| Summary : South Frances Mine, or South Wheal Frances, was originally a copper mine first documented in 1823-24, it was reopened in 1834 and tin mining started in 1852. The peak period of production for the mine took place from 1844 until 1895 when 67866 tons of copper ore and 9716 tons of black tin were extracted. The mine finally closed in 1918. The discovery of the Great Flat Lode in 1872-74, improved the profitability of the mine. Operations were expanded by construction of a winding engine house at Pascoe's Shaft in 1879 and a pumping engine house with an 80-inch cylinder in 1887. In 1892 the mine was operated by South Frances United, and was amalgamated with Wheal Basset in 1895. The amalgamated company was called 'The Basset Mines Limited'. Surviving features include a complex of buildings including a compressor house, winding and pump houses, and a central boiler house at Marriotts Shaft. |
More information : (SW 680395) West Bassett Mine (Tin & Copper) (NAT)
(SW 680393) South Weal Frances (Tin & Copper) (NAT)
(SW 689398) Wheal Bassett (Tin & Copper) (NAT) (1)
The most extensive section of the Bassett group of mines, active
between 1815 and 1915, is at Wheal Frances where the engine
house stands by the Marriott shaft. The building has elaborate
arches and contained a compound engine built in 1899. The Bassett mines have a fine collection of surface buildings, with ore stamps and dressing floors at Crankie.
The engine house at Wheal Bassett was erected in 1854 but only the bob-wall now remains. (2-3)
SW 682395. Wheal Frances engine house scheduled. (4)
The mine produced copper until the 1870s when the Great Flat Lode was discovered and worked for tin. Amalgamations followed in 1890 with West Basset, and in 1895 when the group of mines in this area operated as Wheal Basset Mines Ltd. The South Wheal Frances complex centres on Marriott's Shaft, sunk by 1845 There is an exceptionally fine group of buildings with a winding house, compressor houses, six-bay boiler house and calciner. The large pumping house was designed for an inverted engine system. (5)
South Frances Mine, or South Wheal Frances, was originally a copper mine first documented in 1823-24, it was reopened in 1834 and tin mining started in 1852. The peak period of production for the mine took place from 1844 until 1895 when 67866 tons of copper ore and 9716 tons of black tin were extracted. The mine finally closed in 1918.
The discovery of the Great Flat Lode in 1872-74, improved the profitability of the mine. Operations were expanded by construction of a winding engine house at Pascoe's Shaft in 1879 and a pumping engine house with an 80-inch cylinder in 1887. In 1892 the mine was operated by South Frances United, and was amalgamated with Wheal Basset in 1895. The amalgamated company was called 'The Basset Mines Limited'. Surviving features include a complex of buildings including a compressor house, winding and pump houses, and a central boiler house at Marriotts Shaft. (6-8)
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