Exploring Wheal Coates Tin Mine and Sea Cave
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- Опубликовано: 3 ноя 2022
- In this video we explore the sea cave and mine workings of Wheal Coates on the North Cornish Coast.
Wheal Coates was started around 1802 and finally shut for good in 1914, and in its peak employed more than 70 people raising both copper and tin.
The main engine house here is Towanroath pumping engine house which once reached a depth of over 600ft (180m) and the workings even extended out under the sea, although the majority of this is now obviously deeply underwater.
We looked at these workings years ago by abseiling in on ropes from above into the massive sea cave, which at the end led to a very small drainage hole into the workings of which was pouring out freezing mine water from the workings above.
From the amount of volume coming out it was suggesting that this was draining quite a sizeable area of abandoned workings, so we had always planned a revisit in some wet gear to see how far into the mine we could actually go.
Sadly the workings don’t lead to anything amazing, but it’s still an interesting and fun trip.
Hopefully you enjoyed this video, don't forget to subscribe and if you have enjoyed this why not take a look at some of my other videos. 
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When you all squeezed through those holes, my claustrophobia went through the roof. Man you all are brave! Thanks for doing this because I’d never have the will to try.
Haha no problem glad you enjoyed. Plenty other mine videos on here to look through. Give the levant mine one a go if you want tight squeezes 😮
Hi Ben. I first visited Wheal Coates back in 1986 and several times over the following years. The drainage adit from Toanwrath Shaft breaks into the sea cave about 20 feet up. The hole at the very end of the adit was pushed by me and I found what I remember as a collapsed stope with a big debris pile. I fitted stemples of timber taken from maritime debris in the cave to make a way up.. I got over a fall and could hear water running but had to abort any digging because of VERY bad air. A shame because it probably leads to Water Shaft. In those days the hole you all went up to get in with the water fall inside was under debris and it was only a few feet up at the end of the cave to the adit proper. Changes in currents have mucked it all out.
Haha Cheers Roy. Always love your stories ❤️👍
I loved that thank you. I read not far from there the radar station Nancekuke became an outstation of Chemical Defence Establishment for the Manufacture of the nerve agent Sarin in a pilot production facility. In 2000 it was reported that former workers at the base had died from exposure and it was alleged that toxic materials had been dumped in nearby mineshafts.
Cheers Dougie. I have a video of going down the old nancekuke mine shaft if you want to see it.. look through the videos on my channel ! 😮
Visited Wheal Coates many times as a teenager back in the late 60s /early 70s - never knew that the cave was the adit exit for the mine workings. Interesting trip to one of the most well known mining spots on the north coast
So pleased there’s finally a video of someone exploring here. I’ve been coming to the beach for years and was always intrigued about the sea caves and shafts
Nice one, I always wondered what was through that hole with the stream!
Not usually a lot of people keen to try it !
@@BenoCam
Looks a bit wet! I'll give it a go soon
Both of you are absolutely mad but I love knowing what’s beyond the points I’m willing to go past. Plenty of adits along in this area, would like to see more of them explored!!
Only been a little way into that cave, you’ve done the rest ! All that plastic garbage is so bad & shows what it’s like along the whole coast.
The Cornish just ain’t normal 😁
@BenoCam Real shame you never made it to the main shaft. Perhaps a revisit?
Nat is really cute
I find extreme difficulty in mustering the courage to merely VIEW your stuff LoL.! Brave or what? And as for those 'old timers' who had NO safety gear/headlights etc. etc.. Truly the mind boggles at what they achieved for about £2 per week....like coal miners they were 'supermen' with superwomen keeping the home fires burning. Amazing vids. are yours! 10/10 ....be safe.
🤣 Cheers glad you enjoyed 👍👍
Another good video mate have been in the cave though not up the hole
'Some cave!' Amazing video, can't believe you all squeezed through that gap! My claustrophobia could never. Will share with readers of my novel set here, Return to Blackwater House.
Cheers Vikki glad you liked it. I have got some even worse ones all filmed just uploaded that make this place look spacious 🤣🤣🤣
I've always wondered what it's like deep inside this particular mine been wanting to have a look for a very long time but for me I don't have the balls to go through the water this time of year m8 keep up the great work from us just down the road
The colours are just incredible! I always wondered where that shaft led to!
