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Location Date Fri, 22 July 2016 1469176920 Thu, 21 July 2016 1469081880 Wed, 20 July 2016
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We couldn't visit Cornwall without visiting a tin mine. They are all closed now however one of them, the Geevor Tin Mine, is now a UNESCO World Heritage site and is set up as a museum. This is a really good museum with interactive displays, videos, samples of mined rocks (not just from this mine) etc. We were able to wander around all the workings of the mine with some it still having been kept in operation for display purposes. There were also sections on the politics around the closing of the mines as well as the economics behind it. This was one of the largest mines and the last to close in 1990.
One of the surprises was the extensiveness of the mine shafts. Not only did they go quite deep but this mine also went out quite far underneath the ocean. They had a model showing all the shafts and the depths. We also took the opportunity to go down one of the shafts. Many of the people working around the museum were ex miners who had lots of interesting stories. Once you started asking questions they were off. They must really enjoy what they are doing.
From there we headed off to Lands End, on the way meeting a double decker bus on one of the one land roads. Thankfully our rental had a really good reversing camera which came into use often on this trip as we backed up to the closest turnoff area.
Lands End is a very popular place based on the size of the car park. It attracts lots of people, not just because it is the most westerly point of mainland England, but because there it is also a bit of theme park. Not sure why they have a Temperance Hotel here when there would have been nothing to do in the early days except go for a walk. Surely one would need a drink after going all that distance to get here!
The coastline was rugged and the landscape barren. There did seem to be some agriculture going on quite a ways away. We noticed there were no trees at all. Anyway we have now been there!
Back at St. Ives we thought we would go down to the town for dinner. Everywhere was full with waiting queues so we opted for take away fish 'n chips. Interesting watching the people nearby guarding their takeaways from the very aggressive sea gulls. Good to the see the harbour with water in it.
One of the surprises was the extensiveness of the mine shafts. Not only did they go quite deep but this mine also went out quite far underneath the ocean. They had a model showing all the shafts and the depths. We also took the opportunity to go down one of the shafts. Many of the people working around the museum were ex miners who had lots of interesting stories. Once you started asking questions they were off. They must really enjoy what they are doing.
From there we headed off to Lands End, on the way meeting a double decker bus on one of the one land roads. Thankfully our rental had a really good reversing camera which came into use often on this trip as we backed up to the closest turnoff area.
Lands End is a very popular place based on the size of the car park. It attracts lots of people, not just because it is the most westerly point of mainland England, but because there it is also a bit of theme park. Not sure why they have a Temperance Hotel here when there would have been nothing to do in the early days except go for a walk. Surely one would need a drink after going all that distance to get here!
The coastline was rugged and the landscape barren. There did seem to be some agriculture going on quite a ways away. We noticed there were no trees at all. Anyway we have now been there!
Back at St. Ives we thought we would go down to the town for dinner. Everywhere was full with waiting queues so we opted for take away fish 'n chips. Interesting watching the people nearby guarding their takeaways from the very aggressive sea gulls. Good to the see the harbour with water in it.
- comments
roslyn1234 ....and the sun was shining too !!!!!!
Gael Amusing to say the least!
Gael Imagine children that young breathing in all that coal dust in the cold, dark and damp environment of a mine - let alone the fact that those children were expected to work the long hours that they did at that age! Just tragic!
Gael Not looking very happy either!
Gael OMG - that looks soooooo narrow - I couldn't do it!
Gael Haha!
Gael Geez - I wonder if they really looked that good? He looks pretty hot!
Gael Hmm - doesn't look so hot either - especially with the fag hanging out of his mouth!
Gael That looks fabulous. I think I would rather have spent time in there instead of the mine! A no-brainer really!
Gael Gorgeous though!
Gael I find it incomprehensible that a mine shaft built all those years ago can run underneath the ocean at such a great depth - amazing feat of engineering! Also, I think you were very brave going down a mine shaft - it's not for me!