Pool and Camborne Gallery, I was in Cornwall for Easter 2012 so I spent Good Friday enjoying the sun and wandering around Redruth and Camborne.
The images on this page are taken in and around Pool and Tuckingmill. Many show the South Crofty Mine workings and how the site dominated the local landscape. Also of interest are the buildings which belonged to the Bickford’s Safety Fuse Works at Roskear.
The impact of mining in this area is easy to see from the rows of miners cottages to the impressive industrial landscape. Sadly this is changing quickly, I have missed so much.
With the demolition of the South Crofty Mill and Ore Bins in late 2013 things look so very different now.
Pool and Camborne Gallery 1 – This is All Saints Church in Tuckingmill. Built during 1845 by the Basset family. Located beside Pendarves Street it’s built in the “Mock Norman Style”. Pool and Camborne Gallery 2 – Looking across All Saints graveyard. In the background the headframe of South Crofty, partially hidden behind the ore bins, always such a familiar sight in Camborne.Pool and Camborne Gallery 3 – Hidden in the graveyard is this headstone belonging to M A Morris who died in Dolcoath Mine in 1907.Pool and Camborne Gallery 4 – The South Crofty Mine complex taken from Pavillion Park. Pool and Camborne Gallery 5 – Another from a slightly different angle. However today the view is totally different. Most the buildings have gone and the new road dissects the site.Pool and Camborne Gallery 6 – The South Crofty mine buildings standing behind rows of houses.Pool and Camborne Gallery 7 – The sadly derelict remains of Bennett’s Fuse Works at Roskear.
For more images of Roskear follow this link: Roskear Shaft
Pool and Camborne Gallery 8 – Looking down North Roskear Road. On the right is the fenced off New Roskear Shaft used by South Crofty.Pool and Camborne Gallery 9 – Typical rows of miners houses. Wonderful buildings if judged by today’s building standards.Pool and Camborne Gallery 10 – Also North Roskear Road looking towards Pendarves Street, with the South Crofty site in the background.Pool and Camborne Gallery 11 – Looking towards South Crofty Mine, taken from North Roskear Street. At the base of the hill are the remains of Bickford’s Fuse Works.Pool and Camborne Gallery 12 – Taken at the base of Pendarves Street, this image shows just how close the South Crofty site is to the surrounding houses.Pool and Camborne Gallery 13 – Another image of the headframe and ore bins.
In 1830 William Bickford devised a way of sealing gunpowder within a core of twisted jute yarns. Sealed in Tar to make it waterproof this simple process produced the first Safety Fuse.
The patent was issued in September 1831, production started in Tuckingmill soon afterwards. The site on Pendarves Street was formally a foundry, it was purchased and rebuilt in 1910 when the company expanded.
So this simple invention revolutionised the use of explosives underground. The fuse was safe to use burning at a rate of 30 seconds per foot. This was the first time the miners had a reliable way of setting off charges.
I just wonder how many lives and injuries it saved.
Cornish Mine Images 14 – The ornate frontage of the former Bickford’s Safety Fuse Works offices on Pendarves Street.Cornish Mine Images 15 – The facing wall of Bickford’s Fuse Works. Cornish Mine Images 16 – The interior of Bickford’s Fuse works, the buildings are extensive, but in a dangerous state, very sad.
Cornish Mine Images 17 – A view across Morrison’s Supermarket carpark. This is looking towards Taylor’s Shaft Pumping Engine House of East Pool and Agar Mine.Cornish Mine Images 18 – Finally, the main entrance to Taylor’s Shaft, East Pool and Agar Mine.
More information about the local Camborne Area can be found by following this link: www.cambornemap.org
I will be adding more photos of Camborne Town soon, but sadly so many mining remains have been lost.
