Wheal Jenkin

Wheal Jenkin Whim Shaft at SX 26590 71306
Copyright © Alex Fraser

Wheal Jenkin at SX 26489 71213
The whim shaft engine house can just be seen in the background
Copyright © Alex Fraser

Wheal Jenkin sett was taken up in 1824, and worked by the Cornwall Great United Mining Association (London) between 1836-7, although it was probably already established prior to this by shallow shafts working.

A steam engine was erected at Wheal Jenkin in October 1836 to work 40 head of stamps, and 21 heads of new water-stamps were also under construction to handle the ore from the Cornwall Great United Mines.

In the 1870s Wheal Jenkin it was acquired by the Marke Valley Adventurers. In 1881, the mine was re-opened as part of Marke Valley Consols Mines Ltd. Working for tin, the former Whim shaft was re-opened as Bellingham’s shaft, and, in 1886, the Holman’s shaft (South Caradon) 70″ engine was re-erected in a new engine house.

The mine closed in 1890 and there are no records of any attempt to re-prospect the lodes during the early years of the 20th Century.