Stamps Engine House To Wheal Basset Mine At Sw 691 398

The Stamps Engine House at Wheal Basset Mine is a double stamps engine house built in 1868, now in a derelict state. It is constructed from uncoursed granite rubble with quoins, featuring a bob wall made of granite blocks and window arches of brick. The original two-span roof is now missing. The building is situated on a raised terrace that runs east-west, overlooking the dressing floor to the north. It has a rectangular plan aligned on a north-south axis, with the bob wall facing north and the foundations of a former flywheel located below and in front of it.

The structure has two stages and includes round-headed openings, which feature two driver's windows in the bob wall. Above these windows are two stones with inscriptions in sunk panels: "W.B." and "1868". The side walls and rear of the building are damaged. Historically, this engine house was built to house two single-acting 30-inch beam engines mounted side by side, which were connected to a common flywheel driving three 16-head stamps, later increased to 96 heads. It operated for 50 years before being modified to serve as an ore hopper for re-working dumps. The engine house is a prominent feature on the northern slope of Carnmenellis.