Delving Deeper

What are you interested in?

The Cornish Mining landscapes are rich with history.  Whether you are interested in the geology of the area which formed the foundations of the mining industry, the people who made their livings from it, or the huge technological advances it brought about – delve deeper and find out more in this section.

Following World Heritage inscription in July 2006, a special website was launched in celebration of the achivement; to view this, please click here. 

If you want to delve even deeper into the history of Cornish mining, please visit the 'Dig Further' page for details of archives, information sheets, a mining bibliography and more...

 

Geology, rocks, minerals

Millions of years in the making, the story of the treasures hidden deep underground, where they are found and why they are so sought after is a fascinating journey of discovery.

Dig down to uncover where it all began

Did you know?

Not just what it says on the tin...

Cornish tin changed the way food was stored forever. There’s also a small amount of tin in toothpaste to prevent tooth decay.

Mining processes

Do you know how a bal maiden bucked? Or what worked a whim? Or where you’d find the dressing floor? Discover how much more there is to mining than just digging a huge hole in the ground.

Follow the ore from the rock to railway

Did you know?

Hot flush

Extreme heat was often a problem in the deeper mines, particularly in areas where the ventilation was poor - the temperature could rise in some workings by perhaps 1°C for every 60m (33 fathoms, 200ft) of depth.

The infrastructure to support mining processes

Everywhere you go in Cornwall, there’s physical evidence of a region shaped by mining. Roads, railways, towns and harbours were all developed to support and expand this crucial industry. 

See how mining shaped lives and landscapes

Did you know?

The Copper Kingdom

The Gwennap district mines produced nearly 800,000 tons of copper ore between 1815-1861, leading to the area being dubbed ‘the Copper Kingdom’.

Mining characters and society

From terraced cottages to grand stately homes, rugby to rhododendrons – the stories of lives lived around mining reveal the successes and struggles of Cornish communities. 

Look into the lives of real Cornish miners

Did you know?

Driving development

The thousands of ordinary Cornish men, women and children who worked at the mines helped produce the industrial metals which drove Britain’s Industrial Revolution.

The spread of Cornish mining around the globe

Cornwall has long been known as a starting point for famous sea journeys and adventures – but some of the most extraordinary stories are those of ordinary miners seeking fortune far and wide.

Take a trip with mining machinery and manpower

Did you know?

Sore losers

You could say Cornish miners are indirectly responsible for South Africa beating England in the rugby world cup!

Inventions and technological advances

Spurred on by the promise of great riches and the rigours of intellectual rivalry, the engineers and inventors who stepped up to the challenges of mining in Cornwall helped shape the modern world.

Discover centuries of Cornish innovation

Did you know?

Changing the world

Cornish copper and tin played a globally significant role in the Industrial Revolution, shaping the way we live today.