Levant Mine and Beam Engine Summary Document

LEVANT MINE AND BEAM ENGINE

CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PLAN

SUMMARY: FEBRUARY 2023

LEVANT MINE AND BEAM ENGINE: CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PLAN (SUMMARY VERSION)

1.1 PURPOSE OF THE CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PLAN

This Conservation Management Plan (CMP) has been commissioned by the National Trust for Levant Mine and Beam Engine. Its principal aim is to identify the significant historic, cultural, industrial and ecological themes and features which define Levant’s rich character, and consequently plan for a successful future. This version is a summary of a more detailed suite of documents.

Key Aims of the CMP:

• To understand the component aspects which comprise Levant, ranging from built heritage to ecology to people’s stories.

• To set out the history of Levant, including within its wider geographical and cultural contexts.

• To identify and evaluate Levant’s significance.

• To detail the statutory designations which protect the heritage, natural environment and people that co-exist at Levant.

• To recognise the issues and opportunities facing Levant both now and in the future.

• To create a framework of guidance, recommendations and strategies that will aid decision making and ensure Levant’s significance is respected and enhanced.

• To incorporate and reflect the priorities of the many different stakeholders who engage with and care about Levant.

• To provide a record of the site as of 2022.

‘Although small in scale and visitor numbers, the significance of Levant is substantial, and we remain committed to exemplary conservation and the development of the visitor experience at this key element of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site’.

The National Trust

1.2 SCOPE OF STUDY

The principal study area for the CMP reflects the National Trust ownership boundary and is supplemented with two supporting areas on either side which are essential for understanding the historic context of the main site – these are identified on plan 1. These boundaries are principally for guidance; archaeological features typically extend beyond any physical boundary. The CMP also recognises the wider geographical setting and histories that are linked with Levant; for example, nearby Geevor Tin Mine and the different areas which comprise the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site.

1.3 STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

During the early stages of drafting the CMP, an online questionnaire was created in order to understand what the local community see as the main challenges at Levant, as well as understand features and themes which are the most important. Responses broadly fell into three categories:

• Concerns regarding the maintenance and operation of the Beam Engine.

• A desire to commemorate more of Levant’s important stories.

• Apprehensions regarding operational needs and decision-making.

The CMP seeks to recognise and positively address this feedback within a holistic strategy that will protect and celebrate what makes Levant significant.

SECTION 2.0

UNDERSTANDING LEVANT MINE AND BEAM ENGINE

2.1 SITE DESCRIPTION

Skip Shaft headframe

Fan House

Electric Winder House

Store/Workshop

N

WCs

Map Room (NT Office)

Sub Station

Temporary winding house Count House and Smithy

Whim Engine House

Pumping Engine House

Powder Store

Miners’Dry

Coast & Countryside Car Park

Boscregan Shaft

Location of entrance to Main Engine Tunnel

Power House

Building standing remains Green space

Trackways and hardstanding Cliffs

Cooling Pond

UNDERSTANDING LEVANT MINE AND BEAM ENGINE

2.2 HERITAGE DESIGNATIONS

2.2.1 World Heritage Site

Levant is located within Area 1 (St Just Mining District) of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site, which was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2006. The most recent overarching Management Plan for the WHS was adopted in 2020 and will remain in place until 2025. Additionally, a State of Conservation Report is submitted to annually, to which UNESCO responds to acknowledge progresses made, encourage further improvements and raise any concerns.

WHS are recognised for their outstanding universal value to all humanity. Such designation does not provide additional statutory control but will be given great weight under current planning legislation in the event that the conservation of the site could be affected. 01

UNDERSTANDING LEVANT MINE AND BEAM ENGINE

2.2.2 Scheduled Monuments

Higher Bal, located at the south end of the CMP’s principal study area, is designated as a scheduled monument (1460143, first designated June 2019). This includes the standing, earthwork and buried remains within the designation boundary. Geevor Mine, immediately adjacent to the wider CMP study area, is also designated as a scheduled monument (1021361, first designated June 2005).

Scheduled monuments are designated under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. A site’s below-ground archaeology and above-ground structures are both protected, unless expressly omitted within the official list entry. 02 Protection may also extend to the area around the monument boundary.

2.2.3 Listed Buildings

The Levant engine houses and skip shaft headframe are both Grade II listed structures. The engine house was listed in March 1979 (1143268) and the headframe was listed in July 2011 (1401870). Immediately neighbouring the study area is a Grade II listed cottage on Levant Road.

Listed buildings are protected under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 and are recognised for their special architectural or historic interest.

02 Historic England Heritage Protection Guide – Scheduled Monuments, https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/hpg/has/ scheduledmonuments/

Listed building

Principal CMP Study Area

Scheduled Monument

CMP Zones of Influence

3.1 KEY DATES, PERIODS AND EVENTS

Wider Historical Events

Key Levant Periods

Bronze Age c.2000 BCE

The first evidence of mining in south-west England is believed to date from the Bronze Age, when civilisation first started smelting metal alloys.

325 BCE

Greek explorer Pythaes of Massalia reported a flourishing tin trade in Britain.

1497

The Cornish Rebellion took place in response to the King’s new regulations on the tin industry as a means of financing the war against Scotland.

1675 - 1819

There are no mentions of Levant of any kind until 1787. However, it may be that it was tried from near sea level, as also with Wheal Unity, Carn Du, Boscregan, Wheal Shop (Phillip’s shaft adit) and Zawn Brinney. No significant lodes had been identified an any of these small coastal mines, though it is worth noting the sale of mineral specimens from Boscregan as early as 1675.

1689

Thomas Epsley developed a method of blasting hard granite using gunpowder and fuses, enabling huge efficiencies compared to mining with pick axes.

1712

Thomas Newcomen invented the earliest steampowered beam engine.

