St Ives Holiday Geevor Tin Mine 28th June

This day had a poor forecast so we thought we would have a look at Geevor Mine and see if the rain held off. Deciding we would take a tour of the mine seemed a sensible decision. It was fascinating to see the extent of the mines under the sea and extending up to a mile out to sea. After going through the processing sheds we had to make a dash through the weather to Wheal Mexico, a 200 year old mine with safe access above sea level. Most of the old mine workings are now flooded. Once we had completed our Mine visit we drove down to a NT building called the Botallack Count House where we were allowed to eat our lunch inside. The Botallack Mine (as seen in the Poldark TV series) was visible through the rain, but we decided to call it a day and returned to St Ives.

All signed up for the tour, hats were compulsory and much needed as we later found out!

This huge motor's job was winching all the heavy stuff up and down the mine, 1000ft down

This was the locker room - the brown dust was everywhere. Left as it was on the last working day in 1990.

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The dummy in the showers proved a bit of a surprise for some!

Only 1% of the rock brought up was tin. To find it, the pieces of rock had to be changed to the size of sand particles. Part of this process was in the huge rotating drum where steel balls crushed the rock.

These shaking tables helped separate tin particles from rock. There were originally 90 of these tables in use.

Before compressed air and trucks were installed, all stone was moved underground in carts

Not always with wheels!

Finding our way down to a very old mine. Miles of this coastline are littered with the history of tin and copper

This is inside the 18th century Wheal Mexico Mine

Careful, mind your head

Two miners just coming off their shift

Luckily we had a packed lunch from HF

Lunch in the "Poldark Mine" Count House

After a hard day down the mine, we felt we deserved a wee drink

• ← St Ives Holiday Land's End walk Monday 27th June 2022
• St Ives Holiday Mount St Michael trip 29th June 2022 →