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This was the last mine to work beneath the sea in Cornwall, the mine worked profitably through most of the 20th century until production ended early in 1990 following the dramatic fall in tin prices in Autumn 1985. Although some parts were lost to the scrap man the mine has been mostly preserved as an industrial heritage centre and museum.
The undersea workings were predominantly in the area formerly worked by Levant mine. At the end of the 1940's workings (Coronation Lode) had reached the cliffs, (technically it was a submarine mine but only just) further progress westward was preventd by the presence of the flooded Levant workings. As the 1950's came to a close Geevor reserves were significantly deminished being surrounded by flooded older mines. Levant would have to be dewatered if Geevor lodes were to be developed to the west. It was soon discovered that Levant had been breached by the sea, the story of how that hole was repaired and the mine dewatered is told in the Levant section. The initial intention was that the hole would be repaired and Geevor would proceed to develop westwards. The operation proved to be more difficult and costly than first anticipated and the hole was eventually sealed in 1965 in a joint venture with Union Corporation (a large multi-national mining company with a significant shareholding in Geevor). This led to Levant being run as an independent prospect for a number of years, early in 1973 it was anounced that Levant could not be worked as an independent mine. A major capitol expenditure was then undertaken at Geevor to sink a decline shaft from the bottom of Geevor's main shaft Victory, this was known as the Victory Shaft Sub-Incline Extension and would give access to Levant lodes at depth and extensions to the Geevor lodes to the west.. NEXT
 Photo Tony Clarke Sinking Winder Sub Incline Shaft during the first phase of sinking |
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