Wheal Prudence

Overview

An ancient copper mine on the cliffs between St Agnes and Perranporth, recorded from 1812 and worked by the English Mining Association from 1825 to 1839. Reopened in 1862, it sank its unusual Island shaft on a rock stack reached by a wooden bridge; its engine houses were blown up in the Second World War.

History

Wheal Prudence lies on the cliffs between St Agnes and Perranporth. Records go back to 1812, though many of its adits are much older. From 1825 it belonged to the English Mining Association with Cligga and Perran St George; that venture had reached 78 fathoms below adit, with a 33-inch pumping engine, when it stopped in 1839.

In 1862 the mine was reopened to work the lodes under the sea and the western end of Perran St George. The Island shaft was sunk on a rocky outcrop that the miners reached by a wooden bridge, and a 70-inch pumping engine and a 24-inch whim were installed in 1862-63, but by November 1862 the Mining Journal was already calling it a failure. Further attempts from 1864 ended in 1868.

Between 1821 and 1865 the mine sold about 7,000 tons of copper ore at 5.75 per cent. During the Second World War its engine houses were blown up as too prominent a landmark near the airfield. The National Trust now owns the site.

Geology

The Wheal Meadow, North (Prudence), South (New), Wheal Cock and Caunter Copper lodes, worked partly under the sea.

Workings

Old Engine (107 fathoms), New Engine (72 fathoms), Jacka and Pearce's (48 fathoms) and Wheal Cock shafts, and Davey's or Island shaft (112 fathoms) on a sea stack; a 33-inch pumping engine in the 1830s, and a 70-inch pumping engine and 24-inch whim of 1862-63.

Closure

The English Mining Association venture stopped in 1839; the 1862 reworking failed within the year and the last attempts ended in 1868.

What remains

Little remains beyond capped shafts on the cliff top; the engine houses were destroyed during the Second World War. The site is National Trust land on the coast path.

Capped shafts, including a large clwyd cap, and old adits in the cliffs.

Redevelopment

National Trust coastal land.

Related mines

• Cligga Head — Bought with Cligga by the English Mining Association in 1825.
• Perran St George — Both were worked by the English Mining Association from 1825, and the 1862 Prudence working took in the western end of Perran St George.

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 engine stacks were blown up by the military in 1940 so that enemy aircraft could not use them as markers. (disputed) ²
• The engines' houses were destroyed in 1942 as too prominent a feature on the coast. (disputed) ¹

Recorded claims

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

• Records of Wheal Prudence go back to 1812. ¹
• From 1825 it was worked by the English Mining Association with Cligga and Perran St George until 1839. ¹
• In 1862 the Island shaft was sunk on a rocky outcrop reached by a wooden bridge. ¹
• Between 1821 and 1865 it produced about 7,000 tons of copper ore at 5.75 per cent. ¹
• The engine stacks were blown up by the military in 1940 so that enemy aircraft could not use them as markers. (disputed) ²
• The engines' houses were destroyed in 1942 as too prominent a feature on the coast. (disputed) ¹
• The National Trust owns Wheal Prudence. ²

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (secondary) Explore Cornwall: Wheal Prudence — Explore Cornwall
2. (secondary) Cornwall Calling: Wheal Prudence Mine — Cornwall Calling
3. (primary) BGS / Mining Remediation Authority mine plan: Wheal Prudence, Wheal Cock, Wheal Jacka, Wheal Meadow (tin ore), abandoned 1864 — British Geological Survey

Record created: 11 October 2026 · Last researched: 11 October 2026