Redruth

Civil Parish in Cornwall

England

Redruth

Redruth is a civil parish and town located in the county of Cornwall, southwestern England. Situated about 9 miles (14 km) west of Truro, the town lies within the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With a population of around 14,000 people, Redruth is the largest town in the area and serves as a commercial and recreational center.

The town's history is deeply rooted in the mining industry, which thrived during the 18th and 19th centuries. Redruth was a booming mining town, known for its copper and tin production. Today, remnants of this heritage can be seen in the town's architecture and landmarks, such as the former mining engine houses and the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site Visitor Center.

Redruth offers a range of amenities and services to its residents and visitors. The town center features a variety of shops, restaurants, and cafes, providing opportunities for retail therapy and dining experiences. Additionally, Redruth is home to a leisure center, which includes a swimming pool and fitness facilities, ensuring recreational activities for all ages.

The town's location in the heart of Cornwall makes it an ideal base for exploring the surrounding area. Redruth is within close proximity to beautiful beaches, such as Portreath and Porthtowan, which are popular among surfers and sun-seekers. The nearby countryside also offers scenic walking and cycling routes, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in Cornwall's natural beauty. Redruth is well-connected by road and rail, making it easily accessible for both locals and tourists.

In summary, Redruth is a historic mining town in Cornwall, boasting a rich heritage, convenient amenities, and access to Cornwall's stunning coastline and countryside.

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Redruth Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 50.243147/-5.228035 or Grid Reference SW6943. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Weighing Machine Redruth Station

A redundant weighing machine at Redruth Station sits as it always has set into the platform.

Tom Jolliffe

Farm at Wheal Prussia

On the eastern outskirts of Redruth is this smallholding near the former Wheal Prussia. This photo was taken from the 1158 Penzance to London Paddington train, having left Redruth at 1231.

Graham Horn

Redruth Station and Footbridge

Roy Hughes

Stamps Engine House, Wheal Peevor

Chris Andrews

Redruth Railway Station Footbridge

The footbridge at Redruth Station was significantly renovated two years ago. The work is holding up well and shows how such investment improves the environment.

Tom Jolliffe

Redruth Railway Station Footbridge

The renovation of the footbridge two years ago greatly enhanced the appearance of the station. Were these the original colours of the Great Western Railway? Between the house in the background and the end of the canopy on the platform the Pednandrea Stack can be seen marking the industrial history of Redruth. Also see SW7041 : Basset Street and Pednandrea Stack, Redruth

Tom Jolliffe

Footbridge Redruth Railway Station

The colours of the footbridge look a little too bright and cheerful to be true to the original railway company. The Great Western locomotives were painted green and the coaches were brown and cream. Wagons were painted red at one time. Pednandrea Stack can be seen in the background.

Tom Jolliffe

Not my bike, honest...

A junction of bridleways, marked by a floral exhibit in the shopping baskets of the step-through bike.

Richard Law

Capped shaft at Wheal Briggan

The Western Whim shaft of the Wheal Briggan workings, capped off in 2005.

Richard Law

The North Downs trig

A trig point sporting flushbracket S7758, situated immediately adjacent to an infilled shaft south of the Wheal Plenty complex.

Richard Law

North Downs trig - closeup

The pillar itself is in good condition, as is the flushbracket. Sadly, the 'man with the allen key' has long since helped himself to the brasswork from the top.

Richard Law

Capped shaft at Wheal Peevor

An unnamed adit shaft of the Wheal Peevor mine, capped by the council in 2005. By (the highly unscientific method of) dropping a stone down it, I deduced that it was too deep to want to fall down, so they did the right thing by capping it off.

Richard Law

Capped shaft and chimney at Wheal Peevor

Richard Law

Wheal Peevor - the remains of the calciners

Brunton Calciners were an important part of the tin mining and processing system, as they removed a variety of impurities (copper, arsenic, iron) from the concentrate before it was further processed and smelted. Most of this involved huge amounts of heat, and took place in these calciners.

Richard Law

Buddles at Wheal Peevor mine

The remains of three tin 'buddles' in front of the Stamps Engine House; these were separated tin particles from lighter materials, with water as a part of the process.

Richard Law

Wheal Peevor - 3 buddles from near the calciner ruins

The remains of three tin 'buddles' which were used, in conjunction with water, as a mechanism for separating tin particles from rock and waste products, prior to further refining. For a closer view, see SW7044 : Buddles at Wheal Peevor mine

Richard Law

Traffic on the A30

The main A30 dual carriageway near Radnor. A fast road; no place to be cycling on a dull evening.

Richard Law

The stamps engine house

The remains of the engine house that ran the tin stamps at Wheal Peevor; the stamps, as the name suggests, were essentially ore crushers, breaking relatively small lumps of ore into finer material (stamp sand) ready for processing in the nearby buddles SW7044 : Buddles at Wheal Peevor mine. It originally housed a 36" rotative beam engine, installed in 1876, but when the mine was re-activated in 1911, alterations were made; these included the installation of a gas-oil powered engine which ran more equipment, including a machine of 20 Californian stamps.

Richard Law

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Redruth is located at Grid Ref: SW6943 (Lat: 50.243147, Lng: -5.228035)

Unitary Authority: Cornwall

Police Authority: Devon & Cornwall