Wheal Surprise

Overview

A copper mine on Whitchurch Down near Tavistock, first worked about 1810 and revived in 1851, whose plant was auctioned by bailiffs in 1856 before it was refloated as Whitchurch Down Consols.

History

Wheal Surprise was a copper mine on Whitchurch Down, east of Tavistock, on the south side of the Taviton Brook between Furzy Lane bridge and Pennycomequick. It was first worked around 1810 and then lay idle for several years. Interest returned in 1851, when a gatepost found on the down impregnated with copper set off the Wheal Gatepost company, soon renamed Devon Burra Burra, north of the brook; Wheal Surprise was restarted that October.

A waterwheel 30 feet by 4 was installed early in 1852 to work the pumps through flat rods, and by June 1853 the Engine Shaft had been sunk 47 fathoms. An adit was driven 70 fathoms west-south-west from a portal by the stream, meeting the north lode at 40 fathoms. Some £4,000 was spent with little to show for it, and by February 1856 the company was divided by accusations over its accounts. Bailiffs came to the mine, and in March 1856 the waterwheel, pumps, two horse whims, air pipes, tools and count-house furniture were auctioned. In October 1856 a Mr Hill bought the sett for £50 and refloated it as Whitchurch Down Consols, but it seems never to have sold any ore.

Geology

Copper lodes in the metamorphosed Devonian and Carboniferous beds around the Dartmoor granite; the adit met the north lode at 40 fathoms.

Workings

An Engine Shaft sunk to 47 fathoms, pumped by a 30 ft by 4 ft waterwheel through flat rods, with two horse whims; an adit driven 70 fathoms west-south-west.

Closure

Bailiffs took possession and the plant was auctioned in March 1856; refloated as Whitchurch Down Consols in October 1856 without recorded sales of ore.

What remains

Earthworks on the open down beside the Taviton Brook.

The adit, still discharging into the Taviton Brook; shaft hollows, a whim platform, the probable wheelpit and two leats.

Recorded claims

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

• Wheal Surprise was first worked around 1810 and restarted in October 1851. ¹
• By June 1853 its Engine Shaft had been sunk 47 fathoms, pumped by a waterwheel installed early in 1852. ¹
• After accusations over its accounts, bailiffs took the mine and its plant was auctioned in March 1856. ¹
• In October 1856 the sett was sold for £50 and refloated as Whitchurch Down Consols. ¹
• An abandonment plan for copper ore survives under the title Wheal Surprise or Whitchurch Down Consols. ²

Sources

1. (secondary) Copper Mines (and other features) in Whitchurch Down area: Old Surprise, Wheal Surprise and Devon Burra Burra — Dartmoor Explorations
2. (primary) BGS mine plan: WHEAL SURPRISE OR WHITCHURCH DOWN CONSOLS, copper ore — British Geological Survey / Mining Remediation Authority

Record created: 25 October 2026 · Last researched: 25 October 2026