Mining in Cornwall

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Ruin of Cornish tin mine

Ruins of Poldice Mine in Gwennap

Mining in Cornwall has existed from the days of Stone Age man dating back to between 1000 and 2000 B.C. when Cornwall is thought to have been visited by metal traders from the eastern Mediterranean. They named Britain the Cassiterides, that is Tin Islands. Cornwall and the far west of Devon provided most of the United Kingdom's tin, copper and arsenic. Originally the tin was found as alluvial deposits in the gravels of stream beds, but eventually underground working took place. Tin lodes outcropped on the cliffs and underground mines sprung up as early as the 16th century.

Up to the middle 1500s, Devon produced approximately 2540% of the amount of tin that Cornwall did but the total amount of tin production from both Cornwall and Devon during this period was relatively small. After the 1540s, Cornwall's production increased rapidly and Devon's production was only about 1/9–1/10 that of Cornwall's. From the mid-16th century the Devon Stannaries were worth very little in income to the King and were sidelined as such following the Supremacy of Parliament Act 1512 (this not apply to the Stannaries of Cornwall).

1 The main mining areas in Cornwall
2 Camborne School of Mines
3 World Heritage Site
4 See also
5 External links

However it was in the 19th century that mining reached its zenith, before foreign competition depressed the price of copper, and later tin, to a level that made Cornish ore unprofitable. Cornwall was one of the richest mining areas in the world and at its height the Cornish tin mining industry had around 600 steam engines working to pump out the mines. Adventurers put up the capital, and the mines would hopefully return them a profit. During the 20th century various ores became briefly profitable, and mines were reopened, but today none remain. Dolcoath mine, (Cornish for Old Ground), the 'Queen of Cornish Mines' was, at a depth of 3500 feet (1067 m), for many years the deepest mine in the world, not to mention one of the oldest before its closure in 1921. Indeed, the last working tin mine in Europe, South Crofty, was to be found near Camborne until its closure in March 1998. An attempt was made to reopen it but the mine was then abandoned. There have been local media reports in September 2006 that South Crofty is being considered for re-opening as the price of tin has soared however the site is now part of a Compulsory Purchase Order (October 2006). On the wall outside the gate is some graffiti dating from 1999:

"Cornish lads are fishermen and Cornish lads are miners too. But when the fish and tin are gone, what are the Cornish boys to do?"

The collapse of the world tin cartel in 1986 was the last nail in the coffin for Cornish tin mining.

[edit] The main mining areas in Cornwall

Penwith
St Just in Penwith, Zennor
Camborne, Redruth and Illogan, and St. Agnes
Wendron area in the west
Gwennap and the Carnon Valley in mid-Cornwall
A large area bounded by St Austell, and Wadebridge to Bodmin, Callington in the east
North Cornwall

[edit] Camborne School of Mines

Because of the importance of metal mining to the Cornish economy, the Camborne School of Mines (CSM) developed as the only specialist hard rock education establishment in the United Kingdom in 1888. It continues to teach mining as well as many other earth-related subjects relevant to the Cornish economy, such as renewable energy. CSM now forms part of the University of Exeter, and has relocated to the University's Tremough campus in Penryn. Despite this move, the students and School continue with the use of "Camborne" in the title. CSM graduates are to be found working in the mining industry all over the world.

[edit] World Heritage Site

In 1999 the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape was added to the UK government's tentative list for submission to the World Heritage list. It was announced on 13 July 2006 that the bid had been successful. This World Heritage site will be unique in that it covers a technique exported worldwide, including Mexico and Peru, and will consist of a trail linking mining sites from Land's End in Cornwall, up the spine of the county to the Tamar Valley forming the border with Devon. There, the exporting port of Morwellham is being developed alongside the Devon Great Consols Mine to demonstrate the nature and scale of the operations, with the Eastern Gateway to the World Heritage Site being anchored in the ancient Stannary town of Tavistock, the base for Devon's own 19th Century "Klondike" rush, which brought the Dukes of Bedford, for example, at least £2 million at the time.

As at 27 September 2006, the hoped-for £1.1m Interpretation Centre planned for Tavistock has been cancelled. Although £300K of funding is secure from the National Lottery, the remaining £800K from the Regional Development Agency has not been forthcoming.

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