Redruth Cornwall
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Redruth |
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St Rumon's Gardens |
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Celebrations on Murdoch Day |
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Tin Miner Statue |
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Market event |
REDRUTH
The village of Redruth began to take shape in the 12th century. It developed around the ford, some distance away from the parish church. This was typical of many Cornish parishes. The church with its surrounding cottages, is overlooked by Carn Brea across the parish boundary. The oldest part of the present church building is the tower, built in 1490. The body of the church was enlarged in 1756 to accommodate a growing number of parishioners.
At the bottom of Coach Lane are reminders of the more recent past. The car park on the left was the site of the town's first railway station, when the line from Redruth to Hayle opened in 1838. By 1852 the railway had been extended to Penzance in the west and Truro in the east. The viaduct, over the centre of town was built at this time, originally of wood, and the present station was opened. Fore Street has been Redruth's main shopping street since the early 18th century. On market days in the 19th century it was packed with stalls selling everything from limpets to pianos.
The
Lamb and Flag emblem is used by Redruth Town Council as the emblem for
the town. It was originally a mark used by Cornish tin smelting works
to stamp the ingots of tin. The symbol seems to have been used first in
the woollen trade during the Middle Ages. By the 19th century, it was
suggested that the lamb represented purity, obviously a good selling point
for the local tin smelters.
The name Redruth is said to be derived from the fact that by the 14th century the stream running along the bottom of Fore Street was so discoloured with iron oxide from tinning activities that it ran red. Hence Redruth, the Cornish for ford is Rhys and red is Ruth.
Another (dubious!) story is that the town is named after the colour of a St Ruth's cloak. It was said that no child baptised with the water from St Ruth's Well near Protreath would ever be hanged.
Located in the centre of town, Murdoch House was the home of inventor William Murdoch, and is believed to have been the first house in the world to have been lit by piped coal gas. Today, it houses the Global Migration Project and tourists call there to trace their Cornish ancestors. Next door is St Rumon's Gardens, which is open to the public throughout the day and is beautifully lit at night, along with many other landmarks across Redruth.
In celebration of William Murdoch, Redruth holds an annual Murdoch day event, where hundreds of local children dance in a procession through the streets, and thousands come to watch and join in with all the other activities.
During the summer months, Redruth holds several events and fun days, and recently a weekly market has been re-established in Fore Street. In the past few years there have been a number of public realm works in Redruth, which have included a restoration of the train station, prominent street art, and the Redruth Town Trail.
The Town Trail is a short walk through the town, featuring places of historical and other interest, including the Mining Exchange and the Old Courthouse. Many of the buildings on Fore Street, the main shopping area, originate from the nineteenth century. The street is dominated by the old clock tower and the new Tin Miner Statue, and features the famous Redruth dogs, or 'Tinner's Hounds', made from Miner's boots.
There is a cinema in the main street and several restaurants, pubs and cafés in the town. Nearby Gwennap Pit is where John Wesley preached his sermons and Tolgus Tin Stream Works is an ancient monument to Cornwall's old tin industry.
Carn Brea Leisure Centre is close to Redruth, and the mineral tramways nearby provide addition outdoor recreation. The town, which has been awarded World Heritage Status, is ideally situated for visits to both the north and the south Cornish coasts.
Tehidy Country Park, Stithians Lake, and the seaside village of Portreath are not far away and offer good days out for the whole family. Redruth also lies between the national attractions of the Eden Project near St Austell, the Tate Gallery in St Ives and the National Seal Sanctuary in Gweek.
Redruth Text and Images supplied by Lee Dunkley Redruth Town Development Manager
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