A1 St Just Mining District

This Area’s unique geography and mineralogy meant that undersea mining was more concentrated here than anywhere else in the world in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The oldest surviving Cornish beam engine (constructed in 1840) remains in its original engine house at Levant, restored and still working under steam. Geevor, one of the last mines to close in Cornwall (1990), was saved from demolition and is now the largest metalliferous mine site open to the public in the UK. Set on the cliffs of Pendeen, the extensive mine complex is a spyglass into the industry which shaped the area even allowing visitors to go underground into Wheal Mexico and receive guided tours from genuine former miners. Their pasties in the clifftop café have a reputation for excellence; the perfect spot for a day of mining heritage.

The historic mining town of St Just is home to characteristic rows of granite mine workers’ cottages, public squares, shops, cafés, art galleries and, just off Bank Square, a medieval grassed amphitheatre – the Plen an Gwary or ‘playing place’. The ‘Miners Chapel’ of St Just is a building not to be missed, its’ enormous outline was often the last building Cornish Jacks would see as they sailed to the far-flung corners of the world in search for metals. The Chapel is now also used as a magnificent theatre venue for productions such as Hireth.