Mines in the United Kingdom

Corrantee Lead Mine

Corrantee Lead Mine – an abandoned lead mine in Sunart Corrantee Lead Mine is a historic lead mine in the Sunart area of Highland, western Scotland. Its ruins stand in Sunart Forest beside an old cart track. It is the most westerly mine in the Strontian mining district, and the site is protected as a scheduled monument, a status granted in 1992. What was Corrantee? The mine belonged to the Strontian mining field. Galena, the main lead ore, was discovered in the hills here in 1722. A mine opened in 1725, run by a partnership that included the Duke of Norfolk and General Wade. Corrantee is one of the workings that grew out of this mining district. What is its history? The story of mining around Strontian was uneven. Flooding forced the mines to close at the end of the 18th century. Over the following two hundred years people reopened them several times, with mixed results. It is not known when work at Corrantee stopped for good. What can you see today? The ruins combine open-cast working with deeper underground mining. Surviving features include: An open-cast groove – a narrow cut about 130 metres long. An underground level – a tunnel with a recorded length of 230 metres. An embanked incline – a ramp where loads were hauled by rope. A water-wheel pit – the wheel powered an ore crusher. Masonry buildings – probably an office, a store and a house. The first-edition Ordnance Survey map of 1872 shows tramways running out from the levels, which hints at how the ore was moved. An archaeological survey in 2013 recorded the layout and condition of the site. Why visit? This is a place for anyone interested in industrial heritage, archaeology or quiet walks through Scottish woodland. There is no museum or reconstruction. You see genuine, vegetation-covered remains that explain how lead mining worked in the 18th and 19th centuries. Finding a level, crushing machinery and buildings together on one site is rarely this easy to read. Frequently asked questions Where is Corrantee Lead Mine? In the Sunart area of Highland, Scotland, in Sunart Forest near Strontian. Is the mine protected? Yes. It became a scheduled monument in 1992. The protection covers both the underground workings and the surface structures. When did the mine operate? Mining around Strontian began in the 18th century, and workings were reopened several times afterwards. The date of the final closure at Corrantee is unknown. Which remains are best preserved? The open-cast groove, the underground level, the rope-worked incline, the water-wheel pit and the masonry buildings. Should I take any precautions? Yes. This is an abandoned mine, so stay away from openings and do not enter the workings. Do not damage the monument or remove anything from it. How do I get there? The ruins lie along a disused cart track in the forest, so you reach them on foot. Wear sturdy waterproof footwear, as the ground can be wet.

