast of Wall Methodist Chapel. ¹
• Wheal Jennings was the only mine in the parish of Gwinear reworked on any scale at the start of the 20th century, though this final venture was also unsuccessful. ¹
• The BGS/Mining Remediation Authority mine-plans catalogue holds 14 plans recording the site as 'Parbola or Wheal Jennings', confirming both names for the same site. ²

Photographs & further reading

This page doesn't try to reproduce everything — these are the best original sources found for this mine.

Sources

1. (secondary) Parbola Mine — Gerald Williams, via AditNow
2. (primary) Parbola or Wheal Jennings (mine plans) — BGS / Mining Remediation Authority mine plans catalogue

Record created: 29 August 2026 · Last researched: 29 August 2026