Camborne
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Camborne
| |
|---|---|
 Commercial Square in the centre of Camborne | |
| Population | 23,000 [1] |
| OS grid reference | SW645400 |
| Civil parish |
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| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CAMBORNE |
| Postcode district | TR14 |
| Dialling code | 01209 |
| Police | Devon and Cornwall |
| Fire | Cornwall |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| UK Parliament | |
Camborne (Template:Lang-kw, 'Crooked Hill') was once one of the richest mining areas in the world and is located in Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom, forming the western end of the greater Camborne, Pool and Redruth conurbation. It is now an ex-industrial town with a population of approx 23,000[1]. When included with Redruth, Pool and 'satellite' villages, the conurbation is approx 44,000 [2], making it the largest conurbation in Cornwall. On 3 July 2008, Camborne was twinned with Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico, at a ceremony held in Mexico.[3]
History
In 1931 the ruins of a Roman villa were found at Magor Farm, Illogan, near Camborne, and excavated that year under the guidance of the Royal Institution of Cornwall.[4] It is the only Roman villa found as of 2006[update] in the whole of Cornwall.
An inscribed altar stone found at Camborne (now in the Church of St Martin and St Meriadoc), and dated to the tenth or eleventh centuries, attests to the existence of a settlement then.[5] Langdon (1896) records seven stone crosses in the parish of which two are at Pendarves.
Mining
Camborne is best known as a centre for the former Cornish tin and copper mining industry, having its working heyday during the later 18th and early 19th centuries. Camborne was just a village until transformed by the mining boom which began in the late eighteenth century and saw the Camborne and Redruth district become the richest mining area in the world. Although a considerable number of ruinous stacks and engine houses remain, they cannot begin to convey the scenes of 150 years ago when scores of mines transfigured the landscape.
Dolcoath Mine, (Cornish: Old Ground), the 'Queen of Cornish Mines' was, at a depth of 3500 feet (1067 m), for many years the deepest mine in the world, not to mention one of the oldest before its closure in 1921. Indeed, the last working tin mine in Europe, South Crofty, which closed in 1998, is to be found in Camborne.
Mining related
Apart from the mines themselves, Camborne was also home to many important related industries, including the once world-renowned foundry of Holman Bros Ltd (CompAir). Holmans, a family business founded in 1801, was for generations, Camborne's, and indeed Cornwall's largest manufacturer of industrial equipment, even making the famous Sten submachine gun for a stint during the Second World War. The Holman Projector was used by the Royal Navy. At its height Holmans was spread over three sites within Camborne, employing some three and half thousand men. Despite Britain's industrial decline, Compair Holmans Camborne factory finally closed in 2001.
On the Afternoon of Tuesday 5 December 2006, a wall of the Holmans factory was leaning towards the railway line, as a result the line west of Truro was closed for the afternoon and night and disrupting railway services, as it was feared the wall could callapse onto the mainline, part of the derelict factory was later demolished that night.
A modest quantity of South Crofty tin was purchased by a local enterprise and this gradually dwindling stock is used to make specialist tin jewellery, branded as the South Crofty Collection.
Camborne School of Mines
Because of the importance of metal mining to the Cornish economy, the Camborne School of Mines (CSM) developed as the only specialist hard rock education establishment in the United Kingdom, until the Royal School of Mines was established in 1851. Its beginnings can be traced to 1829 when plans for the school were first laid out and leading to the current school in 1888. It now forms part of the University of Exeter, and relocated to the University's Tremough campus in 2004. CSM graduates are to be found working in the mining industry all over the world. It has a very fine collection of minerals in its museum of geology.
Steam locomotion
On Christmas Eve 1801, the Puffing Devil - a steam-powered road locomotive built by Camborne engineer Richard Trevithick - made its way up Camborne Hill in Cornwall.[6] It was the world's first self-propelled passenger carrying vehicle. The events have been turned into a local song:
- Going up Camborne Hill, coming down,
- Going up Camborne Hill, coming down,
- The horses stood still,
- The wheels turn around,
- Going up Camborne Hill, coming down.
Trevithick was born in Penponds, in 1771, a miner's son, and was educated at Camborne School. His achievements (not to mention steam power, mining, and Cornish culture as a whole) are celebrated every last Saturday of April as the town's 'Trevithick Day', and by his statue standing outside Camborne public library.
Governance
Since the United Kingdom general election, 2005, Camborne now has a Liberal Democrat MP, Julia Goldsworthy, who is in favour of more self-governance in Cornwall. Pro-Cornish party Mebyon Kernow, who favour a Cornish Assembly, has a large following in the area and recently became the largest political group on Camborne town council after a by-election. The party now has four councillors on Kerrier District Council and six councillors on the town council out of a total of 17 seats. Of the remaining 11 seats, the Liberal Democrats and the Labour Party both have five, and the Conservatives one.
