Wheal Coates tin mine opened in 1802 and operated until 1889. An iconic silhouette against the stunning Cornish coast, it harks back to a time when, from 1700 to 1914, the metal mining industry played a vital role in fuelling the Industrial Revolution. Life as a miner was tough; the work was physically gruelling, life expectancy low and hours long. By the mid-19th century, Cornwall’s mining industry had all but declined, leaving the mines falling into ruin.

In 2006, select mining landscapes across Cornwall were inscribed upon the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list, marking them as international treasures. Wheal Coates, which is instantly recognisable for the Towanroath engine house, was one. Today, though the mine is closed, walks in the area from the Trust car park are scenic. Nearby is Chapel Poth, one of the most popular beaches in Cornwall.

References:

Comments

Your name



Details

Founded: 1802
Category: Industrial sites in United Kingdom

Rating

4.9/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Malik SA (13 months ago)
Beautiful heritage site and an interesting place to visit. The beach view is also very nice.
Annette Castle (14 months ago)
Absolutely lovely coastal walks. We walked to Porthtowan. Walk past Chapel Porth but make sure you stop off at the lovely beach areas along the way. Check out the old ruins of the engine rooms from the tin mining days. We parked at National Trust Wheal Coates which is free for NT members. Think it's £8 all day for non members but it's cheaper for less time. There is a car park at Chapel Porth too which has a cafe, toilets and direct access to a lovely beach. Definitely worth a visit and a walk to see the stunning turquoise waters. ?
phillippa wilkinson (15 months ago)
Possibly one of the most beautiful enchanting ,inspiring places . Born of sheer will to survive ,these mine remnants are exceptional.
Marianna Zavedeeva (17 months ago)
Absolutely beautiful place for a walk, even when it’s rainy and foggy! This place is magic and there is beach access as well. Give yourself 3-4 hours to walk and explore this beautiful place. You will find caves as well.
Caïna Verrin (18 months ago)
People are complaining about no information, yet there are very obvious notice boards up in several places. That aside, the place is amazing and steeped in history, with a beautiful coastline right by it with sweeping views. A little car park nearby and cheap parking. This place is definitely worth visiting and exploring. Rip all the brave souls who worked here
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Briançon Fortress

The historical centre of Briançon is a strongly fortified town, built by Vauban to defend the region from Austrians in the 17th century. Its streets are very steep and narrow, though picturesque. Briançon lies at the foot of the descent from the Col de Montgenèvre, giving access to Turin, so a great number of other fortifications have been constructed on the surrounding heights, especially towards the east.

The Savoyards made two raids into French territory in 1691 and 1692. As a result, Vauban was dispatched to inspect the frontier defences, which had been ill-equiped to deal with the attack from Savoy. He returned to the area in 1700 to check on the progress that had been made since his first visit. When Vauban visited Briançon, work on the defences had already started under a local engineer, Monsieur d"Angrogne in 1692.