Camborne is a town in west Cornwall,
situated in the heart of the Cornish tin and copper mining district.
The inventor and mining engineer Richard Trevithick was born at
Illogan and ruins of a Roman villa were found at Illogan in 1931,
thought to be the only one found in Cornwall.
Great Flat Lode Trail
One of the many trails round this mining area, there are 34 miles
of trails based on the old tramway routes.
Richard Trevithick Statue
Born at Illogan in 1771, he was an inventor and mining engineer.
He is known for the high pressure steam engine, he also built the
first full scale working railway steam locomotive (1803).
Camborne School of Mines Museum
Plans were first made for the school in 1829 which lead to the current
school in 1888. It now forms part of the University of Exeter. Fine
collection of minerals in its museum of geology.
Dolcoath Mine
Was the deepest and largest mine in Cornwall with a depth of 3,000
+ feet, the Harriets Pumping Engine house was built in 1860.
King Edward Mine Museum
Formerly part of the South Condurrow Mine which was abandoned in
the 1890s. It was re-opened by Camborne School of Mines between
1897 and 1906 as an operational/training mine until 2005. Exhibits
in the museum tell how the mine survived almost intact for over
100 years. On a guided tour of the mill you will see much of the
rare equipment in use as it would have been in the early 1900s.
The working mill was featured in the BBC 2 'Edwardian Farm' which
was televised in December 2010.
Events in Camborne:
Trevithick Day
Annual one day festival held on the last Saturday in April to
celebrate Richard Trevithick. Steam Engines, Steam Parade, Miniature
Steam Engines, Vintage Vehicles, Bal Maidens and Miners Dance
led by Camborne Town Band, Street Entertainers, Market Stalls,
Flower Festival, music and Fair Ground Rides
Camborne Music Festival
6 day annual event held in November, amateur music competition
(i.e. who do not derive their main source of income from the discipline
being entered).
