Levant Mine

Self-guided trail

Welcome to Levant Mine

Levant Mine - NTPL/Graeme Norway

Levant Mine is situated in the St Just Mining District, one of the most ancient hard-rock tin and copper mining areas in Cornwall. Here the majority of principal sites lie within a well-defined spectacular coastal belt 3.5 miles long by approximately 1.25 miles wide.

Courtesy of Morrab Library
Courtesy of Morrab Library

Copper and tin has been won here for countless generations and miners have even sunk shafts and driven levels out beneath the ocean bed. These are the world famous submarine mines.

Walking around Levant is now a peaceful experience, especially in spring when wildflowers adorn the cliffs. But at the peak of mining the cliff tops would have reverberated with the noise of crushing machinery and the bustle of miners, bal maidens and children going about their daily tasks. Many fathoms underground, and in tunnels out under the sea, miners – often father and son - toiled to break the ore. Hand drilling shot holes for blasting with gunpowder and working the narrow ‘stopes’ with hammer and ‘picker’, the work was hard and dangerous. But mining was the life-blood of the St Just area and hundreds of families depended on this ancient industry.

1748 Levant Mine appears on Martyn’s Map
1820 Levant mining company formed with a capital of £400
1835 Pumping engine supplied by Harvey’s of Hayle
1836 320 men, 44 women, 186 children employed
1840 £170,000 profit made from copper in 20 years
1840 Michell’s whim made by Harvey’s of Hayle
1857 Man engine installed
1892 Mine ponies introduced
1901 New air-compressor installed to supply rock drills and air hoist
1919 Man engine disaster, 31 miners killed
1930 Levant Mine closes
1935 Whim engine saved by enthusiasts from being scrapped
1960s Levant de-watered by Geevor and re-worked for tin
1967 Levant passes into the care of the National Trust
1984-92 Whim restored by the ‘Greasy Gang’

Geology and Minerals

Simplified geology of the Levant area
Simplified geology of the Levant area showing principal rock types and general direction of the mineral lodes.

Most of the Land’s End Peninsula consists of granite, a coarsely crystalline igneous rock, formed deep in the earth around 280 million years ago. North-east from Cape Cornwall dark-coloured slate and volcanic rocks comprise much of the rugged cliffscape. Within both the granite and these older rocks near-vertical veins (lodes) containing tin and copper, formed at right angles to the cliffs. The pursuit of these lodes beneath the bed of the Atlantic Ocean challenged the skills of the Cornish miner and brought worldwide fame to the St Just Mining District. Levant Mine and the nearby Botallack Mine were the most successful of these famous submarine enterprises.

Dip of lode The lodes in the St Just Mining District were nearly vertical (dipping at 70° to 80°) and narrow (less than a metre). They often contained mixed ores of tin, copper and arsenic, with ore grades that were much above the average for Cornish mines.

Cassiterite

CASSITERITE

The oxide of tin. The ore grade in St Just mines was often high, the coarsely concentrated mineral being mined by single-handed ‘stoping’ of the narrow veins within walls of hard country rock.

Chalcocite

CHALCOCITE

This was the principal copper ore in the St Just District and is a rich sulphide that contains 80% copper metal. This factor helps explain the success of the coastal copper producers here.

Chalcopyrite

CHALCOPYRITE

This was the commonest copper ore in Cornwall and West Devon, containing 35% copper.

BORNITE

An important ore, particularly at Botallack, that contains 63% copper.

ARSENOPYRITE

This was the principal ore of arsenic and contains 45% of the semi-metal.

Ore dressing

In addition to miners, Levant employed a large number of men, women and children at surface. Most of these were involved in the preparation of ore for sale. For copper and tin ores this was known as ‘dressing’. From the late nineteenth century arsenic was also sold as a by-product of calcining tin ore.

Copper

In 1836, for example, Levant employed 44 women – known as bal maidens - and 186 children. They worked in open-sided sheds in the labour-intensive hand dressing of copper ore. Levant had a steam-powered copper ore crusher just to the north of Skip Shaft and this alleviated much of the hand crushing of lower grade ores. The ore was shipped from nearby ports to South Wales for smelting. Little evidence survives of this copper ore dressing activity at Levant.

Tin

Stony tin ore was crushed to sand by steam-powered machinery known as stamps. The heavy tin oxide (black tin) was then concentrated using water and gravity methods in conical ‘buddles’, settling tanks and various other apparatus. ‘Black tin’ was sold to tin smelting houses, of which there were several in the vicinity of Penzance. Tin smelters were often major shareholders in the mine. There are two principal tin-dressing floors at Levant. One dates from the nineteenth century whilst the other dates from the 1920s.

Arsenic

Levant’s tin ore contained quantities of arsenic and other metals. ‘Black tin’ was roasted in calciners (ovens) which removed arsenic as a gas. This was then condensed in flues and collected as a saleable product. There are four surviving arsenic calciners in the northern part of the mine. The earlier two date from the 1870s and there is a prominent stack which is sited at the end of the (now buried) flues.

