iKnow Cornwall
Camborne Accommodation
Camborne Tin Mining Trail - working Engine House Camborne
Holman Bros. Camborne - Famous Names like Trevithick Worked with them
Cornish Mining History at the Mining Museum East Pool Camborne
East Pool & Agar Mine, Camborne - Taylor's Shaft Puming Engine Survives
Richard Trevithick Bronze Grade II Listed Statue Camborne
Engine House Remains along the Great Flat Lode Trail Camborne
The Mark of Methodism - Centenary Methodists, Camborne Town
Views from the Great Flat Lode Trail CamborneCamborne mining history Cornish tin & copper mining industry Richard Trevithick Cornwall
The Camborne and Redruth, Camborne meaning 'crooked hill' and Redruth from rhyd meand ford and ruth meaning red, are renowned for their history of both tin and copper mining. This area contains some of the largest of the 18th and 19th century mines in Cornwall, of which Dolcoath and Carn Brea are two of the best known, with Carn Brea being the key central area of important mines and a centre of industrial development. It's all in the geology, with tin and copper loads aplenty, with copper often in the upper depths and tin deeper. Mines in this area reached great depths such as Dolcoath where tin was mined 750 metres below the copper lodes.
The history of copper and tin mining in the Camborne and Redruth area are intricately linked to the history of Cornwall itself, and indeed the development of mining internationally, as skilled migrating Cornish miners spread their knowledge throughout the world. Some big industrial and engineering names came out of this region, with one of the most famous being Richard Trevithick (1771-1833), who made the first beam engine. Trevithick is celebrated annually in Camborne at the end of April on Trevithick Day.
Camborne & Trevithick Day
The town of Camborne is very much a part of the Cornwall Industrial Settlements initiative, and there's much to learn about Cornwall's mining history in the town itself. For example there are some fascinating Methodist churches such as The Wesleyan Centenary Chapel (1839) situated in Centenary Street. This mammoth methodist church with it's distinctive Methodist arch window frontage was built to commemorate the centenary of Charles WesleyÆs conversion in 1738.
Check out also in the town centre the Market House and Town Hall (1867), the Literary Institute (1842), the J Passmore Edwards Library (1895) and the Masonic Hall (1899) in Cross Street. All are distinctive public buildings of interest in relation to the social and cultural history of mining families in the area. Richard Trevithick is given due homage with his Grade II listed statue situated in front of the Passmore Edwards Library in Camborne.
Pick up the fascinating Camborne Town Trail from either Helston Tourist Information, or from one of the museums in the area. The trail starts and ends at, of course, the Camborne Library and Trevithick Memorial Statue. There are many interesting buildings to see including the Masonic Hall, two large Wesleyan Chapels, and the early site of the School of Mines. Trevithick's statue outside the library dates from 1932 and depicts him with a model of the Camborne engine under his arm, surrounded by panels listing his many inventions. Watch out for the marks of mining such as old tram lines, Basset Coat of Arms at the Old Market House and to the left of Centenary Wesleyan Chapel (built 1839) was once the great Holman's No 1 works and offices. The name of Holman Brothers is ingrained in the history of Cornish mining. Holman's worked closely with Trevithick and other engineers to make steam engines, air compressors and pulverizers as well as other mining machinery.
On the last Saturday of every year in Camborne Trevithick's massive achievement is celebrated in Trevithick Day (weblink to the right). The event is organised by volunteers, with the help of the Trevithick Society and is a great celebration of the areas mining and engineering heritage. Everyone gets involved, with kids dressing up and taking part in the 'Bal Maidens and Miners Dance. Steam engines, full size and miniature, are on display throughout the day and Camborne Town Band lead the dances. Visitors can expect lots of fairground rides, street theatre, music and buskers and lots of art exhibitions and stationery engines scattered about the town. Highly recommended, and a superb celebration of what this area has contributed to invention and indeed the modern world.
Copper and Tin Mining
Copper was actually the predominant mineral mined in the Camborne region, with mines at Dolcoath, Carn brea and Tincroft, East Pool and Agar, West Wheal Seton, the Basset Mines and the Tresavean mines producing thousands of tons of copper, with tin discovered below the copper. On the back of such large deposits, both Camborne and Redruth developed as industrial mining centres, and a whole industry evolved with early adoption of sophisticated technology in areas such as steam pumping. Other industries such as clothing factories, boilers, and drill manufacturers also established themselves in the area.
The decline of copper prices from the mid 19th Century, with increasing foreign competition resulting in migration by many and grinding hardship hit this area of Cornwall hard. The experiences of mining families in the region can be seen in the many social history exhibitions in mining centres across the region such as the Mineral Tramways Discovery Centre near Redruth. Dolcoath, one of the largest mines in the region finally closed in 1920, with the last mine South Crofty finally closing in 1999. With the decline of the mining industry in this area came the decline and closure of interlinked industries such as Bickford-Smith, Vivians, Bartles, Holmans, Bennets, and the Climax Rock Drill company all present on the Tuckingmill complex which is open to the public (see weblink right).
