Perranporth in the first half of the 19th. Century was dominated by the two great copper mine complexes, Wheal Leisure and Perran St. George. Wheal Leisure successfully sued Perran St. George, claiming encroachment. Facing ruin from the huge compensation awarded their neighbours, the adventurers pulled out and stopped pumping the water up from the depths of the mines, which were connected deep underground. The resulting flooding of both saw a premature and permanent end to mining in Perranporth itself.
