HISTORY OF THE MINE

Very little has been recorded about the early history of the mine. During the 18th century a mine named Wheal Chance is reported to have exploited a lode on the west side of the Foage Valley. By the early part of the 19th century Wheal Chance had reached a depth of 40 metres (23 fms), but the mine was operated by a group of local miners who had no funds to afford machinery and equipment. It is likely that this period of activity was confined to No.1 Level and Deep Adit Level. Activity ceased about 1840.

During the early twentieth century the mine was re-opened by some local miners who had returned from abroad. They erected a 5-stamp battery driven by waterwheel. In October 1912 Rayfield [Cornwall] Tin Syndicate Ltd acquired the lease on Rosevale Mine and renamed it the Zennor Mine. No.2 Level was started as new crosscut to intersect the existing workings and a crosscut was also driven northwards from No.1 Level. By July 1913 it was reported that a significant body of payable ore had been identified in a 3 feet wide lode grading at 473 lb/ton tin. By September the grade had been reduced to an average of 15 lb/ton recovery. A new processing mill, powered by a gas suction engine and including 2-head of pneumatic stamps, was being constructed on the site. Rayfield Cornwall Tin Syndicate Ltd had interests in several other mines in Cornwall and in October 1913 formed a subsidery company named Zennor Tin Mines Syndicate Ltd to work Rosevale, with a capital of £50,000 in 5s shares. A report in January 1914 stated that the lode at the Zennor Mine was yielding 50-60 lb/ton tin and that the mill was rapidly nearing completion.

The main stope at Rosevale Mine
[Courtesy of the National Monuments Centre]
(© Crown copyright.NMR)

The tin price began to fall in February 1914, but the propspects at the Zennor Mine were still considered to be good. However, work was suspended in mid 1914 as a result of the outbreak of World War I. The Rayfield Tin Syndicate group had spent a large sum of money at Rosevale and continued to retain interest in the mine. In late 1917 preparations were being made by RCTS to re-open the mine and to commence exploratory drilling for other lodes. However there was insufficient labour available to permit the resumption of mining. RCTS maintained the lease into the early 1920s, but there is no further record of activity. It appears that two Germans may have worked the mine to a small extent during the 1930s.

Table of Production and Employment: (R Burt et al)