Redruth in Cornwall was a village until the 1700’s when steam engines were used to take water out of the local mines, giving miners the opportunity to dig even deeper shafts to extract both tine and copper.

With the expansion in mining, Redruth grew considerably to become one of the major urban areas in Cornwall. However, mining declined and ceased operating in 1998. The remains of the mining industry are still evident with some of the old mining buildings still dotting the local landscape. These include the Pednadrea Chimney in the centre of Redruth and the nearby workings of Tolgus Tin, Gwennap Pit and the tourist attraction of the Cornish Mines and Engines and the nearby South Crofty Mine which is now owned by Western United Mines who are working to re-establish full scale mining operations to work this densely mineralised area. Cornish Mines and Engines can be found in nearby Pool.

The centre of the attraction features two magnificent examples of Cornish Beam Engines that were developed by the famous engineer Richard Trevithick. The engines were powered through the use of high pressure steam, as patented by Trevithick and were used to extract water from a depth of some 1500 feet below ground as well as raising men and ore from the mine. Trevithick lived in Penponds and his cottage is open every Wednesday. Admission is free of charge although donations are welcomed.

Situated to the rear of the Morrison’s supermarket car-park (on Illogan Highway) is Taylor’s Shaft which houses the Cornwall Industrial Discovery Centre which includes displays and the opportunity to walk through the boiler house, chimney and flue.

Miners were paid very little for their efforts and many died as a result of these activities through accidents or health-related problems. When mines laid off workers in the 1700’s and 1800’s, miners and their wives would take direct action through food riots. From the mid 1800’s, food rioting diminished as wages improved and the local Police Force was better organised.

In the 1740’s the area became the centre for Methodism in Cornwall when Charles Wesley, and later his brother (John Wesley) began preaching in the open to 1000’s of locals. On one of the local granite heights “Carn Brea,” their remains evidence of one of the oldest Neolithic hill-fort settlements within the area it’s a site of about 46 acres and minerals were probably worked here starting from the Bronze Age.

With international mining competition, the decline in mining was inevitable and by the 1880’s, over two-thirds of the local mining population had emigrated to South Africa, America and Australia.

Originally, Tin was obtained from deposits sound in streams with the iron oxide from such workings causing the water to turn a shade of red. This discoloration being a by-product of the separation of Tin and Copper from waste materials. This led to the naming of Redruth. Rhydruth literally means Ford (Rhyd) Red (Ruth).

The innovative engineering developed to ease the extraction of ores provided the world with an engineering legacy provided by the likes of Trevithick, Murdoch and Watt.

Today, Redruth relies mainly on tourism.

Famous people from Redruth, Cornwall include:

Mick Fleetwood

Rory McGrath

Kristin Scott Thomas

If you are visiting Cornwall you must visit Redruth and discover the delights it has to offer tourist and visitors alike!

Author Bio: Naz Daud – CityLocal Cornwall Cornwall Guide Cornwall News Cornwall Events

Category: Travel
Keywords: Cornwall, Redruth,