Wheal Langford

Wheal Langford at SX 38286 69552
Copyright © Alex Fraser

Wheal Langford included a number of smaller mines, Wheal David, Wheal Mercer, Wheal Emily, Wheal Geogiana, Wheal Mexico and Wheal Virgin. It opened sometime before 1824 under the name Wheal St Vincent. Langfords lode was worked to the west by Wheal Mexico, where it is recorded that it produced considerable amounts of Chlorargyrite, a Chloride of Silver.

The engine house at Wheal Langford housed an 80-inch pumping engine to dewater the sett. When the mines closed in 1837 this engine was sold to East London Waterworks for £7,600

In 1835 the mines were amalgamated as East Cornwall Silver Mines where most of the development was at Wheals Mexico, Georgiana, David and Virgin.

At Wheal Mexico the silver-bearing portion of the lode is recorded as being 15cms wide in a lode of 35cms, while at Wheal Virgin the lode was producing 50oz per ton.

The mines were reopened in 1848 under the name of Wheal Langford, and the company appears to have been more vigorous in their attempts to develop the sett. Small parcels of argentiferous galena were produced, but the majority of rich silver ores appear to have already been worked out by this time.

The mines closed again in 1856 having been developed to 40 fathoms below adit on the silver deposit. Most of the stoped out area is west of the engine shaft; most of the stopeing elsewhere is small and very patchy.

The last recorded working was in 1884-90 when it was worked as New Langford.

The engine house has now been converted to a private house.