Cornwall's King Edward Mine mill wins major Engineering Heritage Award

Delegates at next month's Physical Separation ’13 will have the opportunity of taking a fascinating tour of the Camborne-Redruth mining area, the ‘birthplace of modern mining’ (see posting of 25th March). The tour will start at the King Edward Mine (KEM) museum, which I rate as the world’s best mineral processing museum, the working mill simulating a 19th Century tin dressing circuit.


KEM Mill

So it was good to hear that the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) has awarded KEM an Engineering Heritage Award, the mill at KEM being the first to be recognised in Devon and Cornwall. The nearest other recipients of the award are the Hindley Steam engine in Sherborne, Dorset and the SS Great Britain in Bristol.

Other recipients include Tower Bridge, the Channel Tunnel, the Ffestiniog Railway and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, so KEM is privileged to be listed alongside such world famous names. KEM’s award is the 83rd IMechE Award, the 82nd Award beings for the 'Mallard' - fastest steam locomotive, putting KEM with the best of British engineering.

If you are registering for Physical Separation ’13, don’t forget to book your free ticket for the mine visit!!