Cornwall Heritage Trust Takes Ownership of Houseman’s Engine House

Cornwall Heritage Trust has taken ownership of Houseman’s Engine House, a historic mining building on Bodmin Moor that once formed part of the South Phoenix Mine complex.

The site, which later became Minions Heritage Centre, has been transferred to the charity from Cornwall Council. The building is not currently open to the public, having closed in early 2020.

From mine engine house to heritage centre

Houseman’s Engine House was likely built in 1881 and named after the company chairman at the time. It stood over Houseman’s Shaft and was constructed to house the last large pumping engine made in Cornwall. That engine was fabricated at Holman’s Foundry in Camborne.

The building formed part of the 19th century South Phoenix Mine complex on Bodmin Moor. The mine originally opened as Wheal Prosper in the 1830s before becoming part of the Cornwall Great United Mines in 1836. It was later known as Wheal Phoenix and then South Phoenix.

Copper was first extracted at the site, with tin mining taking over as copper reserves declined. Before 1885, the mine was producing more tin than any other Cornish mine apart from Dolcoath and East Pool.

Rise, decline and abandonment

Despite its strong output, the mine was liquidated in 1885 due to market conditions. It reopened in 1887 as South Phoenix Ltd, leading to further development including a deeper shaft and new dressing floors.

Work was suspended in 1892 and the mine was abandoned in 1893 as shafts had to be sunk ever deeper and the price of copper and tin continued to fall. By 1894, the company was in the hands of insolvency officials, and by 1898 the site was abandoned, with equipment sold for scrap and most buildings demolished.

A modern revival

In the 1990s, the engine house was purchased and restored by Caradon District Council as part of the Minions area heritage project. This saw the building transformed into Minions Heritage Centre, a free exhibition focusing on the history, archaeology and ecology of the surrounding area. The centre closed in early 2020 and has remained shut since.

In 2024, Cornwall Heritage Trust worked with Cornwall Council to explore solutions to issues affecting the building. These discussions identified options that could potentially allow the site to reopen as a community space and visitor attraction.

The charity formally took ownership of the site in early 2026.

Community consultation planned

Now responsible for the site, Cornwall Heritage Trust has announced a community consultation day on Tuesday 3rd March, running from 1pm to 3.30pm.

Due to the current closure of Linkinhorne Parish Hall, the event will take place at Darite Village Hall in Darite, near Liskeard. A second consultation is planned later in the year within Linkinhorne Parish.

The session will give local people the chance to meet the charity’s team, share ideas for the future of the site, and contribute information about its history and role in the community.

More information about Houseman’s Engine House can be found on the Cornwall Heritage Trust website here.