Buildings At Wheal St Vincent

The buildings at Wheal St Vincent are a group of silver and lead smelting works dating from the early to mid-19th century. Constructed from killas rubble with red-brick and granite detailing, they feature rag slate roofs. The three interconnected buildings are situated on different levels along a slope.

On the west elevation, which faces the road at the top of the slope, there are two semi-circular headed openings, one above the other, both partly blocked, along with a smaller opening in an outshot to the loft. The south side of the small square block has a narrow arched window. The second section includes two later square-headed openings that were added when an upper floor was inserted, as well as an original round-headed opening. This section is supported by two raking buttresses and has a small arched opening at the rear. The lowest section features three raking buttresses and has two segmental headed openings, along with a segmental headed doorway in the bottom wall.

All roof structures appear to be original and include king post trusses. The top building contains a network of kiln-type flues. While the current use of the buildings is unknown, it is likely that the slope was utilized for a gravity-fed process of silver and lead smelting. This site is notably complete and well-finished. Wheal St Vincent operated during several periods between 1810 and 1848, during which considerable quantities of silver were smelted.