The region in recent years however is receiving much attention, and regeneration projects such as the Cornwall Industrial Settlements Initiative, and the resultant Cornish Mining World Heritage Bid are reviving the history of the area. Check out their weblink to the right for a comprehensive guide to mines in the Camborne and Redruth area, plus fascinating insights into the social, cultural and religions lives of Cornish mining families. The irony won't be lost to residents, for the industry now decimated may now with the influx of regeneration money bring in the hope of work and tourism to a battered area. A contemporary twist on 18th and 19th century Relief philanthropy in this area - perhaps.
Richard Trevithick (1771-1833)
It's not surprising that Richard Treithick, genius engineer and inventor of the first beam engine should have originated from Camborne. Camborne during the 18th and through to the mid 19th century was a key industrial engineering centre. Local need was great in ever deeper mines to develop technology for pumping out water, and Camborne was at the heart of cutting edge engineering and new inventions in this and other industrial development areas.
According to the Trevithick Society (see link to the right), ""Trevithick revolutionised the concept of the steam engine in an act of miniaturisation probably not equalled until the advent of the silicon chip. By successfully utilising high pressure steam and placing the component parts of the engine within the boiler he invented a cheap, compact, eminently portable, non-condensing engine as powerful as the contemporary leviathans of Newcomen or Boulton and Watt. It was this engine and developments of it which powered the Industrial Revolution during the nineteenth century, both on land and at sea, and its importance should never be underestimated.
Trevithick's inventions are numerous and are not just within the area of steam engines. The list is amazing, particularly considering that he was just working with a small group of skilled Camborne friends and family members with basic tools and equipment. In 1801 he developed The Camborne Road Locomotive, effectively the first car, in 1802 came The Coalbrookdale Locomotive, the first portable engine to run on rails, in 1803 there was The London Road Carriage - the first coach, in 1804 The Penydarren Locomotive, the first train and in 1805 he drove a barge by steam.
This was swiftly followed by a railway locomotive carrying passengers, a threshing machine and a steamboat fitted with a Trevithick puffer engine. Not to mention a few other inventions such as refrigeration, domestic heating boilers, a rock boring machine and water jet propulsion. Trevithick also found time to demonstrate that ships could be made of iron. An unsung genius indeed! For more information on the life of Richard Trevithick check out the superb Richard Trevithick Society's website linked to the right.
Camborne Mining Attractions
The Camborne region offers an excellent selection of Geological Mining Museums and Mining History Centres. One of the best is the Mineral Tramways Discovery Centre near Redruth which really gets to grips with Cornish mining history, with an indoor exhibition and restored pumping house and working engines. There are numerous mining history trails around the site too for further exploration of mining sites.
Also on offer is the Geological Museum in Pool between Redruth and Camborne, which is the Camborne School of Mines sites and has minerals on display plus local art and regional specific mining history.
Cornish Mines & Engines, Pool, nr Redruth, Cornwall TR15 3NP. Tel: 01209 315027. Beam Engines & Industrial Heritage Centre with superb social history exhibition. Open April to October, 11am to 5pm (closed Saturdays). Check National Trust weblink to the left.
Cornwall's Industrial Discovery Centre, Pool. Tel: 01209 210900. King Edward Mine, near Troon. For opening times tel: 01209 614681. The Cornwall Centre, Redruth, Alma Place, Redruth TR15 2AT. Tel: 01209 216760.
The Mineral Tramways
One of the best ways to explore the mining history of the Camborne and Redruth area is to hook into one of the many newly marked trails, perfect for both walkers and cyclists. The Mineral Tramways Network at the moment consists of three trail including ; the Great Flat Lode Trail, the Coast to Coast Trail and the perhaps not so well known Tresavean Trail. More trails are planned too! These three trails are superb, combining journeys through mining history with beautiful countryside and outdoor activities.
Hooking into these trails is to realise the full mammoth extent of mining in this region, and to view many of the remains of not just engine houses but railways and other associated industries. The Great Flat Lode Trail is a good one to start with. It's a circular 6 1/2 miles long trail and takes in the historic Carn Brea Mining area, and the most concentrated area of mines in the region! Some stunningly preserved engine houses can be viewed on this trail, especially in the southern section.
Great Flat Lode (a lode being a vein of ore) is open to walkers, cyclists and horse riders and is pretty much all off road, taking a circular route around Carn Brea hill (which can be walked up for superb views of this mining district). The landscape is mostly farmland and heathland. A picnic is recommended, although you can branch off to a few pubs in the area at Brea Piece, Four Lanes and Troon. Initially in the 16th century mining in this area concentrated on copper, but later when copper was exhausted tin was discovered beneath and mines such as Wheal Based produced tons of high grade tin ore from 1832 to 1880. The remains of dressing floors, stamps and vanner houses and tram roads can all be seen from this trail as can numerous wildlife. Bats love the derelict engine houses for roosting, and look out for the common and bell heather over the heathland.
Other trails include the Coast to Coast trail (11 miles) which connects the two important historical mining ports of Portreath to the north and Devoran to the south. Walkers, cyclists and horse riders are welcome on this newly re-surfaced trail which takes in beautiful countryside, ancient woodland and historic mining sites. Other trails includes the Tresavean Trail (1 mile) which focuses on the Tresavean Mine and it's tramway. Particularly worth a look for it's large chimney, the largest of all the Cornwall Mines! Watch out also for forthcoming trails around the Tolgus Tin Mining area. Check out the Mining Trails weblink to the right for further details.
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