The Tin coast Geevor and Levant mines
Geevor mine didn't actually become Geevor mine until 1911 when the Tin mind company was formed prior to that was known as Wheal Carne mine and Levant north mine. By the 1970s Geevor mine covered about 3 square miles both going inland and out to sea. As you enter the mine as a visitor you can see very interesting model that displays all the tunnelling that's gone underground and how far it reaches. One of the advantages of exploring Geevor mine is that most of it is undercover and you will be guided around by those that were actually involved with mining here or other Cornish mines such as South Crofty.
As you walk around the sheds you'll see how the ore was processed large drums rotating slowly pounding the ore up with heavy rubber balls till eventually the ore was becomes fine enough for the settling table, the engineering going into the construction of this building this is quite remarkable.
Leaving the sheds you actually have the opportunity to go underground into Mexico mine although you're not ascending or descending in a lift just walking into through the gate in the rock it does give you a strong impression of what it’s like to be underground.
Exploring the rest of the site you get the opportunity to try your hand panning maybe find that loose a piece of gold, although tin was the only thing that was really mined. You can see a big water wheel and it shows you how the power of water was used to crush the stone with a “stamp”. The rock museum also gives you the chance to really understand what life was like for the miners.
Exploring the rest of the site you get the opportunity to try your hand panning maybe find that loose a piece of gold, although tin was the only thing that was really mined. You can see a big water wheel and it shows you how the power of water was used to crush the stone with a “stamp”. The rock museum also gives you the chance to really understand what life was like for the miners.
In October 1985 the price of tin fell from £10,000 per tonne to just £3,400 this was known as the tin crisis and this proved to be the writing on the wall to Geevor mine. Although production limped on for a few more years by 1990 the mine was starting to close and in May 1991 the pumps were switched off and mine was allowed to flood. On that day many miners just walked out never to return. As you visit the “dry” you will see that their lockers we're just shut as if they would be returning another day and it's one of the most moving parts of your visit. Out of respect for those that may either still be alive or for the family of those many of the lockers remained closed although a few are open for you to inspect.
Hand in hand with Geevor mine are both Levant and Botallack mines and one can't be visited without the others it's a beautiful walk along the coastal path between the two at Levant mine you'll be able to see one of the working Beam engines. Like its neighbour tin was mind along with copper one of the surprising by products of Tin production is arsenic and further along the coast at Botallack you’ll see the remains of the Arsenic labyrinth. Levant is also the home of one of the greatest Cornish mining disasters when the link between the beam and the “man engine” broke sending 31 men to their death.
Botallack Mine will be familiar to those who are fans of Poldark as Wheal leisure and that typical image of an engine house on the coastal cliff, time here to explore old engine houses and stop for cup of tea and scone (jam first) in the cafe
Geevor mine
Visit Cornwall Tin Coast
Cornwall Mining heritage
National trust Levant Mine and Beam Engine
National Trust Botallack
