Wheal Virgin New Wheal Maid (Wheal Maid West), 1780, 1781

Cornish Mine Engines (20 items).

1319. Wheal Virgin New Wheal Maid (Wheal Maid West). Dec. 1780, Nov. 1781. 20 items.
Single-acting engine, with 50 inch cylinder, 9 foot stroke, chain connection.

Outside view of the engine and part of round boiler - reverse drawing [?]; inside front view of the engine and cross-section of the boiler - reverse drawing; ground plan of the engine and boiler - reverse drawing [?]; plan, longitudinal and cross-sections of the engine house; plan and section of part of the air and hot water pumps and communicating box - partially coloured reverse drawing (also used for West Wheal Virgin 52 inch engine); eduction pipe - reverse drawing marked "Wheal Virgin No. 4"; section and plan of boiler. Only the drawing of the pumps etc. is dated.

Wheal Virgin pumps, Dec. 1780:
Pump rod caps marked "Drawing… sent to Seaton forge"; clack door piece, blast hole piece, flanch for 13½ inch pumps; clack door piece, clack doorway, blast hole piece, flanch for 18 ½ inch pumps.

Wheal Virgin balance bobs, Nov. 1781:
Side view of balance bob; plan of upper side of cradle - shaded original and reverse drawings.

Original Portfolio or 'Book' No. 17. Catalogue of Old Engines p. 302.

For Consolidated Mines. Wheal Virgin and Wheal Maid were part of Consolidated Mines, which was formed in 1782, when this engine was set to work. The engine was referred to as either the "New Wheal Maid" or "Wheal Maid West" engine. According to the List of Engines made at Soho, the engine was stopped in Apr. 1788. According to Dickinson & Jenkins [p. 340], in 1794 the engine was "destroyed excepting the cylinder", which was used by Edward Bull to convert the Wheal Virgin Elvan engine to his construction.