Camborne Town Centre

Conservation Area

Character Appraisal &

Management Strategy

March 2010 This Conservation Area Appraisal and Management plan was commissioned by Kerrier District Council. It was endorsed by Cornwall Council as a material consideration within the emerging Cornwall Council Local Development Framework on 24 April 2010 (Cabinet ref- to add). The recommended changes to the boundaries of Camborne Conservation Area were authorised by Cornwall Council and came into effect on 24 April 2010.

Contents 3 Camborne Conservation Area Appraisal Appraisal Area Conservation Camborne Strategic thinking thinking Strategic 10.0 Implementationplan ofthe 10.0 63 enforcementactions and control Development actions Enhancement actions general Ongoing resourcing and Funding this monitoring and updating plan Adoption, 11.0 Bibliography Statement 1 ofCommunityAppendix Involvement Justification 2 toAppendix for extensions AreaConservation Justification- 3 Appendix 4 for Article Directions 68 Potential- 4 Appendix Archaeology 88 69 84 88

41

General guidance Generalguidance Areas Conservation Boundary of the Conservation Area Conservation the of Boundary Part two Management Strategy two Part Management Strategy 6.0 Introduction 7.0 opportunities weaknesses, and Strengths, threats 8.0 Enhancement 43 settlement and historic Archaeology Siteimplications Heritage World 9.0 Protection enforcement and Conservation the Area to Extensions 58 designations statutory Existing 46 buildings Locally-listed 44 buildings Unlisted 4 directions Article Sustainability at Risk Buildings Section works notices/ Repairnotices/urgent 215 notices buildings views Landmark and Conservation inthe development Reviewing Area 5.0 5.0 and opportunities Issues at Risk Buildings buildings Negative 36 sites Gap/opportunity realm Public Sustainability Regs Part L Building

9 9

National policies planning National Settlement andformmovement Settlement Building types, age and architectural detailing architecturalage detailing and types, Building Summary of special character Summaryofspecial 1.0 Introduction 2.0 and RegenerationContext Planning 4 6 policy: existing planning Local policy: future planning Local Regenerationcontext 5 3.0 onthe Historic Influences Development ofCamborne Historicalon Development Influences topography Geologyand engineeringinmining of and Influence Camborne importantand peoplesites Nationally with the associated area 4.0 Characterisation 11 22 materials Building ancient buildingsandscheduled Listed monuments realm Public and landmarks Views areas Character core Thecommercial CamborneCross Part One Appraisal Part OneAppraisal Contents Summary of special character

Camborne is an important market and industrial town in West Cornwall. The town centre Conservation Area covers the central urban core with its civic and religious complexes, together with the suburban houses of the 19th century urban elite. Not surprisingly, the built environment is one of great diversity, and high quality.

Camborne is significant as the archetypal urban creation of industrial Cornwall, associated as it was with the great names of the period (Bickford- Smith, Holman, Trevithick, Thomas, Woolf); but the Conservation Area reflects not simply the industrial development of the town, but its long history, its cultural and social roles, its commercial importance and the development of urban Summary of special characterspecial of Summary governance and pride. The special character of the Camborne Conservation Area can be summarized as follows:

Distinctive character areas include:

1. ‘Northern’ Industrial civic buildings around The Cross 2. High imposing buildings around Commercial Street, Church Street and old Churchtown 3. Long, flat main commercial street with strong axis with Centenary Street to top and former market place at bottom. 4. Large distinctive villas amid ornamental green setting with distinctive boundary walls and gates in leafy suburbs. 5. Centrally positioned purpose built industrial terraces and large ornate houses.

The influence of mining and engineering on the character of the built environment is still evident from the remaining buildings, although many of the buildings suffer from neglect and lack of maintenance. Conservation Area Camborne has many remaining high quality traditional shopfronts although alterations to create larger retail units has resulted in poor quality shopfronts and signage in many places.

March 2010 4 Camborne Conservation Area Appraisal 1.0 Introduction

Camborne is situated approximately 6 km east of The project draws upon previous work undertaken This document has been produced in conjunction Redruth and 4 km from the north coast. It has by the Cornwall and Scilly Urban Survey (CSUS) in with the local community and seeks to reinforce good communication links, being on the main road 2004 and Cornwall Industrial Settlements Initiative local pride in Camborne and a sense of local through Cornwall (A30) and on the mainline rail (CISI) in 2002, which should be referred to for identity. A public consultation meeting about this route linking Penzance with London Paddington. further detail on the history and character of study was held in Camborne on the 23rd February Camborne. 2009, attended by representatives of local The Camborne Conservation Area was first organizations. A careful record was kept of the designated in September 2004. It contains 34 points raised at that meeting, all of which have listed buildings, 5 scheduled ancient monuments been taken into account in producing the final and is within a specified area within the Cornwall version of this document. and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site. The Conservation Area covers the current commercial core of the town and includes the old Churchtown to the West, the railway station, public and industrial buildings to the south and the large ornate housing and tree lined roads to the South West.

