Carn Galver Mine: This mine is situated beside the St Ives – St Just coastal road below the hill of Watchcroft. It’s a great road to drive unless you get caught behind one of the double decker tour buses.
The sett was worked under a variety of names; Wheal Rose, Rosemergy Mine and finally as part of Morvah and Zennor United. Both the remaining engine houses, a pumping and a whim house which were both built in 1871. The main operation was relatively short lived with the mine closing in 1876, during this time production was only only 150 tons of Tin.
The entrance to the main mine adit is now blocked, the portal can be seen in the back of Porthmonia Cove over half a mile away. Between the engine houses and the cove there are the remains of a small Tin processing plant. Several wheel pits which drove Cornish Stamps can also be seen on the site. Near the car park are the remains of the Count House has been converted into storage for Bosigran Climbing Club who scale the cliffs in Porthmonia Cove.
The Carn Galver Mine site is now managed by the National Trust, it is a beautiful piece of Cornish Coastline.
Carn Galver Mine 1 – These are the remains of the Engine Houses. The closer house contained a 30″ Pumping Engine which drained the mine from the 780ft deep shaft. In the background is the 20″ Whim Engine House which wound from the same shaft.Carn Galver Mine 2 – A good angle of the Engine Houses. The Pumping house Bob Wall was collapsed to fill the shaft when the mine closed.Carn Galver Mine 3 – The front of the 20″ Whim Engine House, the old Miner’s Dry is on the left of the image.Carn Galver Mine 4 – Although these Engine Houses are right next to the road but good angles can be found to photograph them.Carn Galver Mine 5 – The flywheel mountings can just be seen at the rear of the Whim House.Carn Galvar Mine 6 – An image of the Pumping Engine House taken from the inside of the Whim House.Carn Galver Mine 7 – The interior of the Pumping House.Carn Galver Mine 8 – A view of the Pumping Engine House from the other side, the adit was 70 fathoms below the collar. But it was a wet mine that suffered from drainage problems.Carn Galver Mine 9 – The remains of the Boiler House wall are on the left of the Engine House.Carn Galver Mine 10 – Both the Engine Houses were renovated in 1984 by the National Trust.Carn Galver Mine 11 – A panorama of the mine, in the background is the hill of Watchcroft. I like this site it holds a mysterious magic to it. So you have to pity the poor miners who had to walk here, climb down the shaft, work, then walk home over the barren moors.
The rest of the images on the page are taken walking towards the sea the valley dips towards Porthmonia Cove. The views are spectacular and well worth a look.
Cornish Mine Images 12 – Along the way are the remains of a Tin Processing Works. Also water wheel pits and dressing floors are scattered around the valley.Cornish Mine Images 13 – With the sea in the background these ruins certainly stand out well.Cornish Mine Images 14 – Finally, looking down the cliffs to the sea at Porthmonia Cove. A great place to sit and think.
