Wheal Prosper Mine opened in about 1860 and was anything but prosperous. The fine engine house has a mixed construction of granite and slate (killas) taken largely from small quarries on the cliff top nearby. Rinsey Mine as it is also known only worked until 1866 producing mainly tin with a little copper from the 'Porthcew Lode'. It has three main shafts - Leeds shaft, just seaward of the present car park; Michell's Whim Shaft lying just south of the path leading down to the recently refurbished 30-inch pumping engine house over Engine Shaft.

About half a mile to the southeast of Wheal Prosper lie the remains of Wheal Trewavas. The two remaining engine houses and chimneys are situated on East Rinsey Cliff. The sett of Wheal Trewavas contains four main copper lodes running generally in a NW-SE direction. Wheal Trewavas opened in the mid-1830's with a pumping engine installed on Old Engine shaft working the Old (South) Lode.