Wheal Busy

Wheal Busy is a mining complex from the 18th century with preserved engine houses and industrial structures standing in the landscape between Redruth and Truro. The site includes multiple buildings of different purposes, such as a large steam engine house and processing buildings.

The mine started with copper extraction in the late 1700s and later shifted to tin mining. This change reflected Cornwall's wider economic shift as tin became the region's dominant mineral resource.

The site was a major employer for the surrounding community across more than two centuries, where working families built their lives around mining activities. Its closure in 1924 ended an era that had shaped the local identity.

The site forms part of a public walking trail, and the buildings are protected under scheduled monument status. Visitors should keep distance from the structures and stay on marked paths.

Among the structures stands a large Harvey's steam engine from the 19th century featuring a distinctive telescope stack. Another notably preserved element is a Brunton calciner, a specialized furnace used for processing arsenic-rich minerals.

Location: Chacewater

GPS coordinates: 50.25800,-5.17400

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:06