Keld Heads lead smelt mill and mine complex

Preston under Scar

Keld Heads lead smelt mill and mine complex is a ruined industrial site near Preston under Scar in Richmondshire, in the Yorkshire Dales area of northern England. It is what remains of a lead mine and smelting works that once ranked among the most productive in Wensleydale, and today it is protected as a scheduled monument. What is Keld Heads? Keld Heads was a working lead mine with its own smelt mill, where ore was turned into metal on the spot. The complex lies on the slopes above the River Ure valley, close to the village of Preston under Scar. Lead mining in Wensleydale and neighbouring Swaledale reaches back very far, possibly to Roman times, but it grew into a major industry from the sixteenth century onwards. Keld Heads took part in that story, with mining at the site recorded as early as the twelfth century. How did the smelt mill work? For a long time ore from the mine had to be carried elsewhere for smelting, to an older mill near Preston. In the nineteenth century a dedicated smelt mill was built at Keld Heads itself, so the whole process could take place in one place. Accounts differ on the exact date: some place it around 1840 with an extension in the mid-1850s, others give 1851. Silver was also refined here, as lead ore often carries a small amount of it. Smelting produced poisonous fumes, and local farmers complained about the effect on their land and animals. The answer was a very long flue running up the hillside, extended to roughly 2.1 miles (about 3.4 km), which carried the fumes away and eventually joined the flue system of the Cobscar smelt mill. Long flues like this were typical of Pennine lead works, and they also let valuable lead condense inside the channel, where it could be scraped out and recovered. A modern mine for its day At its height the mine employed around 250 men and boys, working underground or on the dressing floors, where the ore was crushed and washed. Later in the century the owners installed up-to-date equipment, and Keld Heads came to be regarded as one of the most advanced lead mines in the country. Why did it close? The decline was brought about by falling lead prices and by water. Flooding in the lower levels pushed up the cost of pumping, and the smelt mill stopped work in the 1880s. The whole complex closed around 1888. Some of the buildings were afterwards reused by a nearby quarry, and the chimney served a coal-fired plant that generated electricity. What can you see today? The site is a scheduled monument, and the main buildings and the peat store are also grade II listed. The peat store is a reminder that early smelting used peat as fuel before coal became common. Expect stone ruins, remains of the mill, and traces of the flue line in the landscape rather than a polished visitor attraction. The surrounding countryside of Wensleydale is the real draw, so the site fits well into a walk or a drive through the Dales. Frequently asked questions Where is Keld Heads? Near Preston under Scar, Richmondshire, North Yorkshire, at roughly 54.3155 N, 1.8820 W. When did the mine close? The smelt mill stopped in the 1880s and the whole complex closed around 1888. What was mined here? Lead ore, which was smelted on site, with some silver refined as well. Is it protected? Yes. It is a scheduled monument, and several of its buildings are grade II listed. Why was the flue so long? To carry toxic smelting fumes away from nearby farmland after farmers complained, and to recover lead that condensed inside.

High Rake Mine

Derbyshire Dales

High Rake Mine is a former lead mine in the Derbyshire Dales, in the heart of England's Peak District. It sits close to the villages of Great Hucklow and Little Hucklow, at roughly 53.297 N, 1.756 W. Today it is a Scheduled Monument and one of the more rewarding stops in the area for anyone interested in industrial history. What is High Rake? The name comes from "rake", the local word for a near-vertical mineral vein cutting through the limestone hills of Derbyshire. The same vein carries different names along its length, and the stretch around Little Hucklow is known as High Rake and Washers Rake. Miners here worked galena, the main ore of lead, which for centuries was one of the most valuable resources of this part of England. What is the history of the mine? Lead mining in Derbyshire is very old. County heritage records suggest it may reach back to the Late Bronze Age, although no archaeological evidence from that period has been recorded. Ore was taken from near the surface of this vein over many centuries, and by the end of the 18th century the shallower workings were largely exhausted. In the 19th century a company was formed to go deeper: to sink a shaft through the layer of volcanic rock known as toadstone and reach the limestone beneath, where richer ore was hoped for. It was an expensive, ambitious venture. Steam pumping engines were installed to drain the workings, including a Sims engine. Even so, the shaft stayed in toadstone for a long time. The company was wound up in 1852 after heavy financial losses. Sources disagree on the founding date and the size of the losses, so treat the exact figures as approximate. What can you see today? The remains are protected as a Scheduled Monument. Volunteers from the Peak District Historical Mines Society have excavated the ruins of the 19th-century engine house and associated buildings. Interpretation panels on site explain the layout of the works and how the miners operated. One shaft here reaches around 180 metres, so the site demands care: keep away from capped shafts and stay out of fenced areas. Who is it for? fans of industrial archaeology and mining history, walkers exploring the Peak District who want to add some history to a hike, photographers looking for atmospheric ruins in a rural landscape. The wider story of mining in the area is told in Lead in the Veins, a book compiled by parishioners of Great Hucklow. Frequently asked questions Where is High Rake Mine? In the Derbyshire Dales, in the Peak District, near Great Hucklow and Little Hucklow. What was mined there? Lead ore, mainly galena. Is it a protected site? Yes, it is a Scheduled Monument. Are there information panels? Yes, panels on site describe the history and the surviving remains. Can you go underground? No. The shafts are dangerous, and visits are limited to the surface and marked paths. When did the mine operate? Ore was worked on the vein over many centuries, and the 19th-century company ended its operations in 1852. High Rake Mine is a small but telling example of how the lead industry shaped the landscape and history of the Peak District.

