Cornish Mines

Author: Barry Gamble Series: Pocket Cornwall

Guide to East Cornwall mines of the UNESCO-designated Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site.

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Summary

Guide to East Cornwall mines of the UNESCO-designated Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site.

Description

In 2006, UNESCO designated Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape a World Heritage Site. In the eighteenth century, Cornwall was one of the country's principal industrial areas. Before the late 1870s, it produced more tin than any other region in the world, and in the early nineteenth century its output of copper was two-thirds of world production. The remains of the mines contribute to a distinctive cultural landscape; more than 200 engine houses survive - the largest concentration of such monuments in the world. This book, and its companion Cornish Mines: St Just to Redruth, is a guide to the best examples of the surviving mines, with stunning photographs and authoritative text.

Critic Reviews

'Gamble delves into the history of mining, telling how Cornwall was in the forefront of developments in hardrock mining and steam technology and played a major role in their diffusion and of how the metals mined in Cornwall provided the raw materials for major industrial developments in other parts of Britain. 'He points out [the engine houses] represent the largest concentration of such monuments in the world and are among its most distinctive industrial buildings". 'Barry Gamble dispenses [facts] with infectious enthusiasm and stunning photographs' (Western Morning News, 20.04.11). 'Rich history in a rich landscape - explore the county through the pocket book series' (Tavistock Times Gazette, 26.05.11) 'lavishly illustrated with top-notch aerial photography of the 'setts' - the above-ground extent of the mines - showing the crumbling engine houses, stamps and other remains. - a fascinating delve into the industrial heritage of the Duchy.' (This is Corn wall, 02.06.11) 'These two handsomely illustrated books [its companion Cornish Mines: St Just to Redruth] - should be bought together as they are a recent record of many of the county's best mining sites, photographed in the years since the World Heritage Mining Landscape inscription in 2006. - pack in a wealth of material and jointly cover ten districts and over 100 tin and copper mine sites with their engine houses and dressing floors. The author's high quality colour photographs are enhanced by several of his oblique-angled aerial views which give a wonderful new way of seeing even the better known sites; they are dramatic and impressive.' (Industrial Archaeology News, May 2011)

About the Author

After a career in industry, Barry Gamble entered the specialist field of heritage interpretation in the 1990s. He was a member of the Bid Team for the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site as principal author of the nomination to UNESCO's World Heritage List. This experience led to projects in Australia, Mexico, South Africa, New Zealand, South America, Poland and Japan. Barry continues to work regularly and extensively on a variety of subjects across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and always has a camera to hand.