ENGINE HOUSE AT SW53783104

ST HILARY TREGURTHA DOWNS MINE SW 53 SW 1/183 Engine house at 5V53783104

GV II

Beam engine house for 80 inch pumping engine. Circa 1880. Probably granite ashlar bob wall (overgrown with ivy), otherwise granite rubble with granite and brick dressings. Original iron tie rods through the length of each wall. Some remains of scantle slate roof and boarded studwork over bob wall. Plan: rectangular plan with thicker bob wall with narrow doorway (east) and large boiler doorway in gable-ended wall (west). The engine moved to South Crofty in 1903 and still extant. Exterior : Tall plinth; arched doorways to the front and rear walls and arched stair window to each wing wall. (The bob wall arch is ordered). The other openings are tall rectangular window openings (3 to each floor of the wing walls and 2 pairs of openings to each floor over the boiler doorway) and a blind oculus with brick cross to the gable end. Remains of original window frames. Interior : original scissor-truss roof structure; pit towards the bob wall and round dressed granite cylinder platform. The engine formerly fitted to this engine house was built by Copperhouse Foundry, Hayle, to a design by Samuel Grose. It was originally fitted to Wheal Alfred Consols, then Crenver then lineal Abraham before being moved to Tregurtha Downs. This engine house is similar in design to one never completed at Tregurtha Farm nearby and to East Wheal Rose (lead mine). Sources : Peter Richards; Industrial Archaeology of Cornwall Gazetteer; East Wheal Rose by H.L. Douch.

Listing NGR: SW5379531046