Wheal Coates

Wheal Coates is a former tin mine on the north coast of Cornwall, perched on the cliff tops between Porthtowan and St Agnes. Its ruined engine houses above the Atlantic are among the most photographed relics of Cornish mining, and the site is looked after by the National Trust. What is Wheal Coates? It is a preserved industrial site, not a working attraction. The mine took its place in a long local tradition of tin extraction: the name appears in records as early as 1692, and large-scale working began in 1802. The ruins you see today are mostly from the later, steam-powered era of the nineteenth century. What can you see there? The best-known building is the engine house at Towanroath Shaft, built in 1872. Its job was to run the pump that kept water out of a shaft reaching about 600 feet (roughly 180 metres) down. It is a Grade II listed building. Two further engine houses stood nearby, one for stamping and one for winding. They were built at around the same time and handled the hoisting and crushing of the tin ore. Because the buildings stand right on the cliff edge, the scene combines roofless stone walls, tall chimney stacks, heather and gorse, and open sea behind them. Sunset is a popular time for photographers. When did the mine operate? Mining here began in 1802 and continued, with interruptions, for most of the century. Sources differ on the details of the end. One account gives 1889 as the closure, followed by a short attempt to reopen the mine in the years just before the First World War. Another says the final closure came in March 1914, after only about 18 tons of black tin had been produced in the last attempt. In either version, the mine's working life ended just before the First World War. Why is it protected? The National Trust restored the Towanroath engine house in 1976, and the rest of the site was stabilised in 1983. Wheal Coates is also part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site, which recognises the area's role in the development of industrial mining. How do you visit? The Trust describes a short circular coastal walk that starts at the car park and passes through the old mining buildings. The path runs along the South West Coast Path country, so it is easy to combine the visit with a longer walk towards St Agnes or Porthtowan. Stay on the paths and keep away from the cliff edge and any fenced mine workings. Frequently asked questions Where is Wheal Coates? On the north Cornish coast, between Porthtowan and St Agnes. Who owns it? The National Trust preserves and maintains the site. What was mined here? Tin. The mine is described as a former tin mine. Which building is the most famous? The Towanroath Shaft engine house, built in 1872 and listed Grade II. Is it a World Heritage Site? It is part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site.

Wheal Peevor

Redruth

Wheal Peevor is a former tin and copper mine about a mile and a half north-east of Redruth, on North Downs in Cornwall, England. Today it is a free, open-air heritage site with three listed engine houses, walking tracks and a landscape that still shows how much Cornish mining shaped the land. What is Wheal Peevor? The name belongs to a metalliferous mine whose first mining sett was granted around 1701, on land owned by the St Aubyn family. The mine covered only about 12 acres, yet its tin lodes were rich. That small footprint is part of what makes the place easy to take in on a single visit. How did the mine work and change over time? In its early decades miners worked at shallow depths and took copper. After the price of copper slumped following 1788, the mine switched to tin ore, which lay deeper down. This change kept it going when many workings of the period struggled. Drainage was a constant challenge in Cornish mines. In the late 18th century Wheal Peevor had an advantage: it was drained by the Great County Adit, which ran about 100 metres deep at this point. In addition to tin and copper, pyrite was mined here between 1872 and 1887. A pumping engine was erected in 1872 and stopped working in 1889, while the mine as a whole continued operating until 1918. What can you see today? Three engine houses survive, and all of them are Grade II listed. Among them are a pump engine house, a stamps engine house and a winding engine house. The stamps engine house has modern reinforcement to keep the structure stable. The site was reclaimed from an area of about 5.1 hectares of derelict, scarred mining land. Works began in late 2005, and the site officially opened in January 2008. The project made safe 12 mineshafts and brought the three engine houses together into one place that visitors can explore. How do I visit Wheal Peevor? Entry: free, and the site is open at all times. Paths: a network of tracks on the site and trails beyond it lead to the main points of interest. Accessibility: some sections are steep, while others can be used with wheelchairs and buggies. Getting there: the nearest public transport is in the centre of Redruth, roughly a mile away. The site lies near the hamlet of Radnor. Frequently asked questions What was mined at Wheal Peevor? Copper first, then tin once copper prices fell after 1788. Pyrite was also extracted between 1872 and 1887. When did the mine operate? The first sett dates to around 1701, and the mine continued in operation until 1918. Is Wheal Peevor free to enter? Yes. The site is free and accessible at all times. How many engine houses are there? Three, all of them Grade II listed. Is it suitable for wheelchairs and buggies? Some parts of the site are, though other sections are steep, so it is worth checking the route before you set off. How far is it from Redruth? About a mile to a mile and a half north-east of the town, near the hamlet of Radnor.