These remains of tin and arsenic processing are of world significance in the history of mining.

Levant Mine Self-guided Trail

This trail takes you through an area of high cliffs and mine shafts. Please take care not to place yourself or others at risk whilst enjoying the landscape.

The trail takes in the most significant features of the mine, together with some detours if time and weather permit. Two Cornish engine houses remain at the core of the mine’s surface complex. They mark the site of the principal shafts where ore-hoisting and pumping was carried out.

Trail Map

Michell’s Engine House: Beam winding (whim) engine 1

In the smaller, roofed, engine house is an all-indoor whim engine built to the design of Francis Michell in 1840 by Harvey & Company of Hayle. Its purpose was to raise ore to ‘grass’ (surface), via Skip Shaft, from the deep submarine workings.

This engine ran continuously for 90 years until the mine closed in 1930. It is the oldest beam engine in Cornwall and also the first to be preserved, by the Cornish Engines Preservation Committee in 1935. Now under the care of the National Trust the engine, restored by Levant’s ‘Greasy Gang’, may be viewed during opening hours and can be seen in operation on publicised ‘steaming’ days.

Wheelchair access to the first floor (Driver’s floor) of the Levant Whim is possible via a sloping path to the ramped entrance.

Levant Mine, late nineteenth century
Levant Mine, late nineteenth century

Engine Shaft Pumping Engine House 2

In spite of being worked beneath the sea, Levant was a comparatively dry mine due to the low permeability of the host rocks known as ‘killas’ and ‘greenstone’. This engine house was built in 1835 for a Harvey’s engine which provided the main pumping power on the mine until 1930.

On the seaward side of the whim engine house is an engine pond 3 originally constructed in the 1890s to store fresh water and recently rebuilt by volunteers.
To the right of it is an overlook into Levant Zawn 4. This is a steep and narrow cleft eroded by the sea along the mineralised lode. The portal of the mine adit is just above sea-level and is out of view, but on the left side of the zawn is the flight of rock-cut steps leading to it.

Levant's Cornish stamps, 1890s
Levant's Cornish stamps, 1890s

Levant was drained and used by Geevor Mine in the 1960s and several structures belong to this period:
The black shed, now the video shed 5, housed a temporary electric winder; the flat-roofed concrete building houses a ventilation fan and the top of Engine Shaft 6; the headframe of Skip Shaft 7, set over the 290 fathom- (530m-) deep shaft, was latterly worked by an electric winding engine. Recently the electric winder 8 has been restored to working order by Levant volunteers. During opening hours this may be viewed inside the winder house, where tea and coffee are also available.

Away from the shaft is the clifftop area that was used during the nineteenth century as a copper ore dressing floor 9. Bal maidens and children worked in open-sided sheds to break and high-grade the ore ready for sale.

Levant's inclined tramway, 1890s
Levant's inclined tramway, 1890s. Courtesy of Royal Cornwall Museum

Zawn Brinny Inclined Tramway A

Tin ore was hauled in small wagons from an area to the north of Skip Shaft, through an underground tramway and up an incline to the stamps to be crushed.

Levant Mine Count House B

Ruined walls, fireplaces and segments of coloured tiled floors mark the site of what was once a grand building that housed the mine offices.

From the main car park you can see circular metal railings a short way up the road next to a level concrete area that marks the site of the miners’ dry.

Miners’ Dry and Tunnel C

Here the miners changed into their underground clothes before descending the spiral staircase to the tunnel leading to Man Engine Shaft. You may descend the steps and (when open) walk along the tunnel which leads to the shaft.

The Dry, c1900
The Dry, c1900. Courtesy of Royal Cornwall Museum

Man Engine Shaft D

The man engine was installed in 1857 to speed up the transport of miners to and from the deep workings. Tragically, on the afternoon of October 20th 1919, the linkage between the rod and the engine broke, sending 31 men to their deaths. The deeper levels of Levant were never worked again.

On the other side of the road the short chimney stack served the steam engine that powered the man engine. The shaft top itself is fitted with a grille for safety and to allow viewing.

Higher Bal E

A short walk from Levant car park to Higher Bal passes small, granite-walled miners’ fields.

In the vicinity of the engine house a massive retaining wall is associated with Guide Shaft. V-notches in the structure are ore-passes - chutes down which ore was tipped into carts that carried it to the stamps. There are two archways in the wall: the first gives access to Guide Shaft, now grilled to allow safe viewing; the second leads to steep steps up to the engine house.

Underground in Man Engine Shaft, c 1900
Underground in Man Engine Shaft, c 1900

Levant arsenic works and tin-dressing floors F

The track forks beyond the Zawn Brinny tramway tunnel portal. The left-hand, seaward, track leads to Levant’s arsenic works: the blackened top of its stack may be seen in the distance.

