Higher Levant Mine

Overview

Higher Levant, once part of Spearn Consols before being absorbed into the famous Levant Mine next door in 1877, kept working its own Guide Shaft to a depth of 80 fathoms until 1914 -- its well-preserved engine house still standing beside the road today.

History

Higher Levant Mine, just up the road from the famous Levant Mine near Trewellard, was formerly part of Spearn Consols before this section was incorporated into Levant Mine in 1877; it continued working under that arrangement until its final abandonment in 1914. Its well-preserved engine house held a 35-inch rotative engine, installed in 1887, which wound and pumped from Guide Shaft and had originally driven ore-stamping machinery for Spearn Consols; between the engine house and the shaft survive the large mountings that once carried its flat rods. Alongside the road, a prominent wall encloses the shaft, incorporating two ore chutes and an arched entrance -- a feature believed to be exceptional within west Cornwall, if not the whole county. Guide Shaft itself reached a depth of 80 fathoms (146 metres) on Guide Lode. Scheduled as a nationally important monument in June 2019, Higher Levant Mine is valued for the good condition of its principal tin- and copper-extraction features, for its documentation within an archaeological survey of the wider St Just mining area (which includes surviving historic photographs), and for its group value arising from its proximity to, and historic association with, the neighbouring Levant Mine -- one of Cornwall's best-known mining sites and now a National Trust property.

Geology

A tin- and copper-bearing lode (Guide Lode) worked via Guide Shaft to 80 fathoms, formerly part of Spearn Consols and later absorbed into the neighbouring Levant Mine sett.

Workings

A well-preserved engine house (1887, 35-inch rotative engine), flat-rod mountings, a walled shaft enclosure with two ore chutes and an arched entrance, and Guide Shaft itself (80 fathoms deep).

Closure

Worked as part of the Levant Mine sett from 1877 until final abandonment in 1914.

What remains

Scheduled as a nationally important monument since June 2019; the engine house and shaft enclosure survive beside the public road to Levant Mine, consolidated by public access over many years.

A well-preserved engine house, flat-rod mountings, a walled shaft enclosure with two ore chutes and an arched entrance survive.

Related mines

• Levant Mine — Named directly in this record's own scheduling reasoning as having group value through proximity and historic association; absorbed into the Levant Mine sett in 1877.

Nearby mines

• Levant Mine — 0.5 km NW
• Geevor Tin Mine — 0.7 km NE
• Wheal Edward — 0.8 km SW
• Botallack Mine — 1.1 km SW
• Parkenoweth Mine — 1.4 km NE

Straight-line distance, within 15 km. Show on the map.

Recorded claims

Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.

• Higher Levant Mine dates from 1830 and closed in 1915; the principal elements of the tin and copper extraction process remain in good condition, including a large retaining wall where ore was tipped into carts. ¹
• Formally part of Spearn Consols, this section was incorporated into Levant mine in 1877; this part of the sett worked until 1914 at which point it was abandoned. The engine house is a 35-inch rotative engine installed in 1887 where it wound and pumped from Guide shaft, and originally drove stamps for Spearn Consols. ²
• Guide shaft reached 80 fathoms (146m) onto Guide lode; alongside the road is a very prominent wall that encloses the shaft, incorporating two ore shoots and the arched entrance to the shaft, with large mountings for flat rods between the engine house and the shaft. ²

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (primary) Higher Levant Mine, St. Just, Cornwall — AncientMonuments.uk (mirroring the Historic England scheduling record)
2. (secondary) Explore Cornwall: Higher Levant Mine — Explore Cornwall

Record created: 17 September 2026 · Last researched: 17 September 2026