Wheal Seton

Overview

A Camborne copper and tin mine on the Seton and Pendarves lands that raised 113,000 tons of copper ore and paid £1,387 in dividends in 1855; its western neighbour was West Wheal Seton.

History

Wheal Seton lay a mile from Camborne within the manors of Seton and Pendarves, leased at a royalty of one fifteenth from the Seton and Pendarves families, with its ores shipped from Portreath four miles away. In killas a mile from the granite of Camborne Beacon, five lodes were known on the sett, one running east and west with copper, tin and mundic, crossed by three cross-courses. The mine was drained by steam and in 1856 was worked for copper and tin by a costbook company of 198 shares with £107 paid on each; it paid £1,387, or £7 a share, in 1855. T. H. Tilly of Falmouth was purser and William Pryor captain.

Wheal Seton was among the large copper mines north of Carn Brea, raising 113,000 tons of copper ore, a little less than West Wheal Seton. Its shafts included Simmons', Carlyon's, Tregonning's, Footway and Barwell's.

Geology

Five known lodes in killas, one running east-west with copper, tin and mundic; three cross-courses; granite a mile away at Camborne Beacon.

Workings

Simmons', Carlyon's, Tregonning's, Footway and Barwell's shafts; drained by steam power.

Closure

Unknown.

What remains

Unknown.

Redevelopment

Unknown.

Related mines

• North Roskear Mine — Neighbouring copper mines north of Camborne, listed together among the district's great producers.
• West Wheal Seton — West Wheal Seton was its western neighbour, raising 126,000 tons of copper ore to Wheal Seton's 113,000.

Recorded claims

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

• Wheal Seton was held at a royalty of 1/15th from the Seton and Pendarves families and drained by steam power. ¹
• In 1855 the costbook company of 198 shares paid dividends of £1,387, or £7 a share. ¹
• Five lodes were known on the sett, one running east-west with copper, tin and mundic. ¹
• Wheal Seton produced 113,000 tons of copper ore. ²
• Wheal Seton worked tin and copper from Simmons', Carlyon's, Tregonning's, Footway and Barwell's shafts. ²
• Deposited plans of Wheal Seton record tin and copper ores. ³

Sources

1. (secondary) 1856 Mines in Devon and Cornwall — Grace's Guide
2. (secondary) Camborne, Cornwall Mines — Cornwall Calling
3. (primary) BGS mine plan: Wheal Seton (tin and copper ores) — British Geological Survey / Mining Remediation Authority

Record created: 19 October 2026 · Last researched: 19 October 2026