South Devon Mine
The mine now known as South Devon Mine (despite being located in Cornwall) was originally called Wheal Bramble and was first worked for copper ore some time before 1853 by driving a horizontal tunnel (adit) into the hillside to drain the mine. In 1854 a second adit was created and ventilated using a machine driven by a 20ft waterwheel. A beam engine drained the workings below the level of the adit and an engine house, boiler house and partly collapsed chimney still remain. The mine was active during the 1850s and was renamed the River Tamar Copper Mine in 1857. Work continued into the 1860s then the mine closed and was re-opened in 1896 for arsenic ore (mispickel). The cottage called Wheal Bramble is thought to have originally been the count house (administrative office) for the mine and garages etc. at the property are converted from some of the mine outbuildings.
Mentioned in walks
- Gunnislake to Chilsworthy (4.5 mile walk)