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East Bosorne Mine, to the south of St Just-in-Penwith, commenced operations in about May 1853, possibly because of the return of Bosorne Mine to the public's attention.  The latter mine, while presumably working, being absent from the Mining Journal for all of 1852.  While no plan exists for this mine, the various locations mentioned in the reports match those on the plan for Wheal Ellen, which operated during 1852 and 1853, and the two are therefore likely to be the same.  Mining in this area is recorded as far back as 1507, while a lease from 1656 mentions ‘one tynn worke ther called Whele fatt also the fatt Worke’ and also for the lessees ‘to adventure one dole in every tynworke now workinge, and hereafter to be wrought in any part of the lands and bounds of the higher Bosaverne’.  The moor here is not noted for being highly mineralised and it is remarkable that there has been such persistence. 

The company set up to work the mine had a capital of £6000 in £1 shares, of which £2000 was required for the purchase of the sett and for the cost of working up to February 1st 1853.  In November 1853 Nicholas Holman, a local engineer, was waiting for specifications for a pumping engine while the foundations for the engine house were completed by December 12th.  The mine closed in about May 1854, very suddenly, having produced just under one ton of concentrate valued at £73 19s 6d - not a resounding success.

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