Having traced my wife's ancestry back to Cornwall's miners of the 19th Century, we are planning a trip there this summer. Rick's guidebook and TV program on Cornwall highlights the Geevor Mine near Penzance, but nearby is a National Trust property, Levant Mine. I'm not sure we have time to tour two mines, so I'm trying to decide now in order to save time later. My default position should be to favor the National Trust property, but my inclination is to stick with the attraction I saw on Rick's show. Has anybody been to both?
Posted by
white plains, ny, usa
4167 posts
I have visited both sites and you should as well , particularly with your level of interest . You can park at either site and walk between the two in about fifteen minutes . We visited the Levant Beam Engine first . Fully restored by a group of volunteers known as the " Greasy Gang " , the engine is fully operative , along with a Cornish ( Trevithick ) Boiler on display as well . The balance of the site are the ruins of the mine , and the short walk to Geevor is an other worldly , evocative experience . The Geevor Mine is fully restored with displays of the tools and equipment used to process the ore into tin , as well as a great focus on the lives of the men who worked in this hell on earth . It will affect you for the rest of your days . Allow a good part of the day here , and visit nearby St. Just in Penwith ( just down the road ) for a bite , a real Cornish Pasty would do , nicely . Go to McFadden's for it . Here is St Just - https://www.google.com/maps/place/McFadden+K+%26+D/@50.1245594,-5.679932,18.25z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x486ab7f0bf270ec9:0x6e423c85d94b4571!2sCornwall,+UK!3b1!8m2!3d50.2660471!4d-5.0527125!3m4!1s0x0:0xdc271d7721092d6b!8m2!3d50.1241946!4d-5.6793771 and the mine sites - https://www.google.com/maps/place/McFadden+K+%26+D/@50.1463136,-5.6774509,15.25z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x486ab7f0bf270ec9:0x6e423c85d94b4571!2sCornwall,+UK!3b1!8m2!3d50.2660471!4d-5.0527125!3m4!1s0x0:0xdc271d7721092d6b!8m2!3d50.1241946!4d-5.6793771
Posted by
OP
Vestavia Hills, AL, 35216
109 posts
Thank you, Steven! As for the pasty, we will be visiting the heritage center in Callington, on the other side of Cornwall, where the largest commercial pasty maker in Cornwall is located. I'll be sure to save the crust for the knockers.