Real-life size
About 16 x 35mm
16 x 35mm
1p coin
20.3mm acrossBigger than a 1p coin.
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Details
About the Cornish Tin Mine Pewter Brooch
Engine houses held the great beam engines that pumped water out of Cornish mines, raised ore and crushed it; more than 200 still stand. 'Wheal' is Cornish for work, which is why so many mines carry the name. Wheal Owles, just west of Botallack near St Just, was worked from around 1830, went more than 200 fathoms (about 370m) deep and employed around 500 people at its peak.
On screen, West Wheal Owles played Ross Poldark's mine, Wheal Leisure, in the BBC's Poldark in 2015, while the nearby Crowns at Botallack played Grambler. For more on the area, our Botallack guide covers the mines, the cliffs and the filming.
The mine has a harder history too. On 10 January 1893 miners at Wheal Owles broke into the flooded workings of neighbouring Wheal Drea; nineteen men and a boy died, and their bodies were never recovered.
The brooch is 16 x 35mm, tall and narrow like the building itself, in lead-free pewter made with recycled tin and copper, with a silver plated pin. As a pewter brooch it sits well on a coat or jacket lapel. Pewter doesn't tarnish like silver; warm soapy water and a dry cloth bring the shine back.
It makes a meaningful gift for someone with Cornish mining roots, a Poldark fan, or anyone who has walked the cliffs from Botallack to Cape Cornwall. The area is part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site.
Wheal Owles engine houseChimney stack, stonework and doorway.
16 x 35mmTall and narrow, like the building.
Silver plated pinFor a coat or jacket lapel.
Made in CornwallLead-free pewter, boxed.
Specifications
The details
Product typeBrooch
DesignWheal Owles engine house and chimney, Botallack
MaterialLead-free pewter (recycled tin and copper), highly polished
PinSilver plated
Size16 x 35mm
Made inCornwall
PackagingBoxed
Also known asTin mine brooch, Wheal Owles brooch
SKUB90
Good
Good value.Great quality
Pretty little piece, nicer than expected.could be better
I wanted this little piece to work better, especially around the coastal detail. The delivery side was fine, but I was not happy with the item.Good service
This little piece came quicker than expected. Good little present when you want something with a seaside link.Worked well
Picked up this little piece for my brother and he was made up with it. Good little present when you want something with a seaside link. The finish stood out. 🙂Every review is shown, low scores included. The breakdown chart appears from 10 reviews.
FAQs
Questions about the Cornish Tin Mine Pewter Brooch
Which mine is the brooch modelled on?
Wheal Owles, near Botallack in West Cornwall. The design shows the engine house with its tall chimney stack beside it, on the cliffs near St Just: the Botallack engine house brooch for the mine used as Wheal Leisure in Poldark.
What does 'wheal' mean?
Wheal is Cornish for work, and Cornish mines are often named Wheal something, such as Wheal Owles or Wheal Drea. The engine houses held the beam engines that pumped water and raised ore.
Where was Poldark's mine filmed?
At Botallack, near St Just in West Cornwall. West Wheal Owles played Wheal Leisure, Ross Poldark's mine, and the Crowns engine houses on the cliffs played Grambler. Our Botallack guide covers the filming locations.
What size is it?
The brooch is 16mm wide and 35mm tall. It's slim enough for a lapel or a scarf, and the engine house and chimney are easy to recognise at that size.
What metal is it?
Pewter, the tin-based alloy, made here from recycled tin and copper and free of lead. It's polished bright and has a silver plated pin, and the Cornish engine house pewter brooch arrives boxed.
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Est. 2012Down The Cove · founded in Cornwall, 2012
A small family-run shop with Cornish roots
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