Carnglaze Caverns

Carnglaze Caverns are three hand-cut chambers inside a former slate mine in the Loveny Valley, next to the village of St Neot near Liskeard, Cornwall. They are the county's only underground slate mine open to visitors, and combine cool tunnels, a flooded cavern with a clear underground lake and a working concert venue. What are Carnglaze Caverns? Slate was first taken from an open quarry on the hillside. Miners later started tunnelling into the slope by hand, and underground work continued, on and off, until the early twentieth century (sources give differing dates, so treat them as approximate). The result is a group of three large linked chambers deep in the hill. The site opened to visitors in 1973. What will you see inside? The upper chamber was used by the Royal Navy during the Second World War to store rum, which is why it is known as the Rum Store. Visitors are told that the bats left the mine because of the fumes from the barrels. The middle chamber shows the scale of work by miners who dug the slate without machinery. The third chamber is flooded and forms an underground lake with clear blue-green water. This lake appeared on the cover of Echo & the Bunnymen's 1984 album Ocean Rain. Since 2001 the upper chamber has doubled as an auditorium seating around 400, hosting concerts and private events. How long does a visit take and what should you know? You walk into the hillside and go down steps to about 60 m below the surface. The temperature stays near 10°C all year, so bring a light jumper even in summer. Wear sturdy shoes, as the ground can be wet. Numbers in the lower caverns are limited, so booking a time slot is sensible in busy periods. The last tour starts one hour before closing. On days with evening performances the caverns close to day visitors earlier, and private events can occasionally cause closures too. Check the official website for current hours and prices. How do you get there? The caverns are close to St Neot in south-east Cornwall, on the edge of Bodmin Moor, postcode PL14 6HQ. Driving from Liskeard or Bodmin is the easiest option, and there is parking on site. Public transport in this area is infrequent. What else is nearby? St Neot village is known for its church with medieval stained glass. The Loveny Valley and Bodmin Moor offer walks across moorland and along the river. The caverns fit neatly into a half-day outing around this part of Cornwall. Frequently asked questions Are Carnglaze Caverns natural caves? No. They are man-made chambers created by slate miners working by hand. Do I need to book tickets? Entry to the lower caverns is capped, so booking a slot is recommended in season and at weekends. Concerts are ticketed separately. How warm is it inside? Around 10°C all year, whatever the weather outside. Is it suitable for children? Yes, there are child tickets. There are steps and damp ground, so a pushchair is not practical.

