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Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape

Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape
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The Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape was transformed in the 18th and 19th century by industrialised copper and tin mining. Steam technology was pioneered here.

The remaining landscape is dotted with waste and spoil heaps and ruined mines, railways, canals and engine houses. Also, migrating Cornish miners have had influence on mines all over the world, leading to the survival of Cornish engine houses in Spain, Mexico, South Africa and Australia.

The following 10 subsites are included in this WHS:
- St Just Mining District
- The Port of Hayle
- Tregonning and Gwinear Mining Districts with Trewavas
- Wendron Mining District
- Camborne and Redruth Mining District with Wheal Peevor and Portreath Harbour
- Gwennap Mining District with Devoran and Perran and Kennall Vale
- St Agnes Mining District
- The Luxulyan Valley and Charlestown
- Caradon Mining District
- Tamar Valley Mining District with Tavistock


Year Decision Comments
2006 Inscribed Reasons for inscription
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Reviews

Eva Kisgyorgy (Hungary):
I visited the Geevor Tin Mine in Cornwall. There is an informative website (how to get there, opening hours, etc.) at http://www.geevor.com/
I took bus no 17 from Penzance. There are a couple of buildings one can visit and a very interesting underground tour to a mine tunnel - highly recommended.
All the mines in the area were family businesses, with just 10-20 employees. The Geevor mine is about 300 years old and was just recently discovered.
If you stay in Penzance, there are lots of other great places to visit in the area: St Ives, Minack theater, Scilly island, etc.
Date posted: May 2010
John Booth (New Zealand):
Over a few days I managed to visit a number of the sites:
Hayle - port for exporting tin
Wendron mining district - the Poldark mine with its interesting museum and exhibits
Portreath harbour - port for importing coal and exporting tin; many old mine workingws in this area
St Agnes - many derilict mine wotkings
Luxulyan - a mining village and Treffrey viaduct
Tamar valley - several derilict smelters seen from the train to Gunnislake
I visited all of the above by train or bus from Truro
Date posted: May 2010


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