Wheal Eliza mine was active between 1845 and 1857, working copper, then iron. In 1846 it was opened by a group of businessmen from South Molton as a copper mine. By May the lode had been uncovered at the surface, with a shaft sunk on to it from the north bank of the River Barle. Later an adit was driven on to the north lode about 100 metres east of the shaft. A waterwheel was installed in May 1847. Very little copper ore was recovered and work paused in October 1849. After further capital was invested, work recommenced and several promising lodes were intersected but nothing came of these and work ended in September 1854.
The complex is visible as a series of shafts, spoil heaps, ruined buildings, two leats, a wheel pit and a tail race. Various trial adits were dug before two main shafts were
excavated to a depth of some 300 feet. These were pumped out by machinery powered from a waterwheel on the south side of the river, which was present by 1846. This was powered by two leats running back up the valley. A survey of the surviving remains was undertaken by Burrow and Jowson in 1979 for the Exmoor National Park. The earthwork remains and ruined buildings of Wheal Eliza (originally called Wheal Maria) can be seen clearly on aerial photographs. On the north side of the River Barle, platforms and rectangular enclosures are visible, along with the footings of several buildings, presumably the cottages built here for the miners, or the blacksmiths and carpenters shops and Account house, which were completed in 1846.
On the southern slopes, the shaft itself can be distinguished, but the most prominent remains are those of the leats and tail race, both of which were constructed in 1847
as part of a water powered pumping system.
Worked ceased at Wheal Eliza in 1854, but started again briefly in 1856. By 1858 the mine had been abandoned and the machinery sold.
The workings were encouraged by the Knight family, but were not successful due to insufficient ore. A road was built along the river Barle to Simonsbath.
The main entrance to Wheal Eliza mine led to an adit and a shaft 100 metres deep. The entrance was stone lined. Nine miners were employed in the mine during 1851, with five of these living in the two bedroom cottage alongside (MSO12505). In 1858 the body of Anna Maria Burgess was discovered in the mine. Her grave can be seen at St Luke's parish church in Simonsbath
Age: of its age
Rarity: Fairly typical 19th century mine and associated buildings
Distinctive Design: no
Historical Association: High – association with Knight Estate and infamous murder of child
Evidential Value: moderate – archaeological evidence will survive
Social Communal Value: On 2 Moors Way, well known site and associated with child murder
Group Value: represents a group of related structures and workings, other Knight industrial activity
Collective Value: not too well preserved but distinctive locally and associated with other Knight era industrial activity