Landmarks
Camborne's parish church is of granite and of 15th century date: it is listed Grade I. An inscribed altar stone found at Camborne (now in the Church of St Martin and St Meriadoc), and dated to the tenth or eleventh centuries, attests to the existence of a settlement then.[5]
Transport
The A30 trunk road now by-passes the Town around its northern edge. The old A30 through the Town has become the A3047. There is a small bus station half way along and to the south of Trelowarren Street (the main high street), which has featured in tales by Cornish comedian Jethro.
The railway station is a half-mile south from the town centre, with a level crossing and footbridge at its eastern end. Camborne station used to be famous for its short platforms, which meant that passengers on main line services between London and Penzance could only board and alight from certain carriages. Partly because of this not all services stopped at Camborne, preferring nearby Redruth station (which is also classed by FGW trains as a short station stop). The platforms have been upgraded but the memory lives on, again partly in stories by Jethro. Camborne station is served by CrossCountry and First Great Western trains.
Camborne was, for a while, home of Cornwall's only tram service. This system was opened in 1902 and ran a regular service to Redruth until it closed in 1927.
Sport
Camborne RFC were established in 1878 and are one of the most famous clubs in Cornwall, having produced numerous Cornwall players over the years. In 1987 Camborne were the highest placed Cornish club in the newly formed National leagues when they entered at Courage National Division 4 South level, (equivalent to National Division 3 South today). Camborne is one of the grounds used by the Cornish rugby team and has hosted many notable international sides including the New Zealand 'All Blacks' in 1905, 1924 and 1953, Australia in 1908, 1947 and 1967, South Africa 1960, United States 1977 and numerous other touring sides such as the South African Barbarians and Canterbury (NZ). Since 2006 it was agreed to ground share the Recreation Ground with local Division One team the Cornish Pirates and the ground has undergone major reburbishment including a new stand for the 2007-8 and 2008-9 seasons. [7]
Economy
Despite a poor reputation throughout much of Cornwall as a depressed region, Camborne, Pool and Redruth is currently at the entre of a £150 million redevelopment which hopes to reverse social and economic decline in this former industrial heartland. CPR Regeneration(CPRR), one of the government's 19 Urban Regeneration Companies ('URCs') is overseeing a large urban renewal programme in the country on behalf of a range of partners including Cornwall Council, the South West of England Regional Development Agency and the Homes and Communities Agency. CPRR is tasked with driving the regeneration of former industrial land, attracting businesses and helping them create sustainable jobs; supporting local business growth ambitions and fostering employment growth through increasing the skills of those in and out of work. To date, as well as working on supporting businesses in the area - especially those in the town centres, CPRR has been engaged in the process of assembling sites, securing agreements with developers and doing enabling works for major projects such as the east-west link road between Redruth and Camborne.
A challenge faced by CPRR has been to work collaboratively with the owners of the South Crofty mine (which occupies a central position in the Pool regeneration area) to both allow mine development operations to continue and secure the re-development of the wider area around the mine. Stories did appear in the press (and in Wikipedia) regarding alleged illegal in-fill of ventilation shafts by CPR. The truth - that English Partnerships had found old unmarked shafts on development sites which were in danger of collapse and made them good with concrete caps (removable if needed later by the mine company) - was lost. CPRR has continued to advance major projects in the area, such as a range of housing and infrastructure schemes, and will help the South West of England Regional Development Agency and the Homes and Communities Agency bring these forward shortly. Some of the work of the URC is becoming apparent, with works on the Pool Innovation Centre and the Trevenson Road area both advancing well.
Local MPs have criticized the South West of England Regional Development Agency for interefering in the private sector, and said there maybe ulterior motives. Andrew George, MP for West Cornwall, said, "The RDA’s antics are at odds with the claims made to me by the Minister in Parliament and in a letter that the RDA ‘will be informed by the outcome of public consultation. I am astounded that a public body can be acting in such a predatory manner. The RDA seems to want to jump in where it is not wanted and yet it doesn’t intervene where it is. There are places like the Union Hotel in Penzance where the owner and local applicants would be grateful if the RDA were able to step in and purchase but the RDA says that it must be market tested first. Yet when they are faced with a Mine where the owners want to do something constructive, the RDA seem keen to intervene. The public sector has a role in supporting the private sector when projects are not able to be self sustaining. Public money and resources should not be used to undermine the efforts of the private sector".
Culture
The Camborne Town Band emanates from an equally town with a mining and industrial heritage second to none. Camborne was the home of Richard Trevithick, Holman’s Engineering and the School of Mines.
The band has an unrivalled contest record dating from the late-1800s; it is truly remarkable, unsurpassed by any other in Cornwall. It has been a local Championship band since its formation and on the National stage since the 1920s. Having won the National Second Section Championship in 1945 it was promoted to the Championship Section the following year – a position it has retained ever since, having been placed in the top six in the country on six occasions. In 2006 it again qualified to represent the South-West at the National Finals – the fifth time in six years.
