What a super day, and so glad it was not spent in a classroom. Off we go today on a 'field trip' to www.geevor.com mine, we were teamed up with the students of the graphic design course. It was to see how well the can draw apparently, so off we head to the tin mine. Now I have never been there before so was quite looking forward to it.
Our tour guide was Janet, and I have to say that she is a very knowledgeable guide, we started at the crusher, and shaking tables in the mines workings along with the mineral separating tanks. My sister would have loved it as it was very steam punk kinda thing. They have just had 3 million invested in repairing all the roofs, so the place is looking good!
After all the inner workings, we then went into Wheal Mexico, it is a very old mine shaft dating way back 100's of years, and it has an unusual entrance that relies on pressure rather than mortar joints, and this is very rare in mining and unheard of in Britain. The mine itself was blocked up by tons of rubble, and was only discovered when it was shifted to enhance the view. The name of the mine was found on an early map of the area, but no one has a clue as to why it became known as 'Mexico'. I will try to upload the photos as soon as I can get the off my phone!!!
The next part of the trip literally was across a field! We were trying to track down the site known as 'Carn Euny', which is an early settlement that dates back to the 5th century formed of relatively simple iron age 'round houses'. After getting a bit lost and walking along a very muddy bridle path, we eventually found the settlement but it was worth the yomp!
Carn Euny still has the circular drainage gullies and post holes surviving, the round hoses have now completely disappeared, that site was excavated by archaeologists back in the 60's. Still quite intact though is an underground stone chamber, according to the info 'This distinct type of monument, found only in far west of Cornwal known as a 'fogou', deriving from Cornish word 'ogo' meaning cave.'
It was quite cold inside but so peaceful, what it truly was for in unclear and is thought to be a place of refuge or a cellar for cold storage, and it was cold even on a very sunny day!
Worth a visit, and I am sure there is another way to it from the other side as other visitors were leaving differently as to how we did.
All in all a very enjoyable day, I can say that at this time I like college!
No comments:
Post a Comment