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Joseph Carne, writing for the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall in 1821, said of Wheal Cock 'This mine has not been wrought for several years; but I have collected the following particulars from an old miner. The mouth of the adit is very little above high water mark; at very high tides the sea flows into it. At the depth of about 20 fathoms a level is driven nearly 100 fathoms in length under the sea: the depth of the sea at that distance from the shore I am not acquainted with; but the space between the bottom of the sea and the end of the level must be very small; perhaps not more than five fathoms. In stormy weather, the thundering noise of the sea, and the concussion caused by the heavy waves dashing against the rocky beach, were so terrific that the affrightened workmen would sometimes fly from the spot, supposing the sea was actually breaking into it. In one part of this level the miners followed a bunch of ore about 12 fathoms above the level, and would have pursued it still further, had not the agents seen the danger and forbidden them. About 40 fathoms under high water mark, another level is driven under the sea about 30 fathoms in length, and the whole of the lode between this and the higher level is taken away. At 20 fathoms deeper, or 60 fathoms in all, a third level is driven about the same distance. Even in the deepest part, the workmen could distinctly hear the noise of the waves. The water in every level was very brackish, and was drawn to the adit by a small water engine.'
Around 1851 the mine was at work again being worked by Botallack although still
remaining a separate working, it was deepened and expanded and made a valuable
contribution to the income of Botallack until closure early in 1895. The next
activity at the mine started after a company was formed to work Botallack with
much attention being given to the Wheal Cock section the aim being to get out
under the sea and hopefully reach the intersection of the Wheal Cock and Crowns
lodes.
All these views were taken at Wheal Cock when the mine was being reopened by
Botallack around 1908
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 Engine shaft |
 Engine shaft and on the left is the top of the ladder road |
 ladder road |
 Engine Shaft |
 Engine shaft |
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©St. Just Mines Research Group 2000