Carn Galver Mine

Carn Galver Mine Grid reference SW421364

Carn Galver Mine lies alongside the B3306 coast road in north Penwith, situated roughly midway between Zennor and St. Just. The pair of engine houses mark the start of arguably the most concentrated area of mines in the county. Residents of Camborne and Reduth may argue the case for their area, especially the mines of the Great Flat Lode. The area running from Carn Galver and Ding Dong Mine, a mile or so inland, through Pendeen to St. Just has been nowhere near as changed by modern housing and population infrastructure. Many of the original engine houses and shafts remain to leave the casual visitor quite shocked at their number and the barren nature of the mining landscape.

Carn Galver Mine consists of two engine houses beside the road with the remains of some streamworks to seaward down in the Porthmoina Valley. The mine was formerly part of the Morvah and Zennor United Mine. The westernmost engine house retains its chimney and used to house a 40-inch pumping engine. A short distance to the east, close to the former count house stands the slightly better preserved winding engine house. The whim used to house a 20-inch cylinder. The Count House has been converted into Bosigran Climbing Club and houses equipment used by climbers scaling the near vertical walls of Bosigran Castle a few hundred metres to seawrd down in the Porthmoina Valley.

Also on the cliff edge lies the remains of a tin mill, quite well preserved with a slot visible for a waterwheel at its western end.

For those of you with possibly a little more time to explore, once you've done 'the tourist bit', why not explore Cornwall's industrial heritage through its Tin and Copper Mines or learn more from my Cornish Bookstore