There are four arsenic calciners in which ore was roasted. A long stone flue (now buried) carried the hot arsenic-laden gases to the prominent stack. Arsenic was collected from condensing chambers in this flue.

At the T-junction with the coast path, turn left and descend to the walled platform area above Trewellard Zawn. From here you can see the distinctive green splashes of copper staining that mark lode exposures. Immediately below are the walled remains of the site of water-powered tin stamps. Returning to the coast path, turn right along the track and head back in the direction of Levant. Continue in the direction of Geevor Mine, passing on your left settling tanks that mark the lower end of the 1922 tin mill. The path then swings right passing large concrete plinths that once supported the stamping machinery and tall pillars that supported the roof of the mill. The ore was fed in from a tramway on the high embankment beyond.

Guide Shaft, Higher Bal, early twentieth century
Guide Shaft, Higher Bal, early twentieth century

Continue along the footpath.

A path off to the left leads to Geevor Mine, a worthwhile excursion if time permits. Further along the main track, the remains of Levant’s nineteenth-century tin-dressing floors may be seen on the right, whilst on the left are large deposits of red clay, which mark the sites of extensive settling ponds.
Soon the distinctive tall banded chimney stack and ruined walls of the compressor house (built in 1901) come into view. This supplied compressed air to rock drills and other machinery underground.
It later became a power house. Keeping the stamps stack on your right, head for the compressor buildings, passing them on your left.

The path returns to the main site and car park.

Archive photographs: Courtesy of the Trounson-Bullen Collection except where otherwise mentioned.

This map is based upon Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings.
Cornwall County Council 100019590, 2005.

Wildlife

Much of the ground around Levant has been transformed by mining. The apparent ‘devastation’ of rocky and red silty wastes, and ruined buildings and ponds is extensive. However, not only does this landscape represent an important cultural legacy, it also contributes towards the range of wildlife habitats along this scenic stretch of coast.

Look out for:
Basking sharks Dolphins Gannets Shags Guillemots
Kittiwakes Oystercatchers Razorbills Fulmars Seals
Peregrines Maritime heath Scurvy grass Bracken Thrift
Sea campion Rock samphire Gorse Silver studded blue butterfly
Sea beet Adders Mugwort Burnet moth Small copper butterfly

What the Trust is doing

Since the National Trust opened the whim engine to the public in 1993, there has been an on-going programme of safety, access and conservation works. Undertaken in partnership with Cornwall County Council, the work was carried out by local contractors, together with staff and volunteers.

Safety worksSafety works

The shafts here have been hedged and fenced or fitted with safety grilles to maintain their archaeological and ecological importance. Ruined mine buildings have been made safe.

Conservation workConservation work

In addition to the whim engine, many of Levant’s nineteenth- and early twentieth century structures have been conserved. These include engine houses and chimney stacks, the tramway and man engine tunnels, powder magazines and other important remains. Some 1960s’ buildings have also been included within this work.

Habitat restorationHabitat restoration

Abandoned mining ground provides varied and special habitats for wildlife. Important heathland is maintained and wetland habitats have been enhanced through the restoration of former ponds. Mine shafts, such as Man Engine Shaft and Guide Shaft of Higher Bal, have been fitted with bat-friendly grilles.

AccessAccess

Wheelchair access to the driver’s floor of the whim engine house has been provided together with new pathways. Areas recently opened to visitors include the spiral staircase and tunnel to Man Engine Shaft.
 

EventsEvents

A programme of events includes regular steaming of the whim engine, guided history tours and walks around the site, and periodic exhibitions and workshops.

 

Levant context map

Contact: Levant Mine 01736 786156
Location: OS Explorer Map 102 SW368346
By foot: South West Coast Path passes mine entrance
By bus: Penzance to Pendeen (contact Traveline on 0870 6082608 or www.traveline.org.uk
By train: 7 miles from Penzance station
By road: 1 mile west of Pendeen on B3306 St Just - St Ives road

Separate designated disabled parking. Wheelchair access path on slope. Building: access available to driver's floor and external workings only.

Braille guide. Sensory list.

Other sites to visit in the area

Botallack - National Trust mining heritage and interpretation site OS Explorer Map 102 SW 364336
Geevor Mine (not National Trust) - mining heritage museum OS Explorer Map 102 SW 375347
Pendeen Lighthouse - Trinity House OS Explorer Map 102 SW 379359

Acknowledgments

This self guided trail was produced by the St Just Heritage Area Regeneration Project - funded by the European Regional Development Fund, South West Regional Development Agency, Cornwall County Council, the National Trust, Penwith District Council, St Just Town Council, Pendeen Residents Association, Cornwall Wildlife Trust and others. For further information on the St Just Heritage Area see www.landsendarea.co.uk

www.landsendarea.co.uk
www.nationaltrust.org.uk