Heartlands
Camborne, Pool and Redruth suffered badly from mine closures. The Heartlands project has been central to plans to regenerate a run-down part of Pool. Completed at a cost of �35 million, largely lottery money, it was officially opened by the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall on a soaking wet Monday 2nd July 2012. Jane and I were luckier, we had been there the day before in sun. Heartlands is on the redundant site of South Crofty mine's Robinson's Shaft; we had walked there from Tuckingmill Valley Park by way of the Portreath Branchline Trail, taking us right past South Crofty's New Cook's Kitchen Shaft, where re-opening is expected in 2014 or 2015. This is quite an extensive site and, apart from parking and food, is free. Many old mine buildings and offices have been restored and house important machinery and exhibitions covering geology, mining and social history. There is a 270 degree wrap-around mining history film - we found it a bit 'arty'. To see the magnificent beam engine in Robinson's Shaft engine house you will have to join a guided tour but I don't think you will see it working. Highlight outside is the imaginative Diaspora Botannic Garden with individual gardens representing the countries to which Cornish miners emigrated in hard times. Already good, when mature this large and varied garden should be something special. There are also extensive lawns, a row of craft studios and shops and an impressive Adventure Playground, designed by local children.
More information, including special events, on Heartlands web site
Robinson's Shaft Engine House
Red River Caf�: We were disappointed in the much vaunted Red River Caf� in the former carpenter's work shop. Counter service was slow. The menu on the wall was largely hidden by the serving counter. The specials menu was difficult to read. Prices are fairly high. Jane thought her egg mayo sandwich was good but my cheese and pickle sandwich - stale bread and a tiny amount of grated cheese - was awful. And what idiot would put grated cheese in a sandwich so it falls out as you try to eat it; it's no more than an excuse for saving on materials. Presumably the sandwiches had been prepared off site as they were packaged in thin cardboard - but undated. Heartlands needs to do better than this for catering.
Other very local mining and mining related sites: Within half-a-mile are two related National Trust sites, once known collectively as Cornish Mines and Engines, now known as East Pool Mine. Two Mining Trails pass close by here: the Great Flat Lode Trail is within quarter-of-mile to the south; the terminus of the Portreath Branchline Trail is about half-a-mile away at Brea Village
Richard
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Industrial History and Museums
Cornwall has an incredibly rich industrial history. Tin and copper were mined from the bronze age right through the to the end of the twentieth century. Gold, silver, lead, arsenic and tungsten were found, too. Mining gave birth to a major engineering industry which included inventors like Richard Tevithick and engineering companies like the Cornish Copper Company and Harveys Foundry - both of Hayle. Harveys built beam engines, locomotives and even ocean-going ships. The remains of the mining industry can best be seen in West Penwith, near St. Agnes, in Pool, around the Great Flat Lode Trail and on south-east Bodmin Moor. China clay was discovered in 1746 by William Cookworthy. The industry is Cornwall's largest; its museum is at Wheal Martyn. Granite is still quarried, primarily at De Lank near Blisland. In the 19th and 20th centuries Cornwall again led, this time in modern communications. Cables linking Britain with the empire were laid from Porthcurno, where you can visit a museum in original buildings. Marconi made his first radio transmission from Bass Point on the Lizard and his first transatlantic transmission from Poldhu Point; both have small museums. The first satellite signals were sent to the USA from Goonhilly Earth Station on the Lizard; visitor centre here too.
King Edward Mine near Troon
Edward Mine near Troon
Kresenn Kernow, the Cornwall Centre in Redruth
When I walked part of the Redruth and Chacewater Trail in June 2008, I had time to spare to wander around Redruth. I was glad I did because, on Alma Place off Fore Street, I encountered the excellent Cornwall Centre. At heart the Cornish Studies Library, with a vast collection of Cornish books, pamphlets, journals and photographs, it is much more than just that. In the foyer is the local TIC with helpful staff and ample local information. In a front exhibition room I saw a good display of local crafts. For me, though, the highlights were through a door off the foyer. A corridor and stairs lead down to Market Way and the old Buttermarket. Along the corridor are the first few frames of the Tregellas Tapestry. At the foot of the stairs you come to Market Way, a small mall with a mix of shops and a caf� (all day breakfasts). Through the mall is the old Buttermarket. While the stalls here were of little interest, what took my attention was a replica of Richard Murdoch's 'Flyer' steam driven road car and the remainder of the 56 frames of the Tregellas Tapestry. Inspired and supervised by Cornish Bard Rita Tregellas Pope, the superb Tapestry covers the history of Cornwall from prehistory times to the present. A few frames deal with myth and legend - Jesus's visit to Cornwall and the story of Tristan and Iseult.