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The heyday for mining in Cornwall was 1750-1850. At this time the mines employed large numbers of men, women and children. Life was comparatively cheap and underground conditions resulted in early death for many miners. Women were never employed underground, instead they worked on the surface as balmaidens, breaking up ore. Children worked on the tin dressing floors and underground.
Through the busy ports of Portreath, Devoran and Hayle coal, timber and other mining supplies were brought in and unrefined copper ore shipped out. Local foundries and engineering works also used the ports to supply mines around the world with parts, equipment and expertise.
The speculative nature of mining meant economic booms and times of great hardship. When the copper and tin mining industry collapsed during the latter 19th century, an estimated two-thirds of Cornish miners emigrated overseas to find work in the Americas, South Africa and Australia, where mining was being opened up and their skills were required. This meant a massive loss of working age men and families from the county resulting in sweeping social and economic changes.
Mineral Tramways Homepage
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