Fowey Consols, Henrietta's pumping engine house

Image: © Chris Hodrien Taken: 6 Jun 2021

Fowey Consols was a successful copper mine and between 1822 and closure in 1867 produced over 315,000 tons of 8% copper ore and much smaller amounts of zinc ore, pyrites and nickel. During the mine's life it had at least ten Cornish beam engines and this building housed one of two 80 inch engines. This was Henrietta's shaft and pumping engine and was operational from 1840 to 1843. This was designed by William West as the first long stroke engine in Cornwall (12 foot cylinder stroke and 10 foot in the shaft) and built in 1839 by Harvey and Company of Hayle. It was removed in 1843 and its second move saw it end up in 1879 at Great Holway Mine at Holywell in Flintshire. The engine house was converted to a dwelling in 1996. This view is from the public road and shows the side of the house opposite the shaft. The large doorway is where the cylinder would have been taken in and out of the building. The little square window is one of two and is where the end of a massive timber spring beam would have been embedded in the wall.

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