King Edward Mine Museum
Restored Cornish tin mine near Camborne with a working stamps mill, a rare Holman winding engine and volunteer-led tours.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
King Edward Mine began as South Condurrow Mine, which reopened in 1844 and was renamed in 1850. It made its first profit in 1864, and the discovery of the Great Flat Lode in the 1870s brought dividends until 1893. The mine closed in 1896.
Camborne School of Mines took over the eastern part in 1897 and renamed it King Edward Mine in 1901. The school re-equipped it with modern machinery so that students could learn on a working mine, and it was used for teaching until the 1970s. A volunteer group formed in 1987 to conserve the site, and it is now run by King Edward Mine Ltd, a registered charity, on land owned by Cornwall Council.
Visitors can see a Holman winding engine from 1908, believed to be the only one left in the world and now powered by compressed air, and a set of Californian Stamps from 1900 that crush ore. The stamps building is Grade II* listed. Other buildings include a replica winder house built in 2010, a café in the former Assay Office and an exhibition space in the Boiler House. The site also hosts the International Mining Games and school mining games.
Highlights
- Guided tour of a working Cornish tin mill
- Holman winding engine of 1908, powered by compressed air
- Californian Stamps of 1900, believed to be the only working set in Europe
- Exhibition on Holman Bros. and their rock drills
- Views over the Cornwall mining World Heritage landscape
Permanent exhibitions
- Tin mill tour and working stamps – A volunteer-led tour through a Cornish tin processing mill, including the Californian Stamps of 1900.
- Holman winding engine – A winder from 1908, the last of its kind, which visitors can see and hear running on compressed air.
- Holman Bros. exhibition – The history of the Camborne engineering firm and its rock drills, including the Holman 303 airleg drill.
- Operated by
- King Edward Mine Ltd (registered charity)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £13 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | £4free up to age 4 · Under 16s pay 4 pounds; children under 5 are free. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult, with a maximum of two children per adult. |
| Groups (10+ people) | –Groups of more than 10 should use the booking form so that a guide can be arranged; party rates are available. |
| Families | £30Up to three children. |
Cornish Heritage Volunteers, Trevithick Society and CBMS members enter free with a membership card, and Cornish Heritage Trust members pay half price. Prices are for 2026.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum says all exhibitions and the working mill can be reached by wheelchair users, and the entrance is reachable from a vehicle on level ground. There are uneven floors and some steep stairs, so suitable footwear is advised. A downloadable accessibility guide is on the website. Well-behaved dogs are welcome.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 4 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | £30 · Up to three children. |
A family ticket is available. The museum runs school visits and an annual schools mining games event.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Camborne station
First Kernow bus 49 passes near the museum. The mine is 1.5 miles south of Camborne station.
By car
Free parking
A large car park is outside the museum, and there is a separate coach park. Both are free according to the school information.
From the A30 take the Camborne/Pool exit. Caravans and motorhomes should approach from the west and avoid Brea. The sat nav postcode is TR14 9HW.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
The Croust Hut Café is in the former Assay Office and is open all year. The shop is normally open during the summer museum hours (April to October) and can be used without a museum ticket.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Tours are led by volunteers and a typical tour lasts about one and a half hours. Self-guided visits use an audio guide on a QR code, but a volunteer must accompany visitors in the mill because of moving machinery. School visits are offered on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays in term time for 4.50 pounds per child. |
