Tin and copper mining near Caradon Hill, Cornwall, which flourished during the 19th century, played a vital role in the region’s industrial history. Even now, over a hundred and fifty years since its peak, the mining industry continues to shape the cultural life of the villages that fringe that part of Bodmin Moor.

Mining in the Caradon Hill area gained momentum in the 1830s, and Caradon Hill became a hub of mining activity due to the area's rich mineral deposits, particularly copper. The discovery of high-quality copper lodes led to the establishment of numerous mines, including the renowned South Caradon Mine, which became one of the largest and most productive in Cornwall. Moving to the village of Darite, built little more than a century ago to accommodate those looking for work in the mines, made a lasting impression, and the sound of the Cornish accent – heard in school, the local shop and pub – was perhaps the first and most lasting of them all.
 

By the mid-19th century, the South Caradon Mine was at its peak, producing significant quantities of copper ore for export to smelters across Britain and beyond. Its success spurred the development of nearby mines, creating a thriving mining district. The mining boom brought substantial economic and social change to the area. Villages such as Minions grew to accommodate workers and their families, while infrastructure such as the Liskeard and Caradon Railway was constructed to transport ore and supplies efficiently. The railway was particularly significant, linking the mines to coastal ports and fostering trade.

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However, the industry faced challenges in the late 19th century, including fluctuating global metal prices and competition from more easily accessible ore deposits abroad, particularly in South America. These factors, combined with the depletion of local resources, led to a gradual decline in mining activity. By the early 20th century, most mines had ceased operation.

Today, the remnants of the mining industry around Caradon Hill, including engine houses, spoil heaps, and tramways, stand as a testament to its once-thriving mining heritage. The area is now part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracting visitors and historians interested in its industrial legacy.

It was the early 1970’s, aged just eight, Nestled on a slope near Caradon Hill and

tin and copper mines excavated across Craddock Moor in the late nineteenth century, my family was one of the first ‘out of county’ families to settle in the area at that time.

Some of the local inhabitants could trace family back to the heyday of the mines, while other young families had arrived in the intervening decades, but the vast majority were Cornish, their accent as broad as the Tamar river and as musical as the wind that rushed across the open moor. Of these, farmers Fred Doney and Polly Giles were, along with Bill ‘Cherry’ Northcott, probably the eldest living survivors of that bygone era, and the soothing, shrill and squawking tone of their voices has never left me.