Crown Mines

Crown Mines are the remains of copper and tin extraction operations perched on granite cliffs above the Atlantic. Two stone engine houses stand at the site, their thick walls built to house the machinery that powered the mining work.

Mining operations began here in 1721 and continued until 1914. During this time, underground shafts extended far beneath the ocean floor to reach the mineral deposits.

The industrial structures here reflect Cornwall's mining past and earned UNESCO World Heritage recognition in 2006. You can see how closely miners worked with this harsh coastal landscape.

The National Trust manages the site and provides parking near the Count House Workshop, which serves as an information center. The grounds are accessible on foot, though the clifftop paths are steep and exposed to wind and weather.

Minerals were extracted through the Boscawen Diagonal Shaft, which descended at a steep angle beneath the ocean floor. This engineering feat allowed workers to mine directly under the sea, an unusual achievement for the time.