Cornwall Kernow
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Cornwall Kernow
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King Edward mine and mining museum Treslothan Church Memorial Records USEFUL LINKS |
KING EDWARD MINE AND MINING MUSEUM LOCATION: On the northern edge of Troon. Follow signs. Opening times 2008From May to September May - Sun, Wed, Thurs, Sat June - Sun, Mon,Thurs, Sat July - Sun, Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat Aug - Sun, Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat Sept - Sun, Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat 10am to 5pm Last entry 4pm We are also open on most Sunday mornings (9 to 12) throughout the year. Admission charges - adults £4.00, children £1.00, children under 5 - free Free Entry for residents of Troon, Beacon, Condurrow and Bolenowe. Please bring some identification, such as a phone or electricity bill.
The King Edward Mine Book
King Edward Mine by Tony Brooks & John Watton. Profusely illustrated with 125 photographs most of which have not been published before. ISBN 1 900124 22 0 hardback £20.99 ISBN 1 900147 26 2 paperback £17.99 Available from bookshops.
The following article about the development of the mine and the museum has been written by Mr. Tony Brooks. The
Camborne School of Mines
The Camborne School of Mines (CSM) evolved from attempts in the 1850's to improve the technical education of miners in Cornwall. The Miners' Association of Cornwall and Devon was formed and classes held in a number of centres. In 1882, as the awareness of the importance of technical instruction grew, work was started on building the Camborne Science and Art School. In 1888 the Camborne Mining School was established there as well.
Figure 1. Camborne School of Mines, c 1935 Lectures were often in the evenings, while the practical training was undertaken during the daytime in the local mines. By the 1890's Cornish mining was in serious decline. The surviving mines were under capitalised and were falling behind technically. This environment was hardly ideal from the instruction point of view. It was realised that the only real solution was for the School to have its own underground mine. For a small college like the Camborne Mining School to take on a mine on this scale was a massive undertaking and is probably unprecedented in mining education. The Mine
South Condurrow, later to be renamed King Edward Mine (KEM), was conveniently close to Camborne, and the land and mineral owner was Mr.W.C. Pendarves, who was closely involved in the development of the School. The mine was to be far more than just a place of instruction. It was to be on a commercial basis using a permanent staff of miners aided by crews of students. Development of the Mine
The existing steam winder was refurbished and a new headframe was put up over the 400 ft deep Engine Shaft. (Click on photo for a large version in a new window - click on the Back button to return to this page)
Figure 2. Headframe, Mill engine room, Californian stamps (tall building), Mill, Steam winder and, on the right the Survey Office.Of note in this photograph is the miner (top left)pushing a loaded wagon along the elevated tramway connecting the headframe on Engine Shaft with the stamps. The cage can be seen in the headframe behind the miner. Underground and Milling & Dressing next>>>> >>>>> page 3 - King Edward Mine today |
