Geevor’s former miners tell their own story in a new book

For decades the men who worked the shafts and levels at Geevor kept their memories to themselves, or shared them over a cup of tea in the Count House Cafe. A new book from the Pendeen mine museum has gathered those stories together and put them into print for the first time.

A book led by the miners’ voices

Geevor: Voices From A Mining Community is now on sale in the Geevor Tin Mine shop, following a launch night at the Count House Cafe that the museum described as an incredible success. Many of the former employees and their families came along to celebrate.

The book was written by Geevor’s Museum and Operations Manager Jack Roberts and by Ruth Allen, who brought together the memories and stories of the men who once worked at the mine. As the title suggests, it is led by their voices, with first-hand accounts of life both above and below ground.

Modern portraits and the next generation

The pages carry modern photography from Sam Breeze, capturing the characters of the former employees. The museum thanked Sam for the work.

Pupils from Pendeen Primary School and St Just Primary School also contributed, helping to write a chapter on the future of Geevor and what it means to the next generation.

An award-winning first for the mine

The book would not have been possible without funding from the Worshipful Company of Tin Plate Workers alias Wire Workers, whose 2025 Annual Special Award went to Geevor. It made the museum the first charity outside Greater London to receive the award.

Some of the company’s members made the trip down for the launch, including Master of the Company Capn Chris Groves. Headland Printers turned the book around on some tight deadlines.

Where to buy it

Copies are available now in the Geevor Tin Mine shop. The book is not yet on sale online, though the museum hopes to change that soon.