Wheal Peevor

Wheal Peevor is a former tin and copper mine about a mile and a half north-east of Redruth, on North Downs in Cornwall, England. Today it is a free, open-air heritage site with three listed engine houses, walking tracks and a landscape that still shows how much Cornish mining shaped the land.

What is Wheal Peevor?

The name belongs to a metalliferous mine whose first mining sett was granted around 1701, on land owned by the St Aubyn family. The mine covered only about 12 acres, yet its tin lodes were rich. That small footprint is part of what makes the place easy to take in on a single visit.

How did the mine work and change over time?

In its early decades miners worked at shallow depths and took copper. After the price of copper slumped following 1788, the mine switched to tin ore, which lay deeper down. This change kept it going when many workings of the period struggled.

Drainage was a constant challenge in Cornish mines. In the late 18th century Wheal Peevor had an advantage: it was drained by the Great County Adit, which ran about 100 metres deep at this point. In addition to tin and copper, pyrite was mined here between 1872 and 1887. A pumping engine was erected in 1872 and stopped working in 1889, while the mine as a whole continued operating until 1918.

What can you see today?

Three engine houses survive, and all of them are Grade II listed. Among them are a pump engine house, a stamps engine house and a winding engine house. The stamps engine house has modern reinforcement to keep the structure stable.

The site was reclaimed from an area of about 5.1 hectares of derelict, scarred mining land. Works began in late 2005, and the site officially opened in January 2008. The project made safe 12 mineshafts and brought the three engine houses together into one place that visitors can explore.

How do I visit Wheal Peevor?

• Entry: free, and the site is open at all times.
• Paths: a network of tracks on the site and trails beyond it lead to the main points of interest.
• Accessibility: some sections are steep, while others can be used with wheelchairs and buggies.
• Getting there: the nearest public transport is in the centre of Redruth, roughly a mile away. The site lies near the hamlet of Radnor.

Frequently asked questions

What was mined at Wheal Peevor? Copper first, then tin once copper prices fell after 1788. Pyrite was also extracted between 1872 and 1887.

When did the mine operate? The first sett dates to around 1701, and the mine continued in operation until 1918.

Is Wheal Peevor free to enter? Yes. The site is free and accessible at all times.

How many engine houses are there? Three, all of them Grade II listed.

Is it suitable for wheelchairs and buggies? Some parts of the site are, though other sections are steep, so it is worth checking the route before you set off.

How far is it from Redruth? About a mile to a mile and a half north-east of the town, near the hamlet of Radnor.