Down South Crofty Mine Redruth

Derelict Places

Help Support Derelict Places:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Scaramanger

Veteran Member
Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2010
Messages
270
Reaction score
191
Location
Druth, Cornwall
Inspired by hydealfred's recent report on cornish tin mines I felt compelled to dig out this set from an official mine visit back in 2006. Apologies for the picture quality as the camera flash struggled in the underground conditions.
In recent times the mine has had a few different owners. It closed in 98 due to an all time low in tin value and at some point after that they kept the pumps running to try to keep the mine viable for future excavations. I believe the lower levels were left flooded whilst the upper levels were kept pumped out. This task alone cost an unbelievable amount of money.
The mine was made ready for public tours around 2004 and much was spent getting it ready including a new lift used to exit the mine and bring visitors back up to surface level.
This was a fantastic tour as our guide was actually a miner who worked here for years and had a vast knowledge on the subject. We were underground for a good couple of hours with frequent stops while the guide explained various bits about life down the mine..
I don't know if they are still doing the tours but if so it is well worth going.

Today the whole area around the mine has been flattened ready for some housing estates. Due to a massive increase in tin value and because there is a massive amount left still to be mined all hope is not lost to get mining underway at crofty again !

Here's the pics :-

1.jpg


2.jpg


We were driven by minivan to this entrance round the back of the site. I think its called the Tuckingmill decline.

3.jpg


Gates open and down we go.... A long downhill walk into a cold damp atmosphere..

4.jpg


5.jpg


6.jpg


A recent set of stairs taking you back up to a higher level

7.jpg


down.
8.jpg

down.. It was at this point our guide pointed out a few people we could just see in the distance down another tunnel. These people were placing explosive charges as at this time they were mining on a small scale.
9.jpg


A stope

10.jpg



11.jpg


A wooden "bridge"

12.jpg


It was a tight squeeze in places

13.jpg


14.jpg


We didn't venture up this staircase as there was a precarious boulder weighing several tonnes that was very unstable !
16.jpg


interesting coloured rock

19.jpg


20.jpg


A look down in to a lower passage

21.jpg


23.jpg


This area is known as the cathedral. Called this as if we could see it in its entirety it is a massive open cavern

24.jpg


This way....

25.jpg



26.jpg

27.jpg


and then out and back up to the surface

29.jpg

30.jpg


Thanks for looking
 
Superb post - well done. Always amazes me that a few pieces of wood can withstand such weight. I visited the former dries some years back but cant find the shots. Went there a month or so back and see they are being redevolped so no chance now. What is happening with South Crofty at the moment - is it being reopened ?
 
thanks all and dangerous.

There's a good deal about it on wikipedia. I think the developers are against it reopening and want to turn it in to a tourist attraction whilst there is still a lot of support to get it up and running again !
 
A question for all you Cornish mine lovers...I went on a tour of Geevor way back in 89 or 90,anyone know if they still do this?
 
A question for all you Cornish mine lovers...I went on a tour of Geevor way back in 89 or 90,anyone know if they still do this?

I too did two tours of Geevor in 89 and 90. Fascinating.

Whilst the mine is preserved at surface, the workings below adit are flooded and on my visits that is where the tour went right down the incline shaft from the bottom of Victory Shaft.

John
 

Latest posts

Back
Top