Background / History
Mining in Cornwall, Devon and some parts of Somerset dates back into pre-history when these areas were uniquely placed to supply the tin vital for production of bronze in Britain. These tin streams were the basis for an industry that went on to supply almost all the needs of western Europe during the Medieval period.
It was not until the early 16th century that the surface tin gravel was approaching exhaustion and a need to mine parent loads became a necessity. Greater technology and innovation were required for deep mining and innovations, such as the Beam Engine, helped keep the area competitive against foreign commodities.
By the early 1700’s copper mining began in earnest and by 1720 Cornwall produced 16,000 tonnes a year and in the next two decades this was to double.
By 1850 countries such Chile, Australia and America were producing more and cheaper copper and then, following the collapse of the banking giants Overand & Gurney, the world copper price collapsed causing the end of copper mining in this country. From then to the present some isolated areas of mining have remained until recently when mining in Cornwall ceased altogether.