Wow, fascinating hidden place, thanks :)
Brilliant 👍 fantastic exploring well done
Amazing always thought what is right up in there , good 👍 work
Love your video's, amazing what's underground there's something quite mystical and haunting with old cornish tin mines on the cliff tops.
Cheers. Few more to do when I get a chance !
@@BenoCam Look forward to them.
🥰
very cool place this my friend
@BenoCam Great insight into what lies beyond the hole at the back. I've been going into that cave since I was 5 o6 6 yrs old. Me, my bro and our dad used to damn up the entrance with sand, and let the cave fill up for a while, then kick the damn down and let the water gush down towards the sea. Then I continued to do the same with my daughter decades on. Where does the tunnel go that's behind you as you get up through the hole? I presume it goes back to the cave?
Thanks for sharing ,Loved it
Top notch!
Hi Ben great video, as a project for the future where you looked up to daylight in the cave there is a ledge, where you can see a short tunnel and opposite that is the tunnel leading to towanwrath shaft, some friends of mine explored the shaft but there are no workings. At the landward end of the ledge if you look up towards the far end of the cave up higher than the ledge appears to be a level. A section of the mine shows several level above deep adit and this may be one. If you manage to get to this level please do a video to show what's there even if it's nothing. A few friends were looking at using a cavers maypole to gain access but it was never done. Keep up the great work. God bless
Cheers Darren I did wonder that ! Could see a tunnel up that side but would need to bring a ladder to access it ! Did wonder if it led to the engine house shaft !
great vid
a cool explore ben
Cheers Dean 🙂👍
Love watching your videos to do with mines, so interesting! When visiting the Botallack site, on the pathway down to the engine houses there is what looks like a cave of some sort to the right. Took a few steps into it and it does lead on, would be interesting to see where it leads.
Cheers , yes I know where you mean. I will do a video of botallack one day but it needs to be a good one to do it justice ! I think the bit you are on about is a dead end. There are also several blocked adits along there.
Have you explored cligga head mine? That looks a interesting one as you can see many openings of the mine on the side of the cliffs
@@keeleyrosesims9798 yes that was one of the first I ever did ! Always thought cligga was a bit dodgy and it’s always popular as a first explore. I didn’t want to do a video of it then there be an accident or fatality and I get the blame. Maybe I should do one illustrate the dangers .
She looks like 'Seven of Nine' from Star Trek ^_^
Have you ever gone up the adit that comes out onto the beach at Trevaunance Cove? Sorry, I don’t know the name of the mine.
That was a good one Ben. More of a caving trip than a mine exploration. Have you got any more wreck dives planned for this year?
Yes cheers. Hopefully. I always plan loads of diving things but weather and time often limit them. It’s so much trickier to fit the diving in but feels very rewarding when we do manage it.
I understand that the shaft extends much deeper than the adit to way below sea level. Were you able to see shaft extending downwards (though i guess flooded) or would that have been past the point where you turned back?
Unfortunately it’s all collapsed or flooded from then on. There are a few more tunnels but they don’t go much further than what you can see in this video.
Righton Ben. Here, are you related to Mike, Paul and Brian, up Carnsew?
Yeah Paul Is my Dad. Brian and Mike my uncles. 🙂
@@BenoCam Tell them Timmy says "Righton All", if you' mind to. Your Dad used to make his 7,000 fly! He pulled the fastest grain to Menkea and bailed straw like a demon over to Carsawsen when I was a titch. Brian did a fair bit of work for Father on his JCB, he was a master. Is Mike still down opposite Trengilly W? Good men. I'm Phil's boy, from over Goonreeve, before Father sold up. Old man is 91 and still righton! I've been living up in England since '91. Worked on 335/340 Robinson's before Thatcher pulled the plug.
@@KernowekTim ha cheers Tim. I will tell them you said hi. All 3 are retired now but still going. Mike is still down at nancenoy, opposite trengilly. My older brother runs the farm now and father and Brian are still up Carnsew and still out and about most days. Brian had a successful plan hire business which has now shut down and he is now enjoying retirement. Fathers still out most days keeping a eye on brother and telling him how it should be done 🤣
zodiac sign people when their born in the wrong month: 4:05
Love these vids,I'm obsessed with the thought that there's millions of if quids worth of minerals still under us. Youm rideon ben.some boy ee
Haha thank you Rob. Stay tuned I got some bleddy beauties in the editing phase now all recorded 😮