Botallack Mine

 copper mine, National Trust property (UK), tin mine, disused mine

A tin and copper mine, first documented during the late 16th century, which by the late 18th century comprised a number of small mines within its sett (boundaries). During the 1840s the mine expanded taking in its neighbouring workings. Expansion also included the sinking of the Boscawen Diagonal Shaft in 1858 and construction of steam-powered dressing floors in 1860. By the mid 1860s the mine employed over 500 staff. In 1869 the mine had broken 5.5 miles of ground and had raised 20,720 tons of tin ore worth £24,749. However, the 1870s saw a period of decline with the abandonment of parts of the lower levels and suspension of work within the Crowns and Wheal Hazard sections. However some limited expansion took place including construction of an arsenic processing plant in 1875, increased stamping and dressing capacity, and new calciners were constructed. In 1885 the mine was closed following flooding of Wheal Cock, the main production area of the mine. In 1906 The Cornish Consolidated Tin Mines Ltd acquired and mined the combined setts of Botallack, Carnyorth and Buzza. However the mine closed in 1914. In 1980 the mine was then retried as part of Geevor Mine, but it closed in 1985.

A survey by Cornwall Archaeological Unit in 1992 identified a possible total of 150 mine shafts and about 42 adits. The majority of adits were driven in from low on the cliffs. Between 1806-1906 twenty engine houses were constructed on the sett, of which seventeen were beam engine houses. The survey identified only two beam engine houses as recognisable structures, foundations of eleven other engine houses were also recorded.