1820 - 1839

The mine started small but struck a rich lode of high quality ore very quickly, presumably on South Lode and in the seaward extension, though this was briefly lost in 1826. It was a dry mine and was soon working multiple shafts, with levels extending out under the sea, though some of the inland sections were also clearly being worked. By the end of the decade the mine installed five small indoor whim (or multi-purpose) engines and, eventually, a dedicated pumping engine. The Levant sett 03 already included the former Boscregan mine, and possibly also Zawn Brinney mine. It can probably be assumed that one of the shafts in or backing Levant Zawn had already been started by 1820, and was taken on by the new company, most likely Skip Shaft. Its main drainage adit would also have been inherited by the company.

1840-1849

1776

James Watt’s steam-powered beam engine surpassed Newcomen’s in efficiency and popularity.

1797

Richard Trevithick spearheaded the use of high-pressure steam at Ding Dong Mine.

1814

The Royal Geological Society of Cornwall was founded.

The mine continued to deepen and a more powerful whim engine was required. Tin was overtaking copper in importance. The downfall and departure of majority shareholder, Batten, lead to the mine adopting improved ways of working.

1850-1859

A rationalisation of the engines on site took place, including the installation of the man-engine, new stamps engine and large new tin dressing floors reflecting the shift from copper to tin as the most important mineral recovered from Levant.

03 In the context of mining, a sett was a legal agreement by which the extraction of minerals was licensed and managed.

1860-1870

There was very little investment by the company during the latter part of the decade owing to significant disagreements with the mineral lords over the terms of the lease renewal and major personality clashes between the two groups.

Mid-late 1800s

Growing international mining activity and trade saw a disproportionate number of Cornish miners leaving the county to work abroad.

1871-1879

The new company took over seamlessly and with a 21 year lease. The mine had been run down over the previous decade, and their first priorities were to get it back in shape and to invest in new equipment.

1880-1899

Serious lease renewal issues held back investment but were finally settled in 1894. Drought and flood, plus breakages hindered the efficient operation of the mine. The new Submarine Shaft was sunk, further complicating ore handling underground, as well as operating costs, though enabling deeper sections of the mine to be worked. Levant was now the last mine working in the St Just district following the closure of Botallack and Wheal Owles, and still operated on the cost book principle.

1888

Camborne School of Mines was founded.

1900-1909

Improvements to the shafts were needed as ore handling and man access underground significantly affected productivity. A new shaft was repeatedly proposed as the only truly productive areas of the mine are deep and distant from Skip Shaft, but these were expensive and difficult to work. A new shaft would, however, be very expensive to sink and the lease was too short to encourage such an investment.

1910-1919

The writing was on the wall for Levant with falling prices, the mine effectively having been bottomed out, development had ceased, wages bills were high, labour was in short supply, the Great War took place, and the intransigence of the mineral lords all having an impact.

1913

The Cornish Institute of Engineers was founded.

1914

The First World War broke out. Mining was a protected profession, meaning miners were not conscripted but many still signed up.

1919

The Man Engine Disaster killed 31 miners at Levant.

1920-1932

A new company started promisingly, but by the middle of the century the effects of poor returns, national strikes and then the Great Depression brought about the inevitable closure of Levant. There was no interest in retrying the mine and its equipment was sold off for £600.

1926

Britain’s coal miners instigated a General Strike.

1929

The Great Depression impacted the global economy.

1933 - Present

Levant was scrapped but the Levant whim is saved. The engine was owned by the Cornish Engines Preservation Committee and the house was leased, but passed to the National Trust in 1968. Geevor sealed the 40 backs breach and eventually accessed Levant from its new sub-decline shaft, but found the mine to be essentially worked out. The tin crash of 1985 closed Geevor a few years later. Cornwall County Council acquired the eastern part of Levant and undertook some safety works. Following the acquisition of the remainder of Levant by the National Trust, the replacement boiler house was built and the engine was returned to steam. A largescale conservation and safety project was undertaken at Levant by Cornwall County Council and the Trust.

1939

The Second World War broke out.

1985

The International Tin Crisis broke out, causing prices to plummet.

1986

The International Tin Council collapsed.

1998

South Crofty, the last working tin mine in Europe, was closed.

2006

The Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape was inscribed on the World Heritage List.

SUMMARY STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

The story of the Industrial Revolution can be drawn back to Levant at every level and from every aspect: locally as part of the Cornish mining industry; nationally as the point of conception for the evolution of steam-powered engineering; and internationally as the source of skilled labourers who exported their technologies and expertise to mining sites across the world. There is a powerful social narrative that runs in tandem with this, most significantly the commemoration of the man engine disaster, the legacy of the Cornish diaspora, and stories that are still recalled amongst the local community who have firsthand memories of the site as a working mine.

The rare survival of the beam engine is highly significant and augmented further still by its continued operation under steam power. This tangible experience of part of the mine’s historic operation is supplemented by fragments and clues across the site and wider landscape which piece together the full narrative of how Levant worked at various times throughout history. This includes landmark structures such as the stacks and engine houses, as well as the unseen but expansive network of tunnels and shafts which formed the front line of the industry.

The landscape is dramatic: one where the natural environment meets industry and co-exist to create striking panoramic views that extend as far as can be seen in every direction. With the cessation of mining activity, nature has been able to reclaim parts of the site, resulting in diverse habitats that host numerous important species, including the Cornish chough.

CHARACTER-DEFINING FEATURES

Character-defining features are experiences or attributes which make a strong contribution to the spirit of a place and demonstrate its heritage values. Levant’s character-defining features are:

• Sweeping views along the rugged coastal landscape, showcasing the natural and industrial environments together in dramatic vistas.

• Respect for and commemoration of the lives lost in the man engine disaster.

• Large blocks of local granite used in construction. The common use of this material emphasises the group value of the buildings.

• The contrasting topography comprising naturally steep slopes (utilised in the surface dressing process for leats), levelled hardstandings created for dressing floors and buildings, and a network of footpaths and tracks.

• The still operational beam engine in its original location and its continued use of steam as a source of power, continuing more than 150 years of this practice. This includes the sensory experience of feeling the heat of the steam, hearing the sound of the beam engine moving and the smell of the oil.

