Cape Cornwall Mine

The mine's 1864 chimney near the peak of the cape was retained as an aid to navigation, and in the early 20th century the former ore dressing floors were for a time converted into greenhouses and wineries.

[1] The mine was sited on Cape Cornwall itself at the western extremity of Great Britain, 1.2 miles (1.9 km) west of the town of St Just.

c. 77) and the Factory and Workshop Act 1878 drastically limited the use of the cheap female and child labour on which the industry depended.

[2][7] The ore sorting floors were converted into greenhouses and wineries, while the surrounding cliffs were planted with mesembryanthemum beds.

[4] Other than Porthledden House, which remains in private ownership, the mine site is now owned and maintained by the National Trust.

Porthledden House
Inscription on the 1864 chimney
The remaining structures of Cape Cornwall Mine, on and around the steep hill of Cape Cornwall. The white building near the centre of the photograph was formerly the mine's counting house , and the long low building beside it is the former boiler house. [ 1 ] The extensive walled structures to the east (right) of the mine buildings are the former ore sorting floors, which housed wineries and greenhouses in the early 20th century. [ 2 ]