Levant Mine and Beam Engine

Levant Mine

In its dramatic cliff-top setting on the edge of the Atlantic ocean, Levant was, for 110 years, ‘the queen of Cornwall’s submarine mines’ with undersea levels stretching over a mile out under the sea at a depth of over 600 metres.

The 1840 engine house and winding engine

In the smaller, roofed engine house is an all-indoor winding (whim) engine built, in 1840, by Harvey & Company of Hayle. 

Lovingly restored by Levant’s “Greasy Gang”, the engine can be seen in operation on all open days. It is the only Cornish mining
engine still worked by steam. 

Skip shaft

All the tin and copper ore from the undersea levels was raised via this shaft; look down and imagine climbing 500metres down the ladders. Find out more about life underground here with our new exhibition, 'The Mine Under the Sea'

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The electric winder house

In the 1960s the nearby Geevor mine reworked the Levant levels using a modern electric winder. Discover how a breach in the sea bed was sealed to enable the draining of the undersea levels. The building also houses our shop.

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The Counthouse

Explore the ruined walls, fireplaces and segments of coloured tiled floors that mark the site of what was once a grand building that housed the mine offices and boardroom. Step into the office of Major White, purser for 40 years and one of Levant's great characters.

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The pumping engine house

Now partially ruined, this building once housed a great beam engine that pumped water from the deep levels of the mine. Discover how Cornish engineers shaped the world we live in today with our working model of the engine

The tunnel to man engine shaft

In the building above the tunnel (the 'dry') the miners changed into their underground clothes before descending the spiral staircase to the tunnel leading to the man engine shaft. You can descend the steps and retrace the miners’ route along the tunnel and then imagine riding the man-engine over 600m underground

Arsenic works and Dressing Floors Walk

A 1km walk around the ruined surface workings where the ores were processed to extract the valuable minerals. The ruined buildings and structures offer a fascinating glimpse into the past and an exciting landscape for children and adults to explore.

© Barry Gamble