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Cove Mine (Whimsey Shaft)

Wanlock Dod, Wanlockhead, Dumfriesshire.

Mine shaft (Lead & Zinc).

Part of the Cove Mine complex that wrought galena & sphalerite from the Cove, New Cove, & Wilson's Veins. The Cove complex comprised multiple (at least eleven) parallel levels at differing elevations, connected by shafts [see Mine Plan SP1768]. The Whimsey Shaft was sunk to Tait's Adit, which exited to surface further NW at Whyte's Cleugh [see registry site #4378]. The deeper 'Low Adit' was connected with the extensive Low Level [see registry site #10092]. A crater is visible on satellite imagery at given coordinates, beside SE end of spoil tip.

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"The Cove Vein, so called from its great width, lies about 200 fathoms east of Straitstep, and runs through the thickest part of the Dodhill, a little to the east of the southern extremity of Herrop's Level, continues its course nearly due south towards that side of the Dodhill, crosses the Wanlock Burn near the Schoolhouse, and enters the Stake Moss a little to the east of the Fiddler's Bridge.

The Cove Vein was first opened up by Sir James Stampfield; and soon after the commencement of his lease in 1680, that gentleman began and carried on a cross-cut from Whitescleugh Burn, which cut the said vein ; but from the shortness of his lease (eleven years) he was unable to prosecute it to any extent. The workings in the Cove Vein were resumed by Mathew Wilson in 1691, and also by the Smelting Company in 1710; and, according to the statement of a number of the old miners, were very productive in the higher part of the vein. Mr Telfer continued to work this mine likewise with some success; and the present Company, in prosecuting Whitescleugh cross-cut, immediately after they got their lease-cut the Cove Vein 28 fathoms lower than the drift set on by Sir James Stampfield. After this, the vein was wrought, not only north of the cross, cut to some distance, but south of it to the extent of 190 fathoms. The Company likewise sunk two sumps, each 14 fathoms in depth, from the high drift (Stampfield's) to the lower one; and occasionally employed a few' miners as adventurers, not only in the sole of the high drift, but also in different parts of the low one, where the miners considered there was any prospect of success.

About the year 1820, however, the Company turned their attention more particularly to the Cove Vein; and, having erected a small steam-engine, and lately a more powerful one, they were enabled to sink to the depth of 40 fathoms under the main level, and to prosecute the foreheads, both north and south, to a considerable distance. The foreheads to the south were driven, in the different randoms, to the extent of from 60 to 70 fathoms; while to the north the highest drift was cut to the distance of 110 fathoms, and the one immediately under it to somewhat less. The lower part of this groove to the north remains unexplored.

About the year 1830 or 1831, the late Gilbert Laing Meason, Esq., one of the partners of, and likewise agent for, the Company, having considered the great reduction that had taken place in the price of bar lead, the difficulty experienced in raising an annual crop of eight or ten thousand bars, and the impossibility of both remunerating the Company and allowing the men fair wages for their labour, began to entertain the idea of resigning the lease, and actually, as I have been told, made the proposition to the Marquis of Bute; but his Lordship, not feeling disposed to resign his interest in the mines urged the propriety of continuing their exertions for a longer period; to which Mr Meason agreed, but at the same time resigned the agency, to the great regret of almost every individual connected with the mining establishment. The Cove Vein is more difficult to cut than some of the other veins we have mentioned, and the knots of ore are generally much shorter, although they occasionally extend, in point of width, to not less than two feet, sometimes to more.

Mr Borron, having succeeded Mr Meason in 1831 as agent, and appointed Messrs Stewart & Weir as his overseers, he very soon after erected a water press engine oil the Cove Vein, which has hitherto answered the purpose tolerably well, and by means of which the Company have been enabled to sink 10 fathoms deeper, to cut the vein six or eight fathoms south, and to operate to the depth of seven or eight fathoms on a small knot of ore in the sole of said drift." [History of Sanquhar]

Alternative Names: Whimsey Shaft, Whim Shaft

Notes: Reference to the Whimsey Shaft at the given coordinates is tentative, based on scaling using Mine Survey SP5171. 'Whim Shaft' is labelled on Wells' 1756 map, supporting the given coordinates. BGS 10k map instead depicts a shaft at [NS 87105 13705], ca. 20m from the given coordinates. Mine Plan SP1765 describes the Whimsey Shaft as "Whimsey Flue from steam engine at adit level", although BGS GeoIndex places the 'Cove Engine Shaft' further SE at [NS 87147 13652].

"A whim, also called a whim gin or a horse capstan, is a device similar to a windlass which is used in mining for hauling materials to the surface. It comprises a capstan or a wide drum with a vertical axle. A rope is wound around the drum, with both ends traversing several pulleys and hanging down the mine shaft. As the drum is turned around, one end of the rope is lowered, carrying an empty bucket, while the other one is raised, carrying a full load." [Wiki]