King Edward Mine near Troon
Edward Mine near Troon
I am glad I visited King Edward Mine (in August 2007) after I had been to Tolgus Tin, which, for a number of reasons, I found a little disappointing. Where Tolgus is now run by Treasure Park, a major 'tourist attraction', King Edward Mine is run by the enthusiasts of the Trevithick Society. The mine has an unusual history. Once part of South Condurrow mine, it was abandoned in 1890 only to be re-opened in 1892 as a fully working part of the Camborne School of Mines. In 1974 the school ceased to use it but in 1987 volunteers took over, installed rescued machinery in the mill and now the Trevithick Society opens it to the public. Unlike Geevor, there is no underground tour but the mill is capable of full operation.
The Trevithick Society has made a superb job of presentation. Kingsley Rickard, who had guided us previously on a tramway walk, gave me a fascinating introductory talk. I was then free to wander outside to see engine house, winding gear, a beam ready for restoration and even a cage. On into the informative museum and a good short video before my guide Ben showed me round the mill and ran some of the machinery. I must have spent 2 hours at King Edward; I enjoyed every minute, thank you Kingsley and Ben. I hope to return the day after next Trevithick Day, when all machinery is operated.
My excellent guide Ben operating the rag frame
Trevithick Society website
UPDATE OCTOBER 2009 We were at King Edward Mine again on 26 September 2009 for their Open Day. This was held in comjunction with the launch of the new Mining Trails, held at Elm Farm Cycle Centre at Camrose on the Coast-to-Coast Trail. Although we enjoyed wandering the King Edward site and mill freely, listening to the Illogan Sparnon Silver Band and seeing the chimneys in the valley smoking, we also had three other purposes. To walk some of the Great Flat Lode Treil to South Wheal Frances and back, to lunch at the always excellent and good value Countryman Inn at Piece, and to meet up with friend and map maker, the late Ernie Biddle at King Edward. Ernie had a display of several of his maps including those of Looe, Fowey, the Camel Trail and some Mining Trails. Great maps and a good day.
UPDATE JUNE 2015: When I passed KEM on a Great Flat Lode Trail walk in June 2015, I noticed work underway to excavate the old arsenic calciner. It would seem that this is part of major works, enabled by a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of over �1 million. It is expected that all the core buildings will be restored: the Boiler House will be an exhibition space; the refurbished Assay Office will include a caf�. Works should be completed in 2016.
UPDATE JULY 2020: Open Sun, Tue, Wed, Thu. From 10.00. Last Tour 1500. See website for full details
Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Museum opens 1000. Last Tour 1500.
More in Museums & Galleries
Kresenn Kernow, the Cornwall Centre in Redruth
When I walked part of the Redruth and Chacewater Trail in June 2008, I had time to spare to wander around Redruth. I was glad I did because, on Alma Place off Fore Street, I encountered the excellent Cornwall Centre. At heart the Cornish Studies Library, with a vast collection of Cornish books, pamphlets, journals and photographs, it is much more than just that. In the foyer is the local TIC with helpful staff and ample local information. In a front exhibition room I saw a good display of local crafts. For me, though, the highlights were through a door off the foyer. A corridor and stairs lead down to Market Way and the old Buttermarket. Along the corridor are the first few frames of the Tregellas Tapestry. At the foot of the stairs you come to Market Way, a small mall with a mix of shops and a caf� (all day breakfasts). Through the mall is the old Buttermarket. While the stalls here were of little interest, what took my attention was a replica of Richard Murdoch's 'Flyer' steam driven road car and the remainder of the 56 frames of the Tregellas Tapestry. Inspired and supervised by Cornish Bard Rita Tregellas Pope, the superb Tapestry covers the history of Cornwall from prehistory times to the present. A few frames deal with myth and legend - Jesus's visit to Cornwall and the story of Tristan and Iseult.
Levant Mine near St. Just in Penwith
Cornwall's oldest working beam engine lay idle for 60 years after Levant Mine closed. Built in 1840, to power lifts taking miners down 1800 feet, and tin and copper ore up, it operated continuously until Levant Mine closed in 1930. In 1935 an enthusiast purchased it for �25, founding a preservation group - later the Trevithick Society - in order to try to save it. Around 1990 a group of volunteers, known as the Greasy Gang, restored the engine, said to be the only Cornish beam engine still operating in its original engine house. The whole site is now in the care of the National Trust, which owns much of the cliff top in this part of Cornwall. Now that the beam engine is fully restored and in steam again, the site is open as a museum and is part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining World Heritage Site. In addition to the engine, you can see a restored electric winding engine and the pumping and winding shafts, take a short underground tour and see a film. Not far south, at the old Count House at Botallack Mine, there are historical displays. Although there is parking on the site, my own view is that the best way to visit Levant Mine is in the course of a wonderful cliff-top walk between Pendeen Watch and Cape Cornwall, offering Cornwall's finest collection of mine remains in beautiful locations. Suggested round walk in the area.
Man Engine
Cornishman Will Coleman is author, film maker, musician. educationalist and former director of Cornwall's renowned Kneehigh Theatre. He is also funder of Golden Tree Productions which promotes Cornwall and its history. He is also an enthusiastic promoter of the Cornish language and has published a book about the Plen-a-Gwary, Cornwall's medieval amphitheatres. A talented engineer, too, in 2016 he and his team created Man Engine, a 33 foot high mechanical puppet of a Cornish miner. This was first unveiled in Tavistock in 2016 and has since toured the country. We were lucky enough to see Man Engine in early April 2018 on the Wadebridge Showground. I say lucky but the weather was dreadful, the ground soggy and the site sufficiently awkward that good view of the action were not always to be had. That didn't prevent us from enjoying Will's show. He is a great showman and an entertaining raconteur. The original Man Engine was the device of ladders and platforms that transported miners as much as 1600 feet down mine shafts. The performance of Will Coleman's Man Engine was remarkable for such a giant robot. In addition a young lad, perched precariously at the top of a 40 foot ladder, gave an inverted demonstration of the use of the ladders and platforms of the real-life man engine. It may have been wet and muddy on the Showground but it was well worth tolerating the conditions for Will Coleman's great show.