Tilly Whim Caves

Swanage

Tilly Whim Caves are three disused limestone quarries cut into the sea cliffs of the Isle of Purbeck, about a mile (1.6 km) south of Swanage in Dorset. They sit inside Durlston Country Park, on the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. You can no longer go inside, but the openings and the scars of the old workings are easy to spot from the coast path. What exactly are the Tilly Whim Caves? Despite the name, these are not natural caves. They are hand-cut workings where stone was taken from the cliff face above the sea, leaving deep chambers and galleries in the rock. Sources differ on the exact stone (Purbeck limestone in some, Portland in others) and on when work began; the Dorset heritage record admits that the earliest date of working is unknown. Finished blocks were lowered from ledges to boats waiting below, using a wooden crane known as a whim, which gives the site the second half of its name. Stone from this coast went into fortifications along the south coast during the Napoleonic Wars. Quarrying faded out around 1812, when demand collapsed after the fighting ended, though a few sources put the end at 1820. What happened after quarrying stopped? In 1887 George Burt, owner of the Durlston estate, opened the caves as a visitor attraction. It was the same period that produced Durlston Castle and the Great Globe, a 40-ton stone sphere carved with a map of the world. Steps led down into the workings, and visitors went in until 1976, when serious rockfalls made the galleries unsafe and the public was shut out. Can you go inside? No. The entrances are closed for safety. The workings are now a roost for bats and the cliffs hold nesting seabirds, so keep to the path and do not try to look past the barriers. How do you get to Tilly Whim Caves? The easiest approach is on foot from Swanage along the southern stretch of the South West Coast Path towards Durlston Head. The path passes the measured-mile markers and goes right by the Tilly Whim entrance before climbing towards the headland. You can also start from the Durlston Country Park car park, or come in from the Spyway side for a longer cliff walk. Along the way you pass Anvil Point Lighthouse, finished in 1881 from local limestone and open to visitors on some days. When is the best time to visit? Pick a clear day: the route runs high above the Channel and the views stretch along the coast. Spring and summer are best for watching seabirds on the cliffs. The path can be slippery after rain, and near the cliff edge you should stay on the marked route. Frequently asked questions Can I enter the caves? No. They have been closed since 1976 after rockfalls. The entrance and the quarry workings can be seen from the coast path. Are they natural caves? No. They are man-made quarries from which stone was shipped out by sea. Where does the name Tilly Whim come from? The "whim" refers to the wooden crane used to lower stone down to boats. How far is it from Swanage? About a mile south of town, in Durlston Country Park. The cliff walk takes roughly half an hour each way.

Greenside Mine

Patterdale

Greenside Mine is a former lead and silver mine above the village of Glenridding, in Patterdale parish in the Lake District, Cumbria. What remains is a sprawling industrial hillside on the approach to Helvellyn: spoil heaps, ruined buildings and old levels, protected as a scheduled monument (Historic England list entry 1015654). What was Greenside Mine? Ore had been worked here before the 1800s, but continuous mining began in 1825 and lasted until the early 1960s. Over that period the mine yielded roughly 156,000 long tons of lead and 1.6 million ounces of silver. In the 1940s it ranked as Britain's biggest source of lead ore. Its records survive in unusual detail back to 1825, which is rare for a British metal mine. In 1893 it became the first UK metal mine with an electric underground locomotive and winding engine, driven by a hydro-electric plant near Red Tarn. The company built cottages for its workforce and helped fund the school at Patterdale, so Glenridding's growth is closely tied to the mine. One of its best-known incidents was the 1927 failure of the Keppel Cove dam after heavy rain. What can you see today? The site includes workings, waste heaps, remains of ore-dressing floors and a smelt mill, plus a power house with its leat. One former industrial building now serves as Helvellyn YHA hostel. Names such as High Horse Level and Lucy Tongue mark individual workings. How do you get there, and can you go inside? Start in Glenridding and follow the road and path up beside Glenridding Beck, the same route used by walkers heading for Red Tarn and Helvellyn. There is no ticket office or guided tour: you see the ruins and spoil from the path, as part of a hike. Information boards along the way help explain the scale of the operation. The ground is hazardous. Old workings lie underground, and past collapses have damaged parts of the site. Do not enter any adit, climb on the spoil heaps or take rocks away. Waste from ore processing contains metals that can reach the streams, so do not drink from the becks. When should you visit? Late spring to early autumn is best, with dry paths and long daylight. Mountain weather changes fast, so carry waterproofs, sturdy boots and a map. The route can be icy in winter. Frequently asked questions Is there an entry fee? No. The site is reached by public paths and needs no ticket. Can I go into the tunnels? No. The workings are unstable and the site is legally protected. How long does a visit take? Looking round the remains takes one to two hours; combined with a walk toward Red Tarn and Helvellyn it fills a full day. Where can I stay? Glenridding and Patterdale offer accommodation, and Helvellyn YHA occupies former mine buildings.