• The group of 19th-century structures across the site which tell the narrative of the earlier operations at Levant.

• The group of 20th-century structures across the site which tell the more recent narrative of operations at Levant and which link it with neighbouring Geevor.

• The series of shafts across the site which are the only real clues at surface level as to the extensive ‘root system’ of below-ground tunnels where the critical stages of the mining process took place.

• The sense of exposure to the Atlantic weather and isolation. It is easy to appreciate the difficult conditions that workers would have to cope with in such an exposed location.

• The rich natural environment, particularly the heathland which emphasises the sense of wilderness and a landscape that has historically been difficult to cultivate.

• The derelict state of redundant buildings and structures, demonstrating the practice of mining until ore has been exhausted or operations are otherwise forced to cease, and vacating the site.

• The sensory experience of the natural environment, particularly the sounds of the sea and choughs, and the physical impact of the wind.

SECTION 5.0 CONSERVATION FRAMEWORK

5.1 INTRODUCTION

This section of the CMP introduces an overarching strategy for the conservation and management of future change at Levant. The purpose of the conservation framework is to set out the high-level principles (i.e. ‘the big picture’) that will inform future strategising, separate from the specific, shorter-term recommendations and policies identified in section 6 of the CMP.

WHAT IS ‘CONSERVATION’?

Conservation is best described as the process of managing change in a way that retains the significance and special character of a place whilst also ensuring its long-term future: this is a critical balance to maintain. Conservation does not seek to prevent all change, nor does it aim to preserve a place in its entirety, preventing progression and continued use. Implicit in the concept of conservation is the acceptance of sensitive and appropriate change as the requirements of the historic site evolves over time. It is often by virtue of a significant building adapting historically to changing needs that it will have survived at all.

The National Trust’s adopted definition of conservation is: ‘the careful management of change. It is about revealing and sharing the significance of places and ensuring that their special qualities are protected, enhanced, enjoyed and understood by present and future generations.’

As defined by the Conservation Directorate in September 2003 and quoted in the Trust’s ‘Conservation Principles’ document.

5.2 CONSERVATION PRINCIPLES

The overarching strategy for protecting the significance and unique character of Levant needs to respond to a variety of factors and themes: the history of the site, the challenges it faces and the potential to impact its future. The principles which form this overarching strategy align with other best practices and are applicable to all aspects of Levant’s heritage and management needs.

These principles should filter through into every decisionmaking process. Together with the more detailed actions and recommendations set out in section 6 (Risks and Opportunities), the principles are intended to promote the conservation and enhancement of the unique qualities of Levant, and to provide a practical framework within which all aspects and themes which contribute to its special character can thrive.

Principle 1: Significance

All decisions will be informed by an appropriate level of understanding of the significance and ‘spirit of place’ that is individual to Levant, and why it is valued.

Principle 2: Integration

There will be an integrated approach to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, reconciling the full spectrum of interests involved.

Principle 3: Change

Change that affects conservation interests will be anticipated and integrated: embracing, accommodating or adapting where appropriate, and mitigating, preventing or opposing where there is a potential adverse impact.

Principle 4: Access and Engagement

Natural and cultural heritage will be conserved to enable sustainable access and engagement for the benefit of society, gaining the support of the widest range of people by promoting understanding, enjoyment and participation.

Principle 5: Skills and Partnership

Skills and experience will be developed in partnership with others to promote and improve the conservation of natural and cultural heritage now and for the future.

Principle 6: Accountability

Levant’s custodians, The National Trust, will be transparent and accountable by recording decisions and sharing knowledge to enable the best conservation decisions to be taken both today and by future generations.

SECTION 6.0 ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES

6.1 INTRODUCTION

This section of the CMP identifies Levant’s current and anticipated challenges and aspirations, and where there is potential for these to impact the significance of the site. The actions and accompanying recommendations set out in section 7 address these specific needs, and provide a second tier of targeted advice so that the significance of Levant is protected and, where possible, enhanced through considered change. It is important that any pressure or opportunity for change affecting Levant – both those identified in the CMP and any which arise subsequently – is balanced against significance and that the two threads come together to inform a sensitive solution.

Please note: the themes are listed alphabetically and are not in any order of importance. The action plan identifies particular priorities and provides a justification for these.

6.2 ACCESSIBILITY

Issues:

• Rugged terrain which is difficult to navigate.

Opportunities:

• Availability of parking closer to the main site entrance.

• Potential to introduce discreet interventions such as handrails.

• Operational changes to encourage inclusive engagement, such as specialist sensory tours.

6.3 ARCHAEOLOGY

Issues:

• Full extent of below-ground workings is not clearly discernible at surface level.

• Safety risks and legal responsibility to manage these.

• Difficulties in accessing below-ground spaces.

• High level of protection as a result of Higher Bal being a scheduled monument.

Opportunities:

• Engage in regular dialogue with Historic England, Cornwall Council and local archaeological expertise to better understand and manage the site’s archaeology.

• Document below-ground spaces and archaeology using emerging technologies.

• Expand interpretation narrative to better communicate the history and importance of Levant’s below-ground activities.

6.4 BUILDINGS: REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE

Issues:

• Harsh effects of the coastal environment, especially on exposed metal.

• Deterioration of the headframe as a result of its cladding trapping moist air from Skip Shaft.

Opportunities:

• Treat areas of corrision to prevent further deterioration.

• Analyse existing mortars in order to specify suitable repairs.

• Develop a framework of local and reliable contractors.

• Engage marine environment specialists as required.

6.5 CAPACITY FOR CHANGE

Issues:

• • Need for any proposed change to respect the distinctive character of Levant.

• • Structural concerns regarding the Fan House and Temporary Winding House.

Opportunities:

• Remedial conservation and other works addressing structural stability and safety.

• Discreet interventions to accommodate new interpretation material or visitor circulation.