It’s success at the West of England Bandsmen's Festival (Bugle Contest) since the first contest, in 1912, is remarkable. Perhaps the unique atmosphere of the event inspires the band; certainly the sound of "The Cossack" on the upward march is very evocative. The band has brought the Royal Trophy back to Camborne on thirty six occasions
The band has performed on BBC Radio, BBC Television, at entertainment contests as well as local, regional and national contests and it is still at the top; competing with the best in the country. But brass banding is not just about contesting and this band performs to a consistently high standard whatever the event. And what events there have been over the years. From the 1,000 Cornish Male Voice extravaganza in 1983 to the Rotary Conference concert in Bournemouth. From the European tours of France and Holland to the Goff Richards’ celebration concert at the Hall for Cornwall in 2004.
Camborne Youth Band
Camborne Town Band Music Society actively promotes youth music and runs a very successful youth section which incorporates the Training Band, the Adult Training Band, the Junior Contest Band, the Youth Band and the 'B' Band. The importance of continuing to ensure that Cornwall's brass band tradition is maintained is recognised throughout the County. It is only by interesting and encouraging the young people of today to learn a brass or percussion instrument that the brass band will continue to flourish and provide pleasure and satisfaction to both musicians and listeners.
The Training Band was set up to give musical beginners the opportunity of playing together and performing in public. Members of the Training Band are supported by some of the more experienced players, which encourages higher standards. As children improve, they are promoted to the Youth Band. Each member of the Youth Band is also a member of either the Junior Contest Band, the 'B' Band or the Senior Band. The Adult Training Band was formed to give adult beginners the same opportunities as the children in the Training Band.
In 2004, Alan Morrison, who is now Musical Director of the world famous Brighouse and Rastrick Band after three successful years as their Principal Cornet, was appointed Professional Music Advisor of Camborne Youth Band. Alan works with the band several times a year in preparation for contests, concerts and recordings.
They have achieved a great deal of success on the contest stage. They became Cornish Junior Champions and South West Junior Champions in 2003 and Cornish Junior Champions again in 2004. The highlights of their achievements under Alan's direction are, without doubt, their wins of six successive National titles. They became National Junior Champions in 2004, 2005 & 2006, National Community Youth Champions in 2007 & 2008 and Premier National Youth Champions in 2009. Many of the young players are also members of the Cornwall Youth Brass Band, the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and the society's own Championship Section outfit, Camborne Town Band.
The Camborne Youth Band has established itself as one of the best youth brass bands in the Country and has a very busy schedule of engagements at a variety of venues throughout Cornwall and beyond. They are delighted to be able to provide music and entertainment to an ever-growing number of appreciative listeners wherever they perform. The Musical Director of all of these bands is Alan Pope. A Cornishman, Alan served in the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards and has travelled the world, playing in front of members of the Royal Family and Heads of State. He studied at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall under Professor Ian MacKintosh, and was awarded the Cousins Memorial Parchment for Exceptional Proficiency on the Cornet.
The Youth Band has existed for many years, but was at low ebb when Alan became Musical Director in 1999. Since then, his enthusiasm and commitment to encouraging and teaching young people, has ensured that the youth section has gone from strength to strength and developed to such an extent that it now has 108 members, 48 of whom play in the Youth Band.
Fiction
Alan M. Kent's 2005 novel Proper job, Charlie Curnow ! is set in and around the Trelawney Estate.
Twinning
Camborne is twinned with two places:
See also
- The town name inspired the name of Camborne, New Zealand, a seaside suburb of Porirua City developed by an investment company headed by an Arthur Cornish. Most of its street names are of Cornish origin.
- Holman Climax Male Voice Choir, based in Camborne
References
- ^ a b "Neighbourhood Statistics 2001 Census - Area: Cambourne Civil Parish". Office of National Statistics. 2001. Retrieved 2007-12-05.
- ^ "Census 2001: Key Statistics for Urban Areas in England and Wales" (PDF). Office of National Statistics. 2004. Retrieved 2007-12-05.
- ^ Camborne twinned with Pachuca, Mexico
- ^ B.H. St. J. O'Neil, "Roman villa in Cornwall", Antiquity 5 (1931), pp .494-5, with photographs
- ^ a b See the discussion and bibliography in Elisabeth Okasha, Corpus of early Christian inscribed stones of South-west Britain (Leicester: University Press, 1993), pp.82-84.
- ^ BBC Cornwall - Nature - Camborne History
- ^ Pirates groundshare at Camborne RFC starts in 2006
External links
- Camborne Town Music Society Website
- Photographs of Camborne & surrounding derelict land (reclaimed) land
- CPR Regeneration - An introduction and outlining of CPR and its aims.
- Trevithick Day Images
- Famous Camborne Mines
- Camborne Town Band - Music Society website
- Camborne Town Council - Information on the town
- Cornwall Record Office Online Catalogue for Camborne
- Camborne Old Cornwall Society
- St. John's RC Primary School
- Camborne Science and Community College
- Postcards of Camborne
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