Long Meg Mine

Little Salkeld

Long Meg Mine is a disused gypsum and anhydrite mine in Cave Wood Valley, just north of Little Salkeld in Cumbria's Eden Valley. It worked from 1880 until 1976. Today it is a crumbling piece of industrial heritage rather than a staffed visitor attraction, so expect a walk and a view, not a tour. What was the mine? The Long Meg Plaster Company was founded in 1880. Gypsum was the first target, but the share of usable gypsum in the seam fell as work went deeper, and the firm hit financial trouble. After a merger in 1911 the mine shut around 1914-15. It reopened in 1922 for anhydrite, gypsum without its water content. Early miners had ignored it, yet the chemical industry wanted it for sulphuric acid and for ammonium compounds used in fertiliser. British Plaster Board, now British Gypsum, bought the operation in 1939. It closed on 31 January 1976 after producing more than 5 million tons. How did the railway fit in? Getting output out by cart track from the village was impractical, so a siding linked the site to the Settle-Carlisle line. Sources give dates anywhere between 1886 and 1896 for the connection, and a Midland Railway signal box controlled it. The Cumbrian Railways Association notes surviving trackbed, sleepers and chairs, plus narrow gauge track and a few wagons. A locomotive from the mine is now kept at the Bowes Railway in Tyne and Wear. Can you go inside? No. The site is in poor repair and is not set up for visits. Much of it can still be seen from the public footpath that follows the River Eden from Little Salkeld to Lacy's Caves, which makes a pleasant riverside walk for anyone interested in industrial archaeology. How do you get there? Drive to Little Salkeld, a short distance from Langwathby and Penrith, and continue on foot along the Eden path. Little Salkeld station sits on the Settle-Carlisle line, but check current timetables before relying on it. Waterproof footwear helps, as the riverside path can be muddy. Not to be confused with the stone circle The prehistoric circle Long Meg and Her Daughters stands nearby. It is a separate monument with no link to the mine, despite the similar name. The mine belongs to the 19th and 20th century industrial story of the valley. Frequently asked questions Is Long Meg Mine open to visitors? No, the workings cannot be entered. You can view the site from outside, from the footpath beside the River Eden. What was mined here? Gypsum first, then from 1922 anhydrite for the chemical industry, including sulphuric acid and fertiliser compounds. When did the mine close? For good on 31 January 1976. It had also stood idle for several years from about 1914-15. Is this the same place as the Long Meg stone circle? No. Long Meg and Her Daughters is a separate prehistoric monument near Little Salkeld.

