Record-Breaking Summer at King Edward Mine Museum as Camborne Gears Up for 2025 International Mining Games

Photo: Camborne School of Mines’ women’s team training for the jackleg drilling event – Image Credit Media Memories Photograph

Visitors Flock to Cornwall’s Mining Heritage Site

King Edward Mine Museum (KEM), located near Camborne and part of Cornwall’s UNESCO Mining World Heritage Area, celebrated a record-breaking summer with visitor numbers reaching unprecedented levels. Many of these visitors travelled from overseas, eager to explore the museum’s unique role in showcasing the rich history of Cornish mining and its influence on global industrial development.

Situated on the Great Flat Lode—a mineral-rich rock body beneath Carn Brea’s southern granite slopes—KEM provides an immersive experience into the lives of Cornish miners. It also highlights the county’s modern resurgence in mining, driven by the need for critical minerals essential to achieving a sustainable, Net Zero future.

Carol Richards, a KEM Trustee, reflected on the museum’s growing appeal:

“The story here is about people; the ingenuity of those innovators who created the engineering advances we see preserved here, those who exported them across the globe, those who have worked and trained at KEM, and our incredible team of volunteers who bring its rich industrial legacy to life for the benefit of our increasing number of visitors.”

Preserving Cornwall’s Mining Legacy

Housed in a beautifully restored Grade II* listed mining complex near Troon, KEM is one of Cornwall’s few mining museums. It features an extensive collection of operational historic equipment, including a Cornish tin mill and a Holman winding engine. The museum is currently restoring one of Cornwall’s last remaining wooden headframes, which will be installed over its main mineshaft in 2025.

KEM also plays an active role in wildlife conservation. Its 22-acre site has become a haven for birds, bats, and wildflowers, untouched by farming. A dedicated nature trail allows visitors to explore the ecology of the area, supported by site guides and seasonal events.

As a charity, KEM relies on income from guided tours, school visits, its shop, and the popular Croust Hut Café, which serves as a year-round community hub for ramblers, dog walkers, and local groups. Efforts are underway to attract more volunteers, sponsors, and trustees to help expand its offerings and extend its opening hours. Carol encouraged local participation:

“We hope to encourage more local people to become involved as volunteers, sponsors and trustees.”

Inspiring Future Generations

Aiming to spark interest in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) subjects, KEM offers invaluable learning opportunities for primary, secondary, and further education students. The museum’s collections enable hands-on exploration of geoscience and engineering concepts, guided by two part-time Education Officers.

Since 2018, KEM has hosted the Cornwall Schools Mining Games, an annual event for Year 8 pupils. The games introduce young learners to the history and techniques of mining through practical activities, fostering skills and an appreciation for Cornwall’s industrial heritage.

Welcoming the World to Camborne in 2025

Building on its educational and cultural impact, KEM is set to host the 47th International Intercollegiate Mining Games (IMG) on 21st and 22nd March 2025. This prestigious competition honours the 91 miners who lost their lives in the 1972 Sunshine Mine disaster in Idaho, USA, and celebrates traditional mining techniques developed in Cornwall.

The IMG features seven challenging events—Jackleg Drilling, Hand Steeling, Swede Saw, Hand Mucking, Surveying, Track Stand, and Gold Panning—and draws teams from the USA, Australia, Europe, and beyond. Teams from the Camborne School of Mines (CSM), which trained generations of students at KEM from 1897, will participate alongside international competitors. A volunteer team from KEM will also compete, comprising a Plymouth University geology student, local engineering apprentices, and A-level students from Camborne.

Joseph McCarthy, IMG President for 2024/2025 and a CSM alumnus, highlighted the event’s significance:

“Camborne 2025 provides an unparalleled opportunity to present the UK mining industry, through CSM, as one of the up-and-coming mining jurisdictions in the world, and display the talent and experience we have here in Cornwall.”

Preparing for the Future

As KEM gears up for this major international event, preparations are in full swing. The site has received a new compressor for driving rock drills, and concrete has been cast for the drilling competition. Carol expressed the museum’s excitement:

“It is a privilege for us to host the IMG once again on 21st and 22nd March next year, just prior to our summer opening in April. Planning is well underway to transform our site for the occasion.”

The IMG not only promotes camaraderie among mining students but also serves as a talent scouting opportunity for mining companies worldwide. As a testament to Cornwall’s mining legacy, the event further cements KEM’s position as a key player in preserving and advancing the industry.

To learn more about King Edward Mine Museum and its activities, visit the King Edward Mine Museum website. For details on Camborne 2025 and the International Mining Games, visit the official event page.