• Sustainability upgrades

• Vegetation management and ecology-led improvements

6.6 CHALLENGING HISTORIES

Issues:

• Legacy of the demise of Cornwall’s mining industry

• Association with strands of uncomfortable histories which have frequently been overlooked; e.g. the tough work carried out by bal maidens, links with slavery and colonialism, and the emergence of climate change and biodiversity damage.

Opportunities:

• Recognise and contextualise difficult themes

• Engage with a broader audience by refocussing on hidden narratives in a sensitive and respectful manner

ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES

6.7 CIRCULATION AND WAYFINDING

Issues:

• Little interpretation of the landscape between Geevor and Levant

• Unsuitability of some public rights of way for cycling

Opportunities:

• Maintain the freedom of movement across the wider site for all types of user

• Interpret the route between Geevor and Levant so visitors better understand the connection between the two site; e.g. through discreet QR codes or guided walks

6.9 COMMERCIAL PRESSURES

Issues:

• Seasonal ebb and flow of visitors

Opportunities:

• Maintain the ‘VIP experience’ as standard through small tour groups

• Increase capacity with additional tour slots

6.10 ECOLOGY AND BIODIVERSITY

Issues:

6.8 COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT

Issues:

• Need to adhere to internal policy and accreditation standards

• Potential for environmental factors on site to damage collection objects

Opportunities:

• Consider works which affect collection objects (existing or found in the future) on a case-by-case basis according to their needs and viability

• Requirements under various natural environment designations

• Potential for land contamination as a result of mineral ore processing

Opportunities:

• Enhance the ecological value and biodviersity of the site through strategic management

• Introduce grazing ponies to manage the former smallholdings

6.11 ENGAGING WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

Issues:

• Frequently voiced frustration that operating as a visitor attraction is at odds with many people’s fresh memories of Levant as a working mine

• Perceived legacy of mismanagement

Opportunities:

• Regular and open engagement between the National Trust and local community

• Establish and expand on community partnerships to share knowledge and proposals

6.12 ENGINE: REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE

Issues:

• Vulnerability of the Beam Engine to deterioration

• Decline in engineering knowledge and practical skills needed to maintain early machinery

• High carbon footprint of operations

Opportunities:

• Establish a machinery management group comprising key stakeholders and specialists

• Maintain the current good standard of maintenance and explore options to improve on this as opportunities arise

ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES

6.13 INTERPRETATION

Issues:

• Limited interpretation material within the landscape and susceptibility of this to deterioration

• Potential for additional interpretation material to introduce an alien, museum-like language to a largely authentic vacated mining site

Opportunities:

• Diversify the delivery of guided tours; e.g. focus on a certain theme, incorporate the Cornish language or be targeted as specific groups

• Explore creative collaborations with other sites with links to Levant

• Curate a coherant narrative that incorporates Levant’s many layers of history, as told through the surviving, ruined and documented features within the landscape and below the ground, as well as the intangible history recorded through the experience of the working mine

6.14 PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATION

Opportunities:

• Champion the Tin Coast Partnership

• Maintain and develop the relationship with Geevor Mine

• Explore curatorial partnerships and oral history projects

6.15 RESPECTFUL COMMEMORATION

Opportunities:

• Continue to manage access into the Man Engine Tunnel

• Facilitate commemorative events

• Maintain and respect commorative plaques

6.16 RESPONDING TO CLIMATE CHANGE

Issues:

• Climate emergency declared by Cornwall Council

• Additional risk of damage to historic structures as a result of increasingly extreme weather, including coastal and soil erosion

• Increased potential to have to close due to extreme inclement weather

• Considerable consumption of oil to operate the Beam Engine

Opportunities:

• Explore the feasibility of sourcing heat from the former mine shafts and tunnels

6.17 SECURITY AND SAFETY

Issues:

• Dangers of the mining landscape are not familiar to everyone, therefore requiring public safety measures

• Need for regular inspection to ensure safety

• Damage to the natural and archaeological landscapes as a result of inappropriate behaviours (e.g. removing material as souvenirs and dirtbike tracks)

Opportunities:

• Upgrade visually intrusive features with more discreet measures where these can still maintain public safety

6.18 STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS

Issues:

• Need to obtain relevant permissions in order to protect the special architectural and historic interest of the listed buildings, scheduled monuments and the world heritage site

• Need to protect below-ground archaeology

Opportunities:

• Consult with Historic England, Cornwall Council and other key stakeholders early and regularly whenever proposals for change are being developed

• Explore the potential to establish a heritage partnership agreement to formalise the management of the site

ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES

6.19 THIRD PARTY RESEARCH

Opportunities:

• Facilitate external research by providing access and sharing knowledge

6.20 UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES

Issues:

• Occasional need to close at short notice in instances of dangerous weather

Opportunities:

• Maintain emergency procedures to ensure safety, communicate with partners and anticipate any changes needed in the maintenance of the Beam Engine when usual operations are not possible

6.21 VISITOR EXPECTATIONS

Issues:

• Expectation for usual National Trust facilities (shop and café)

Opportunities:

• Champion Tin Coast Partners for retail and catering

6.22 VOLUNTEERS

Issues:

• Declining number of former miners to impart their firsthand knowledge

Opportunities:

• Record first-hand knowledge and share with successive volunteer recruits

SECTION 7.0 ACTION PLAN

The following actions correspond with the identified issues and opportunities faced by Levant Mine and Beam Engine, as well as the high-level conservation principles which will filter through into all decision making. It is intended that the CMP actions will lead onto more specific tasks and work streams in order to realise these overarching goals. The actions are assigned a priority level:

High - actions which should be undertaken immediately and continued as part of the on-going management of the site.

Medium - actions to be undertaken in the short-mid-term and/or which should be continued periodically as required.

Low - actions relating to long-term aspirations or when an opportunity arises.

ACTION REASON PRIORITY ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS

Conservation Principles

CP1 Educate all parties concerned with the care and conservation of Levant on the six conservation principles.

CP2 Consult section 4 of this CMP and the gazetteer in the first instance where change is proposed and expand on this baseline understanding of significance in a manner proportionate to the scale of work proposed.

CP3 Embed the heritage impact assessment process into existing and future change management protocols.

CP4 Maintain a record of lessons learnt following the completion of works.

To ensure that the overarching strategy for conservation filters through into every decision made.

To establish a foundation understanding of significance against which heritage impact can be gauged.

High

• Include the conservation principles in the briefing documents for any works required on site.

• Introduce the conservation strategy contained within this CMP as part of the volunteer/staff induction process.

High

• A site archive could be incorporated into an existing asset management system in place. The gazetteer GIS shapefiles accompanying this CMP could also provide the basis for an editable database.

• Create back up copies of important reports and studies (i.e. hard copies of digital files and scanned copies of printed documents).

To identify and mitigate any instances of adverse heritage impact, or potential opportunities to enhance the significance of Levant.

To ensure knowledge of successful or challenging circumstances is kept on site and can inform future works.

High

• Deposit any studies focussed on the built, mechanical or archaeological significance of Levant with the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Historic Environment Record.

High

ACTION PLAN

ACTION REASON

Accessibility

AC1 Engage an accessibility consultant to conduct a detailed access audit.

To identify opportunities for inclusive access improvements, including discreet interventions.

PRIORITY ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS

Medium • The possibilities with regards to accessibility improvements is not finite; new technologies and lessons learnt elsewhere have the potential to support future opportunities which cannot yet be foreseen. Access audits should be a regular exercise (approximately every five years).

Archaeology

AR1 Adhere to the requirements of the Mines Regulations 2014 and all other statutory protocols for the management of the mine shafts and tunnels.

AR2 Explore the feasibility of digitally recording more of the tunnels and shafts.

To ensure the security of Levant’s belowground spaces and the safety of everyone at surface level.

To potentially create new interpretation or visitor experience content, and also add to the site’s documentary record.

High • Regular conversation between the Trust, Historic England, Cornwall Council and local archaeological experts will facilitate knowledge exchange and ensure expectations are understood with regards to archaeological management and potential impacts on the World Heritage Site.

Medium

AR3 Explore the feasibility of closely supervised access to a selected section of the belowground workings.

AR4 Establish a strategy for archaeological investigation and recording.

To potentially expand the visitor experience or accommodate specialist interest groups.

To expand the existing knowledge base of Levant’s archaeological landscape, as well as potential threats and opportunities.

Low

• Digital surveying technology is developing at a fast pace and opportunities which provide the standard of content required at a cost-efficient price could be some years off, but the opportunities should be monitored closely.

• The existing Matterport surveys are an excellent tool for virtual engagement, especially for below-ground spaces which are difficult to access.

Medium

• The health and safety provisions associated with physical access into the subterranean mine may have a prohibitively adverse heritage impact. It will be important to incorporate the heritage impact assessment process into any feasibility studies.

• The findings of further archaeological investigation could inform recommendations for additional or revised designations (e.g. the extent of scheduling or individual protection for specific features), as well as an interpretation narrative for the site.

• See also actions CM1 and CM2 where there is potential to discover new collection objects as a result of any archaeological works.

ACTION PLAN

ACTION

Buildings: Repairs and Maintenance

BRM1 Establish a scope of work for stabilising the internal environment inside the headframe over Skip Shaft and carry out remedial works where decay has occurred.

BRM2 Ensure suitable materials are specified in every instance that repair work is required.

REASON

PRIORITY ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS

To prevent the ongoing deterioration of the listed structure. High

To remedy areas of decay and prevent further damage, either as a result of unmanaged decay or inappropriately specified materials.

High

• Maintain a record of repair specifications.

• Materials such as anti-corrosion paint which will be needed on a regular basis must be safely stored.

• Specialist contractors or consultants are advisable for repair and maintenance works relating to:

• Historic machinery (including the boiler)

• Historic buildings and standing remains (particularly the 19thcentury structures)

• Mine shafts and tunnels

BRM3 Establish a framework of local suppliers and contractors for regular work.

BRM4 Establish a framework of contractors and consultants for specialist work.

To ensure cost efficiency and retention of knowledge amongst a reliable network. High

To ensure best practices are applied which are bespoke to the unique themes, features and challenges at Levant.

High

• Ecology

• Cliff-side access

• Specialist consultants include the in-house expertise within the National Trust.

ACTION PLAN

ACTION

Capacity for Change

CC1 Adopt a policy of sensitive and minimal change.

CC2 Explore the potential benefits and challenges of acquiring the area between Geevor and Levant which is owned by Cornwall Council.

REASON

To preserve the unique character of Levant as a disused mine and integrity of its multi-phased development.

To protect part of the historic mining landscape which is currently unmanaged and illustrate the story of Levant more comprehensively.

PRIORITY ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS

Medium • 'Sensitive and minimal’ will be relative to the varied degree of significance and capacity for change across the CMP study area.

Medium

• Section 6.5 of this CMP identifies the high-level capacity for change for individual structures and spaces across Levant. The feasibility of specific proposals must always be considered in greater detail on a case-by-case basis.

• Health and safety requirements, as well as the visitor experience will all have a bearing on the suitability of a proposal for change (particularly with regards to balancing less-than-substantial harm against public benefit).

Challenging Histories

CH1 Explore partnerships to research the untold stories of Levant.

To evolve the site’s curatorial narrative, and ensure it accurately and respectfully addresses themes that have previously been contentious or under-represented.

Medium

• The findings and conclusions of the recent (and on-going) Trustwide study of challenging histories could take some time to filter through to a local level at Levant but will offer important lessons learnt.

• Levant can also contribute to this broader organisational movement by recognising and sharing the under-represented stories which add to its unique history.

ACTION PLAN

ACTION

Circulation and Wayfinding

CW1 Maintain the open access to the wider landscape of Levant.

CW2 Explore additional means of interpreting the landscape, with particular focus on the link between Geevor and Levant.

CW3 Retain the informality of the network of paths through the landscape.

CW4 Review the tour route navigating the paidfor area in line with any arising challenges, requirements and opportunities.

CW5 Establish a regular forum with local partners regarding the appropriate use of the public rights of way across the site.

Collections

CM1 Consult National Trust and other relevant collections protocols and guidance where proposed works have the potential to impact collection objects.

CM2 Plan for the needs of objects within the collection on a case-by-case basis following a comprehensive review of the options.

REASON PRIORITY ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS

To encourage interaction with the mining landscape without a pay barrier.

To enhance the experience of the route between Geevor and Levant, and facilitate better appreciation of the important connection between the two sites.

Medium

High • There will be considerable overlap with the evolution of the interpretation scheme for the site, and potentially also accessibility and future management of the land currently owned by Cornwall Council.

• The introduction of new features within the landscape should be limited to the minimal volume necessary so they do not unduly detract from its character.

To protect the ruggedness and authenticity of the mining landscape. High

To ensure the best experience for visitors. Low

To ensure the safety and quality experience of all users. High

• There could be scope in localised areas to introduce new surfaces where this addresses a major accessibility or safety concern, but this should only be in exceptional circumstances.

• Maintenance work carried out using appropriate methods and materials should be enabled (subject to the heritage impact assessment process); e.g. managing vegetation overgrowth or hoggin repairs for bad potholes.

To protect the significant collections and seek optimum viable conditions for their preservation.

High • See also actions ERM1-7 regarding the repair and maintenance of the Beam Engine and other machinery items associated with Levant.

High

• Factors that will require consideration include staff time and training to manage and maintain collections and loans; appropriate storage; salvage planning; display; transport; and interpretation.

• See also actions IN1-4 regarding interpretation, which has the potential to incorporate collections-based research and learning.

CM3 Engage specialists in engineering and machinery, as appropriate. High

ACTION PLAN

ACTION REASON

Commercial Pressures

CP1 Maintain a flexible programme for prebooked tours.

To continue the success of the limited tour groups and be able to adapt to the seasonal variety in visitor numbers.

CP2 Commit to limiting any additional retail offer on site.

Ecology and Biodiversity

EB1 Implement the recommendations of the 2022 Ecological Impact Assessment and Ecological Conservation Management Plan.

EB2 Renew the ecological assessment of the site on a regular basis.

EB3 Provide information where ecology and biodiversity works put temporary restrictions on the landscape.

EB4 Apply the heritage impact assessment process where ecology and biodiversity works have the potential to affect standing or below-ground archaeology.

PRIORITY ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS

Medium • The Tin Coast Partnership is a clear opportunity to re-direct spend that can contribute positively to the local economy, with the additional benefit of broadening the experience of the regional mining landscape.

To protect the character of the existing buildings and spaces. High

• Future re-assessment of Levant’s business case should take into consideration the significance of the site and the importance of preserving this, potentially at the expense of ‘quick profit’.

• The absence of any retail or food and beverage offer at Levant benefits Levant in terms of preserving the characteristic feeling as though the miners had only recently left. This can be openly communicated with visitors to help reiterate the unique quality of the site and should not be a cause for apology.

To address the identified ecological issues and opportunities, particularly with regards to the smallholdings.

High

• Interim ecological and biodiversity assessments should be carried out where an immediate concern is noted; for example, in response to extreme weather or in preparation for planned works.

To identify and address any changing behaviours, challenges and opportunities. Low

To educate the public on the positive intention of the works. Medium

To protect the irreplaceable archaeological resource from immediate or future harm. High

• Local newsletters and publications offer a forum for regular updates concerning ecology and biodiversity works.

• Where decontamination works or the clearance of dangerous species are required, due consideration will need to be given regarding the potential for heritage impact versus public benefit. The suitability of the proposed works will need to be evaluated on a case by case basis.

ACTION PLAN

ACTION

Engaging with Stakeholders and the Local Community

ESLC1 Maintain a policy of open dialogue with the local community.

ESLC2 Seek opportunities for new outreach partnerships.

REASON

PRIORITY ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS

To demonstrate respect for the legacy of the mining industry within the region.

To reflect how embedded Levant has always been within the local society.

High

High • Means to assist in communicating outwardly and receiving communication in return could include public open days for former miners and their families, as well as regular newsletters or email updates.

• Providing written and audio material in Cornish would further demonstrate a respect for the region and local community.

ACTION PLAN

ACTION

Engine: Repairs and Maintenance

ERM1 Continue the established routine of inspection and maintenance for the Beam Engine as minimum.

ERM2 Appropriate actions will be taken regarding the care of other operational/formerly operational machinery, informed by an understanding of its relative significance.

ERM3 Adapt inspection and maintenance procedures as required in response to evolving needs.

ERM4 Implement the recommendations of the 2022 study of the Beam Engine by Dorothea Restorations, as appropriate.

ERM5 Establish a machinery management group to meet on a regular basis.

REASON

To protect the significance of the Beam Engine, particularly the importance of it remaining in working order.

To protect features which contribute to the significance of Levant.

PRIORITY ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS

High • Interim condition assessments should be carried out where an immediate concern is noted; for example, in response to damaged components or in preparation for planned works.

To accurately address the conservation needs of the Beam Engine and reflect any changes in its requirements.

To address the specific needs, risks and opportunities associated with the Beam Engine, as recognised by expert specialists.

To bring together a forum of key stakeholders who can create and implement an informed and well-rounded strategy for the management of the Beam Engine.

ERM6 Proactively succession plan for suitably experienced volunteer drivers and engineers.

ERM7 Apply the heritage impact assessment process where works to the Beam Engine and other machinery on site have the potential to affect their significance, or that of the wider site.

To keep alive the traditional knowledge of how the machinery works and practical skills needed to operate and maintain it.

• Revisiting the detailed assessment prepared by Dorothea in 2022 on a five-yearly basis should also be carried out to ensure a holistic expert view on the current risks and opportunities associated with the Beam Engine informs its day-to-day management strategy. This also offers the opportunity to reflect on lessons learnt both at Levant and elsewhere.

• Great respect and affection for the Beam Engine is held by many. Sharing updates on the latest works and inspections will be appreciated by its admirers and also provide the Trust with an opportunity to explain the reasons why works need to be carried out.

• Machinery and engineering specialists should form part of the trusted framework of consultants identified in action BRM4.

• A future transition from oil generated steam to an environmentally sustainable alternative will require considerable study and heritage impact assessment.

High

To protect these heritage assets from immediate or future harm. High

• The management strategy for the beam engine should include a protocol for ensuring its condition where unforeseen circumstances prevent its usual operation.

• Decisions concerning remedial works where decay has already established will need to be made much quicker than at other heritage sites due to the rapid speed of deterioration in the coastal environment.

• Works affecting machinery located at or associated with Levant will also be subject to the National Trust’s collection management protocols.

ACTION PLAN

ACTION

Interpretation

IN1 Adopt a policy of minimal physical interpretation features within the core site.

IN2 Identify opportunities to expand and reinvigorate the interpretation of the surrounding landscape.

IN3 Explore potential partnerships with other collections and sites linked to the history of Levant.

IN4 Establish a comprehensive narrative to inform a holistic interpretation review and renewal.

REASON

PRIORITY ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS

To prevent diluting its characteristic industrial realness.

To engage visitors (paying and free flow) with a fuller version of the story of Levant.

To broaden the visitor experience of Levant and tell its story via different means.

To draw attention to parts of Levant’s history which are currently underappreciated and to more clearly link to the wider mining and industrial heritage of Cornwall.

High • The piecemeal addition of new interpretation features should be avoided to prevent visual clutter and a potentially disjointed narrative.

High

Medium

• Where National Trust guidelines and policy concerning the design and manufacture of interpretation material conflict with the industrial character of Levant, a case should be put forward for revising these so that the material best enhances the site’s significance.

Medium

• In-person interpretation is already a priority resource for Levant and is proven to be successful. This approach should continue as the ‘gold standard’ but will be closely tied with volunteer retention and recruitment.

• Physical interpretation material should be good quality and hard wearing, and be visually sympathetic to its setting.

• Consider establishing a working group with key stakeholders represented as part of the process to review and renew the interpretation narrative. This could include specialist interest groups, local communities and academics in related fields, as well as Trust curators and neighbours.

• The narratives and landscapes of Levant and Geevor are inherently linked. Geevor Mine will therefore be a key stakeholder to engage in the development of new interpretation material. The Cornwall Council-owned land between Levant and Geevor should also factor in the development of new interpretation.

• Consider providing interpretation content in Cornish as well as English.

• Consider the benefits of device-based interpretation accessed through QR codes. However, technology is fast paced and this form of interpretation could quickly become superseded.

ACTION PLAN

ACTION

Partnerships and Collaboration

PC1 Develop opportunities with the Tin Coast Partnership.

PC2 Maintain open and regular communication with Geevor Mine.

REASON

To collectively share in each other’s successes and encourage a broader appreciation for the region’s heritage.

To share lessons learnt, anticipated challenges (including the organisational protocols and standards Levant must follow as part of the National Trust portfolio) and successes.

Respectful Commemoration

RC1 Limit and monitor physical access into the Man Engine Tunnel.

PRIORITY ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS

Medium • Potential partnerships and collaboration will be closely linked to other opportunities, such as interpretation development, the need for specialist expertise, and community engagement.

High

• The National Trust is a key member of the Tin Coast Partnership and can use its status to champion smaller enterprises.

High • Maintaining open communication channels with the descendants of the men lost in the 1919 disaster will be key to ensuring respect is maintained.

RC2 Facilitate Levant as a place of commemoration. High

To respect the memory of the 31 lives lost in 1919.

RC3 Ensure that operational changes are informed by the need to respect the setting of the Man Engine Tunnel.

High

ACTION PLAN

ACTION REASON PRIORITY ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS

Responding to Climate Change

RCC1 Afford substantial weight to the need to reduce carbon emissions in decision making.

RCC2 Seek an alternative and environmentally sustainable means of generating steam to power the Beam Engine.

RCC3 Cross-reference the conclusions of the feasibility study looking at generating power from the heat within the historic mining shafts with the risks, opportunities and actions in this CMP.

RCC4 Apply the heritage impact assessment process where proposals relating to sustainability improvements have the potential to affect the significance of individual features, the wider site or their setting.

Security and Safety

SS1 Ensure that any safety features required are as discreet as possible whilst still fulfilling the requirements of health and safety regulations.

To actively address the climate change emergency declared in Cornwall and within the Trust.

To eliminate the carbon emissions and rapidly increasing costs associated with using oil.

High

High • Initial stakeholder engagement with the local community indicated that reducing the carbon footprint of operations at Levant was not a priority. To avoid conflict, it would be prudent to notify the community in advance of proposed sustainability improvements and set out the reasoning behind the decision made.

To identify potential conflicts or additional benefit. High

• Statutory stakeholder consultation will be a key part of developing proposals for sustainability improvements, particularly with regards to agreeing the potential balance of heritage harm and public benefit, as required by the National Planning Policy Framework.

• There will also be overlap with the actions for ecology and biodiversity (EB1-4).

To protect these heritage assets from immediate or future harm. High

• Future risks associated with climate change, such as coastal erosion, should be monitored in order to pre-empt potential damage to the historic structures and spaces at Levant.

To protect the distinctive character of the mining landscape. High • Interpretation material can also educate the public on the dangers of the mining landscape and the ramifications of dangerous behaviour.

ACTION PLAN

ACTION

Statutory Requirements

SR1 Obtain the necessary permissions prior to commencing any works.

SR2 Request pre-application advice from the appropriate statutory consultees where complicated or major works are required.

SR3 Confirm the extent to which setting needs to be understood on a case-by-case basis.

REASON

PRIORITY ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS

To protect the significance and outstanding universal value of the many heritage assets within and around the site.

To benefit from lessons learnt elsewhere, streamline the planning process, and ensure the right scheme is ultimately actioned.

To ensure that the heritage impact of the proposed work is gauged against a proportionate understanding of significance, as required by the NPPF.

SR4 Establish and maintain a regular discussion forum with Cornwall Council and Historic England.

Third Party Research

To table developing proposals and provide updates on works in progress as a means of knowledge sharing and fostering trust.

TPR1 Support and facilitate third party research. To share the unique resource at Levant and potentially benefit in kind from research outputs.

Unforeseen Circumstances

UC1 Ensure emergency procedures are in place in the event that usual operations are prohibited.

To monitor and prevent any damage to the heritage assets on the site.

High

High • A heritage partnership agreement (HPA) could be an option to assist in the management of works that would individually require listed building consent but could be more efficiently managed as a whole programme. The baseline information in this CMP, the regular condition surveys carried out, and the appended conservation report for the beam engine provide a starting point from which to identify what works could be covered under a HPA.

High

• Consider formalising regular engagement with Cornwall Council and Historic England under a service level agreement or planning performance agreement. This would be especially useful during the preparation of a HPA or where a major project is being developed.

High

• Regular engagement with statutory bodies is also an opportunity to discuss and monitor the potential to revise existing designations or to propose new designations.

Medium • There will be considerable overlap with actions for interpretation, partnerships and collaboration, responding to climate change and below-ground Levant (and likely others).

High • Emergency procedures should also include the protocol set out in the beam engine management strategy (see also actions ERM1-6).

• Continuity plans should be informed by both National Trust central directives and Levant-specific operational requirements.

ACTION PLAN

ACTION REASON

Visitor Expectations

VE1 Manage visitor expectations by emphasising Levant’s links to the Tin Coast Partnership and diversity of the National Trust portfolio.

Volunteers

V1 Engage the former miners and engineers within the volunteer team in an oral history project.

V2 Encourage the sharing of knowledge between generations of volunteers.

To dispel the expectation for retail and hospitality provision that would conflict with the distinctive industrial character of the site.

To document their first-hand knowledge and experience of the mining industry at Levant, across Cornwall and internationally.

To succession plan in anticipation of the gradual reduction of volunteers with firsthand experience of Cornish mining.

PRIORITY ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS

High • There will be considerable overlap with the commercial pressures actions (CP1 and CP2).

High • An oral history project could be an opportunity for a new partnership or collaboration, or could be a Trust-led activity.

• Expanding and improving the break out space for volunteers on site could foster greater interaction and conversation within the team.

High

• There is potential to learn from successful volunteer engagement at other properties in the Trust’s portfolio.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, SOURCES AND FURTHER INFORMATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This CMP has been prepared by Purcell, an architectural practice and heritage consultancy specialising in the care of the historic environment, with additional specialist support regarding the site’s archaeological, ecological and engineering importance.

Project Team

Lead Consultant (Purcell)

Hettie Dix, Senior Heritage Consultant –Project Runner

Rowenna Wood, Associate – Strategic

Lead

Charlotte Roberts & Kurtis Bentley –Graphic Design

Purcell would like to acknowledge the guidance and input which has aided the preparation of the CMP from the following people:

• James Breslin, Operations and Development Manager –Tin Coast and East Pool Mine (National Trust)

• Fridy Duterloo-Morgan, Cultural Heritage Curator (National Trust)

• Jim Parry, Archaeologist (National Trust)

• Neil Wressell, Conservator (National Trust)

• Ruth Lewis, Experiences and Partnerships Curator for Cornwall (National Trust)

• Hannah Jones, People Business Partner (Volunteering and Community) (National Trust)

SOURCES & FURTHER INFORMATION

Studies & Assessment Reports

Historic Environment Service (Projects), Cornwall County Council, Geevor and Levant, Cornwall. Historical Landscape Development , report no. 2008R059, (2008).

Websites

Bal Maidens & Mining Women, http://www.balmaiden.co.uk/ index.htm (accessed April 2022).

The Cornish Diaspora and the Resilient Women of St Just and Pendeen – online exhibition, https://geevor.com/onlineexhibition/ (accessed April 2022).

Archaeology and Gazetteer

Engineering (Dorothea Restorations)

Adam Sharpe

• Ollie Wright, Levant Welcome Manager (National Trust)

• The team of volunteers at Levant Mine and Beam Engine

Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly’s Historic Environment (historic mapping), https://map.cornwall.gov.uk/website/ccma p/?zoomlevel=10&xcoord=136773&ycoord=34530&wsName =CIOS_historic_environment&layerName=

Trevithick Society Publications

Geoff Wallis

John Wallis Ecology (EcoLogic)

Dominic Sheldon

• Ash Pearson, Countryside Manager (National Trust)

• Ian Marsh, General Manager for the West Cornwall portfolio (National Trust)

• John Swarbrooke, Chairman (Geevor Tin Mine/Pendeen Community Heritage)

• Ted Mole (local historian)

The observations, additional information and feedback received from the local community and stakeholders through the early engagement questionnaire is particularly welcomed and appreciated.

Article regarding Levant Mine, 2015 AGM report: http:// www.trevithicksociety.info/2015%20AGM%20notes%20 final%20high-res.pdf (accessed April 2022).

Drawings of the Levant Whim, by Courtney Rowe, (1998).

Levant Mine: An Anthology, edited by Peter Joseph & Graham Thorne, (2019).

Levant: A Champion Cornish Mine, by John Corin & Peter Joseph, (2013, reprinted 2016).

Other Published Works

Gillian Burke & Peter Richardson, ‘The Decline and Fall of the Cost Book System in the Cornish Tin Mining Industry, 1895–1914’, in Business History, 23:1, 4-18, (1981).

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