After taking some time to get out due to three buses all too large for the narrow road having to manoeuvre themselves we were were in search of Geevor Tin Mine. Mining was historically the mainstay of the region. Many old and disused chimneys punctuate the landscape.
Brian Ready to Explore Geevor Tin MIne - Cornwall
The villages have turned to grey stone houses as we wind our way toward Lands End. We didn’t plan to visit as it has been bought and turned into something of a fun park.....and many visitors have expressed their disappointment. However we ended up there anyway, although turned around and left and didn’t even take a photo.
We eventually came to the mine and spent the next two hours going through the old buildings which are still as they were when the mine was working as late as 1990.
We eventually came to the mine and spent the next two hours going through the old buildings which are still as they were when the mine was working as late as 1990.
You go on a self guided tour for much of the mine and are met by a guide who takes you into the mine tunnels. It was a fascinating look at how not just men but boys as young as nine lived and worked underground.
Women did not go into the mines but some worked breaking up the rock.....very hard physical labour.
Wet, narrow, dark and cold these men and boys carried loads of rock with the iron ore to be extracted out. They drilled holes by hand.......usually tacking 2 men 6 hours to bang the holes which they then exploded with dynamite. The dynamite was pushed into goose quills which were joined until about 4 yards long. They used a candle to light the end.....fuse.....then had to run around a corner to evade being hurt by flying rock. Most miners went deaf from the noise in time. Gradually machinery was built to ease the hard labour. But it would still be a hard job.
They had to walk in, carrying all kinds of equipment, so a heavy load often had to be carried miles into the mine shaft.....much of which is actually under the sea. They don’t know just how many miles of mine shafts there are here. It is too deep to search.
Wet, narrow, dark and cold these men and boys carried loads of rock with the iron ore to be extracted out. They drilled holes by hand.......usually tacking 2 men 6 hours to bang the holes which they then exploded with dynamite. The dynamite was pushed into goose quills which were joined until about 4 yards long. They used a candle to light the end.....fuse.....then had to run around a corner to evade being hurt by flying rock. Most miners went deaf from the noise in time. Gradually machinery was built to ease the hard labour. But it would still be a hard job.
They had to walk in, carrying all kinds of equipment, so a heavy load often had to be carried miles into the mine shaft.....much of which is actually under the sea. They don’t know just how many miles of mine shafts there are here. It is too deep to search.
From Geevor we looked for a cafe called Heather’s which our hosts at Pendennis recommended. In the village of Pennin? Very well priced we enjoyed broccoli and blue cheese soup, sandwiches and a mango,smoothie. This is a lovely light and bright little cafe with a collection of intriguing teapots.....specialising in homemade cakes and lunches.
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