Levant Mine and Beam Engine

About the museum

Mining for copper at Levant is first recorded in 1787, and the Levant Mining Company was founded in 1820, soon striking a rich vein of copper ore. By 1836 the mine employed 320 men, 44 women and 186 children. Tin later became the main product, and new machinery was installed, including a man engine, a stamps engine and a large tin dressing floor.

The 24-inch whim, or beam, engine was built by Harvey's of Hayle and installed in 1840. It still runs on steam in its original engine house and is the only engine of its kind in the world to do so. Because the shafts were too crooked for cages, a man engine with moving ladders and platforms was added in 1857 to carry miners to and from the deep levels.

On 20 October 1919 the man engine collapsed down the shaft during a shift change and 31 miners died, the second worst mining disaster in Cornish history. The mine closed in 1930 after poor returns, strikes and the Depression. The beam engine was preserved in place by an engines preservation committee from 1935 and given to the National Trust in 1967. Volunteers restored it, and in 1992 it ran on steam for the public for the first time in six decades. The surface remains now form part of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site.

Highlights

• 1840 beam engine running on steam in its original engine house
• Man engine tunnel and the site of the 1919 disaster
• Skip shaft over 500 metres deep next to the cliff edge
• Winder house with the electric winder of the 1960s
• Count house and engine house ruins on the Tin Coast

Permanent exhibition

• Levant Beam Engine and mine site – A guided tour of the 1840 steam beam engine, man engine tunnel, skip shaft, winder house and mining remains.

Operated by

National Trust

Admission & discounts

Prices are for the Levant tour or family tour without Gift Aid. Pre-booking is required for everyone. Free entry for National Trust members (bring the membership card). Relatives of the 31 miners who died in the 1919 man engine disaster pay no entrance fee and are asked to phone the office before visiting.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The site has steep slopes, steps and uneven surfaces. There is level access to the Winder House and the skip shaft, but the man engine tunnel has a curved staircase underground with no handrail and an uneven floor. Accessible parking and drop-off at Levant are available by prior arrangement with the office. There is an accessible toilet with baby changing, open only when the site is open. Large print and Braille guides, a visual story, noise-cancelling headphones and sensory bags can be borrowed, and a British Sign Language tablet tour is available. Assistance dogs are welcome on the guided tour.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Baby changing facilities

Interactive family tours of about an hour are offered in school holidays, and children aged 5 or under need no ticket. Sensory bags with a scavenger hunt can be borrowed. The terrain is uneven and steep in places. Education visits and group bookings are available.

Getting there & parking

The South West Coast Path passes the entrance, between Botallack and Geevor mines. Visitors should allow time to walk from Geevor to Levant before the tour starts.

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Restaurant: not available

Toilets are on site and open only when the site is open. Refreshments and further parking are at nearby Geevor Mine.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit