West Chiverton / Great West Chiverton mine was a rich producer of lead, silver-lead and zinc. At its peek it employed around 1,000 people. Batters’ Shaft housed an 80″ cylinder pumping engine from 1869. The house is unusual in having the chimney built into the centre of the back wall, the large cylinder doorway had to be built into a side wall. The engine was designed and built by Harveys of Hayle and considered to be one of the best ever made. The mine closed in 1886 but the engine went on to be used on two other mines. (1)
“At the peak of its output in 1870, West Chiverton produced 3,582 tons of lead which was estimated to contain over 160,000 oz. of silver, eg. 45 oz. to the ton. With refining becoming profitable at anything over 5 oz. per ton, this represented a very considerable extra income to the mine.” (2)
(1) Geograph.org.uk, Author – John Gibson
(2) Cornwall-calling.co.uk, Source Unknown