King Edward Mine

Troon

King Edward Mine in Troon, a village between Camborne and Redruth in Cornwall, is a tin mining museum set in a historic mine and its surviving mill buildings. It is one of the most complete places in the county where you can see how tin was once extracted and processed, and it is owned by Cornwall Council and run with the help of volunteers. What is King Edward Mine? The site lies at the eastern end of the older South Condurrow Mine. Work there was abandoned around 1890, then started again in 1897. In 1901 the mine was renamed King Edward and fitted out with up-to-date machinery. Tin was produced until the First World War, and a short revival followed around 1920. In 1921 water broke in from the neighbouring Grenville Mine and flooded the workings, which ended production here. Underground activity then shifted to a section of nearby Great Condurrow. Why did students work here? The mine was developed as a training mine for the Camborne School of Mines, one of the best-known mining schools in the world. Generations of students learned practical underground and surface skills on this site. That use continued until 2005, when the school stopped using both King Edward Mine and its satellite, Great Condurrow. The Council then took over King Edward Mine, while Great Condurrow went to the Carn Brea Mining Society. How was it saved? A volunteer group formed in 1987 with the aim of conserving the site as an educational resource. Using rescued machinery, the volunteers brought the mill back into working condition. Later, Cornwall Council and a National Lottery grant of about 1.1 million pounds paid for redevelopment, including a cafe, and the museum reopened in April 2017. What can you see? Mill buildings with equipment that is demonstrated in operation. A 1908 Holman winding engine, still in its original location and run on compressed air. Surface remains that show the full chain of tin processing, from ore to concentrate. All the buildings are listed Grade II* and are considered nationally important. The site belongs to the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Area. Practical tips Guided tours are the best way to understand the machinery; opening days and hours change with the season, so check the museum before you go. The site is best combined with other mining heritage nearby, as this part of Cornwall is full of engine houses and old workings. Frequently asked questions Where is King Edward Mine? In Troon, near Camborne and Redruth in Cornwall, England. Is it still an active mine? No. Tin production ended in the early twentieth century; today it is a museum. Who runs it? It is owned by Cornwall Council, and volunteers play a major role in conservation and demonstrations. Is it part of a World Heritage Site? Yes, it lies within the Cornish mining World Heritage Area.

Levant Mine and Beam Engine

Pendeen

Levant Mine and Beam Engine is a National Trust site at Trewellard, near Pendeen and St Just, on the rugged north coast of West Cornwall. It is a former tin and copper mine whose galleries ran out beneath the Atlantic seabed, and it holds a rare prize: the oldest Cornish steam winding engine still working in its original location. What can you see at Levant Mine? The star of the visit is the beam engine house perched on the cliff edge. Inside, the restored engine is regularly brought back to life under steam, so you can watch the huge beam rock back and forth much as it did when it hauled men and ore up from the depths. A visitor centre explains how the mine worked, and a short underground tour gives a feel for the confined, damp world in which Cornish miners spent their shifts. Why is Levant Mine so important? Cornish mining shaped the industrial world, and engines like this one were the machines that made deep mining possible. The site is part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape, which has held UNESCO World Heritage status since 2006. After the mine closed in 1930, its equipment was sold off for just a few hundred pounds, and the survival of the beam engine owes much to later preservation work by enthusiasts and, eventually, the National Trust. What happened in 1919? Levant is also remembered for a tragedy. A man engine, a mechanical lift of reciprocating rods that carried miners up and down the shaft so they did not have to climb ladders, had been installed in Daubuz Shaft in 1857. On 20 October 1919, during the afternoon shift change, a component of the rod and beam linkage failed and the engine collapsed into the shaft. Thirty-one men died and many others were injured. The man engine was never repaired, and mining at the deepest levels stopped. A memorial and the story told on site keep the memory of those miners alive. Can you walk to other mines from here? Yes. The South West Coast Path passes the site, and a cliff-top footpath leads to Botallack Mine, another famous clifftop engine house. The route is a favourite for photographers, with ruined chimneys and engine houses set against the sea. Wear sturdy shoes and bring a windproof layer, because the weather on this exposed coast changes quickly. Frequently asked questions Where is Levant Mine and Beam Engine? It lies at Trewellard, close to Pendeen, a few miles from St Just in the far west of Cornwall, England. Is the beam engine really working? Yes. It is the oldest Cornish steam winding engine still operating where it was originally built, and it is run under steam on selected occasions. Check the National Trust listing for steaming days before you travel. Is there an underground tour? There is a short underground tour, which complements the visitor centre displays. Availability can depend on the season and on safety conditions, so confirm in advance. How long should I allow? Plan on two to three hours for the engine house, visitor centre and tour. Add more time if you want to continue along the coast path to Botallack. Is it part of a World Heritage Site? Yes. Levant belongs to the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape, inscribed by UNESCO in 2006.