Cornish Connections
Cornwall is a county in south-west England. The Cornish peninsula juts out into the Atlantic Ocean, separated from the rest of Britain by the River Tamar. Massive granite and slate stones make up a lot of Cornwall. The granite was formed from the melting of rocks deep in the earth’s crust millions of years ago. As the granite cooled, rich deposits of tin, copper, zinc, lead and iron developed in fissures.
The Cornish people have dug the ground for thousands of years. One of the earliest metals known to man was tin, and for centuries, tin mining was at the centre of Cornwall’s economy. By the eighteenth century, a considerable portion of the Cornish population worked in the mines. With the mineral lodes almost vertical, each fissure required a separate shaft. The mines went progressively deeper and deeper leading to greater problems with drainage and higher costs. Inevitably the mine shafts dropped below the level of the water table, and the water had to be pumped out if mining was to continue any deeper. The earliest mines used water- power and horse-powered pumping equipment but also depended heavily on adits. Adits were tunnels built at a slight slope, usually into the side of a hill, so that water could naturally drain down them. Steam-powered engines to drive the water pumps were introduced in the mid-nineteenth century.
The Cornish people have dug the ground for thousands of years. One of the earliest metals known to man was tin, and for centuries, tin mining was at the centre of Cornwall’s economy. By the eighteenth century, a considerable portion of the Cornish population worked in the mines. With the mineral lodes almost vertical, each fissure required a separate shaft. The mines went progressively deeper and deeper leading to greater problems with drainage and higher costs. Inevitably the mine shafts dropped below the level of the water table, and the water had to be pumped out if mining was to continue any deeper. The earliest mines used water- power and horse-powered pumping equipment but also depended heavily on adits. Adits were tunnels built at a slight slope, usually into the side of a hill, so that water could naturally drain down them. Steam-powered engines to drive the water pumps were introduced in the mid-nineteenth century.
Tin mining had employed relatively few people, but copper mining was labour intensive. The population in the mining districts increased rapidly. However, conditions in the mines were dreadful. Accidents were frequent, and there were many deaths. Life was cheap. The average life-span of the miners was under forty. Whole families were employed in various occupations in the mines. Women worked on the surface handling the ore as bal maidens, and children started work as young as eight. Most mining families were desperately poor. Their homes were very basic, usually just two rooms, one for eating and living in, and the other for sleeping. Children often slept in a loft built into the rafters. As with the rest of England, there was a lack of adequate sanitation, which led to the outbreak of numerous infectious diseases.
Although there were thousands of mines throughout Cornwall, the major mining regions were around Redruth and Camborne, St Agnes and the area around St Austell, and Callington (eastern Cornwall). The mining area extended across the River Tamar into western Devon.
Although there were thousands of mines throughout Cornwall, the major mining regions were around Redruth and Camborne, St Agnes and the area around St Austell, and Callington (eastern Cornwall). The mining area extended across the River Tamar into western Devon.
Redruth
Redruth is a town in south-west Cornwall. A small market town until the seventeenth century, Redruth was at the centre of the boom in the use of copper ore during the Industrial Revolution. Previously discarded as waste by the tin miners, copper ore was used in the brass making process.
Redruth grew rapidly as mining prospered and by 1830, it housed a population of over 8,000. By 1840, after extensive mining for over half a century, the copper deposits were beginning to run out. In 1866 the price of copper crashed due to competition from discoveries of tin and copper in other countries, including America, South Africa and of course, Australia. Many mines closed, mass unemployment followed. The working miner, who had barely earned enough to keep his family above the poverty level, was often left with just two choices - apply for positions in ‘workhouses’ or emigrate. The hard-rock miners of Cornwall soon spread all over the world and thousands went to Australia.
Redruth grew rapidly as mining prospered and by 1830, it housed a population of over 8,000. By 1840, after extensive mining for over half a century, the copper deposits were beginning to run out. In 1866 the price of copper crashed due to competition from discoveries of tin and copper in other countries, including America, South Africa and of course, Australia. Many mines closed, mass unemployment followed. The working miner, who had barely earned enough to keep his family above the poverty level, was often left with just two choices - apply for positions in ‘workhouses’ or emigrate. The hard-rock miners of Cornwall soon spread all over the world and thousands went to Australia.
The Cornish in Cuba
In the south east of Cuba, are the Sierra Maestra Mountains where the Spanish worked rich copper mines for almost three hundred years. Eventually abandoned, the Cobre copper mines fell into disuse until the 1830's when a British man had some waste from one of the mines tested. The discarded debris proved to be extremely rich in copper, and this mine, and others in the vicinity, were acquired and re-opened by two British Companies.
Both companies looked to Cornwall to supply labour and machinery. During the 1830's, many Cornish miners from Redruth and the surrounding mining villages sought work with the Cobre Mining Company. However, reports of many deaths from yellow fever and the comparatively low wages on offer resulted in fewer Cornish workers by the late 1830's.
The nearby river dried up in 1869 and there was no water available to operate the Cornish steam engines. By this time, the copper ore deposit was almost exhausted and operations at the mine were suspended.
The nearby river dried up in 1869 and there was no water available to operate the Cornish steam engines. By this time, the copper ore deposit was almost exhausted and operations at the mine were suspended.