Wheal Union

Overview

Wheal Union, on the western outskirts of Redruth opposite the old grammar school, amalgamated at least four earlier setts -- Gweal Paul, Wheal Goodspeed, Hoskings Wheal Silver and Wheal Captain -- and worked seven shafts across several named lodes for copper and tin between 1848 and 1882, but was never a commercially successful mine.

History

Wheal Union commenced operations around 1848 on the western outskirts of Redruth, amalgamating at least four earlier, smaller setts: Gweal Paul, Wheal Goodspeed, Hoskings Wheal Silver and Wheal Captain. It produced little in this first phase and closed in 1854. Reopened the following year, the mine worked at least seven shafts across a run of named lodes -- Druid's, MacDonald's, Vigur's, Old North, Teague's, Chyandower and Wheel Breeches -- but struggled from the outset, with production costs consistently outweighing output, and ceased working again in 1866. In 1864, during that second phase, George Lightley served as Purser and Captain Thomas Glanville as Manager; the land was owned by James Wentworth Buller, William Williams and Thomas James Agar-Robartes of Lanhydrock. Only scant records survive of further, evidently minor working in 1870 and again between 1879 and 1882. The site was later worked in combination with the neighbouring Carn Brea sett, recorded in BGS mine plans as "Carn Brea East and Wheal Union".

Abandoned workings can be dangerous — unstable ground, uncapped shafts, flooding and bad air are common even where a site looks safe from the surface. This entry describes history and general location only; it is not an access guide.

Recorded claims

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

• Wheal Union amalgamated at least four earlier setts -- Gweal Paul, Wheal Goodspeed, Hoskings Wheal Silver and Wheal Captain -- commencing operations around 1848, producing little and closing in 1854. ¹
• Reopened in 1855, the mine worked at least seven shafts on named lodes including Druid's, MacDonald's, Vigur's, Old North, Teague's, Chyandower and Wheel Breeches, but ceased again in 1866 as production costs consistently outweighed output. ¹
• In 1864, George Lightley served as Purser and Captain Thomas Glanville as Manager; the land was owned by James Wentworth Buller, William Williams and Thomas James Agar-Robartes of Lanhydrock. ¹
• Only scant records survive of further working in 1870 and between 1879 and 1882; the mine was never considered commercially successful across any of its working periods. ¹
• The BGS/Mining Remediation Authority mine-plans catalogue holds 22 plans recording the site as 'Carn Brea East and Wheal Union', reflecting a later combined working with the neighbouring Carn Brea sett. 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) Union Mine Co, Wheal — Buddlepit Mine Database
2. (primary) Carn Brea East and Wheal Union (mine plans) — BGS / Mining Remediation Authority mine plans catalogue

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