From an idea by Peter and James Clymo in 1843, there was a strong presence of lead and silver in the Menheniot area. By 1845 Wheal Trelawny was being mined. 256 shares were funded to start excavations at Wheal Mary Ann.

These two mines were later to become the largest of the ten lead mines on the Menheniot lode.

Wheal Mary Ann operated from 1845 until closure in 1874, with Peter Clymo as operating mine captain for the majority of the time.

Excavations were acceptable at a rate of 6 feet per week, the main engine shaft being 11ft by 15ft, divided into 2 sections, one for the removal of ore, and the other for the miners to gain access.

The working shafts, at a final depth of approximately 250 fathoms were 5-6ft high and 3ft wide. In 1846 the average wage was 55shillings per month and the first sale of 43tons of ore, was in October 1846, for 21pounds 1shilling per ton.

At the mine’s height of 1851, 422 ‘miners’ were employed, comprising of 280 men, 68 women and 74 children. During this year 20,160 lbs of gunpowder and 21,480lbs of candles were used. The total production of Wheal Mary Ann was 28,124 tons of ore and 1103097 oz of silver.

St. Mary’s Lead Works

St. Mary’s Lead Works was built to process lead waste, principally from the Wheal Mary Ann site. Work commenced in mid 1900 and by December a small engine house and boiler house had been completed with tramlines laid around the tips. At the same time other equipment were in an advanced state of installation and practical operations were scheduled to commence in mid December.

By September 1901 the works was in full production, with 21tons of silver lead sold to Sheldon Bush and Co. In the previous six weeks and a further 80 tons of middlings waitng treatment by the jigs. 50 oz of silver to each ton of lead was being separated.

The company’s fortunes seemed to have fluctuated according to market conditions and it is likely this small operation closed and reopened on a number of occasions, before, and after the first world war.

The original company was shown in voluntary liquidation in 1908, whilst in March 1913 it was reported that operations were about to restart, following the then, rising price of lead.

One suspects the first world war would of had some influence, that despite the difficult economic years which followed the company, then formally titled St. Mary’s Lead Works Ltd., was shown to have taken over by Menheniot Lead Works Ltd. In March 1926. Operations continued into recent living memory and undoubtedly older members of the Menheniot community would recall the works in operation as is today.

Information and photograph from; ‘the Mines and Mining Men of Menheniot’ by Stephen Bartlett

The history of