The Appraisal describes what is the special interest which has justified the designation of the Camborne Conservation Area. It then looks at how that special interest can be preserved and enhanced, and also what threats it faces.

The Management Plan which forms the second part

of this document is essentially a plan of action, 1.0Introduction based on the findings in the Appraisal. It includes general recommendations for the use of planning controls across the area as a whole, as well as specific recommendations for particular streets and locations.

Aerial view of Camborne.

March 2010 Camborne Conservation Area Appraisal 5 2.0 Planning & Regeneration Context

National planning policies alignment and design character of the area; where This is due to be replaced by the Draft Regional it preserves existing heritage or architectural Spatial Strategy which identifies Camborne (along The power to designate conservation areas features; where it incorporates local building styles with Redruth, Pool and Illogan) as a strategically originates in the 1967 Civic Amenities Act; the or materials; and where it preserves and enhances significant urban area within Cornwall and as such Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) the character and appearance of the conservation indicates it as an area for growth. The South West Act 1990 updated and consolidated previous 2.0 Planning & Regeneration2.0Planning & Context area (other than in exceptional cases). The setting Regional Development Agency (South West RDA) legislation. of the conservation area is also recognised as being has identified Camborne as one of 5 strategic important. locations to support in the region. A full statement of policies for the identification and protection of the historic built environment is set Chapter 4 of the Plan comprises a comprehensive In response to the above context the Camborne out in Planning Policy Guidance 15 (PPG15, 1994). set of policies covering the built environment, Redruth Pool Urban Regeneration Company (URC) Conservation areas are defined as ‘areas of special including discussion of archaeology, conservation was set up in 2002. It works in co-operation with or architectural interest, the character of which it is areas, and listed buildings A Local Development the South West RDA and Homes & Communities desirable to preserve or enhance’ (para 4.1). Framework (LDF) will be produced for Agency (formerly English Partnerships). The URC PPG15 and PPG16 are due to be replaced with a Cornwall, and it is envisaged that a Core Strategy has developed regeneration strategies and is now single document, PPS5, in the near future. will be adopted c.2011. An Area Action Plan for the working with both private and public sector Camborne, Pool, Illogan and Redruth area is partners which has enabled a number of projects A direction under Article 4 of the Town and Country currently being prepared; it is intended this will be from the UFP to be developed in this area. An Planning (General Permitted Development) Order adopted as part of the LDF. The Area Action Plan Urban Framework Plan was prepared in 2001 which 1995 may be required to preserve the character or will provide detailed proposals and planning recommends that Camborne; “be strengthened by appearance of the conservation area, or part of it. policies for the Camborne area, including heritage concentrating on the “triangle of opportunity” in issues. and around Trelowarren Street, Basset Road, Local planning policy Trevenson Street area. This will involve Regeneration context conservation of the historic built environment, Local planning policy is shaped by the Cornwall including shopfront upgrading and continued Council Structure Plan, elaborated by the Kerrier International, national and local agencies have landscape improvements. A range of measures will District Local Plan. The Revised Deposit Draft Local recognised the importance of the regeneration of also be implemented to diversify the town centre Plan was prepared in 2002 with pre-inquiry Camborne. It is identified as a strategically by reintroducing new housing, employment and changes in 2004. It was not formally adopted, but important settlement in the European Union community facilities, including 2,500m2 in offices, is currently used as a material consideration in Objective 1 Single Programming Document and a non-retail uses on new sites and within vacant decision making. This Conservation Area Appraisal ‘employment growth centre’. The Government existing premises”. will therefore inform the preparation of the Area identified Camborne as a significant part of a Action Plan regarding the historic environment. ‘Principal Regeneration Area’ in the Regional A great deal has already been done to promote the Planning Guidance for the South West (RPG10, regeneration of the town, including: Policies B.EN9 and B.EN10 seek to protect listed 2001). buildings such that their special interest is not • Camborne, Roskear and Tuckingmill Townscape compromised by inappropriate work to the building Heritage Initiative (2008-2013) (funded by or its setting. Policies B.EN11 and B.EN12 adopt a Heritage Lottery Fund, Homes and Communities similar approach for conservation areas: Agency, Helston Town Council development in such places will be permitted where: it respects the scale, height, massing,

March 2010 6 Camborne Conservation Area Appraisal • Camborne Town Scheme (funded by Objective The Appraisal should also complement the One and Kerrier District Council ). following reports:

This Appraisal should be read in conjunction with • World Heritage Site Management Plan the wider national, regional and local planning policy and guidance. • Cornwall Industrial Settlements Initiative (CISI) reports for Camborne, Tuckingmill and Relevant documents include: South Roskear

• Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation • Cornwall & Scilly Urban Survey (CSUS) Report Areas) Act 1990 for Camborne

• Planning Policy Guidance 15: Planning and the • Camborne Shopfront Survey Historic Environment

• Kerrier District Council Shopfront Design Guide Regeneration2.0Planning & Context • Planning Policy Guidance 16: Archaeology and Planning • Camborne-Pool-Redruth Urban Framework Plan (December 2001) The Cross • Cornwall Structure Plan 2004, particularly Policy 2 Character Areas, Design and • Camborne and Redruth Public Realm Bid Environmental Protection (Kerrier District Council, August 2003)

• Redruth Regeneration Strategy (2004) (in preparation)

• Kerrier District Local Plan Revised Deposit Draft (September 2002)

• Schedule of pre-inquiry changes (February 2004)

Cross Street Fore Street

March 2010 Camborne Conservation Area Appraisal 7 2.0 Planning & Regeneration2.0Planning & Context

March 2010 8 Camborne Conservation Area Appraisal Part One Appraisal

March 2010 Camborne Conservation Area Appraisal 9 March 2010

3.0 The Historic Development of Camborne 11

Camborne Conservation Area Appraisal Appraisal Area Conservation Camborne Streets of workers’ housing began appearbegan to workers’ofhousing from Streets of these andregularity 1820.The and scale streets service commercial, market, presence the the of emphasized administrativefunctions, and the neighboring betweendifference Camborneand settlements. industrial there characteristics, these Despite still was to charactertown frontier the ofa of something for pubs its that known time Well at Camborne. industrial typical a drunkenminers,itwas and The 1841 overshow boom-town. returns Census dependedpopulation of working the thirds two Camborne’s of on Most mines. the directly shopkeepers weretraders men, and professional minersturndependent upon and the engineers. in BassetRoad, courtesy of Cornish Studies Library s s

March 2010 A second, and greater, copper boom from the the andgreater, second, from copperboom A one of Camborneas 1790s-1840s,re-cast The towns. chief town industrial Cornwall’s was only with not also, 1800from but mines, ringed engineeringwith onwards, Theworks. Roskear 1802, in main Holman’s Boiler works opened 1839. site in There foundry smiths were75 1841 in the town the recordedcensus. in and new activity public commercial Increased and growth industrial increased followed facilities new builtin 1802was A house population. market Railway1830; enlarged Hayle in the and and lineswerein 1834-7 Literary a branch built and was schools,publichouse built. Institute Chapels, were hotels also and constructed. BassetRoad present day

A churche churche A almost almost and holy well, andholy chapels playing place place playing

3.0 ofThe Historic Development Camborne standinge among among thehills’) barrayne standinge social economic the and reflect doesnot certainly theof –itschurchtown with and importance feast the on (held recordedthe century 16th fairs by at least by 1660s). Fairfield the of long sustainedperiod but growth This modest with marketgrantof the status culminated formal with accelerated 1708.the in Development 1700- copperofindustry in Cornish the expansion copperandRoskear 1750wereearly (Dolcoath soonCornwall). and dominant in producers, Camborne industry, growth the local of Despite as regardedtime atnot industrial, this still was an essentially and as ecclesiasticalmarket but centre. Camborne’s greatest significance lies in significance Camborne’sgreatest its few large Itone the was of history. industrial is towns and development its in industrial Cornwall historyof understanding to the Cornish central ithas metalmining.world Assettlement an a and andvaried Iron ranging the through ancient past andRoman the Christian early periods. Age, 1181recorded in first was CamborneChurchtown It ancient timewhichitwas an place. by already with centrea quality of good parish the was large and and areasmoorland. waste oflarge farmland Middle Ages,Cambornehad becomelate Bythe pilgrimagecircuit well-established a of part with Michael’s Mount. the associated St roadto There a was StMeriasek.withmysteryassociated plays and andprofitable working tin had also Intensive the 1400s,to thethe areaadding by in developed The oft-quoted parish. diversity economic the of 1584by John Nordendescription in (‘ Camborne had been laid out more or less to its full The growth in prosperity and expectations in The result of this wider economic decline was a extent by the time of the rebuilding of the market Camborne at this time soon exceeded the capacity continuous shrinkage in the commercial core area complex in 1866. The town expanded only of the old commercial and civic core, and a new of Camborne (the heart of the Conservation Area), modestly after the mid 19th century, with just a civic centre was created at Camborne Cross, with with old shops in the outer edges being closed and few more streets added to the town by 1900. the Public Rooms (1890), Library (1895) and changed to residential use; at the same time the Employment began to decline due to advancing municipal buildings and fire station (1903), large houses were converted to office and mechanization, however, the local economy Camborne having been made an Urban District institutional use. The population of Camborne remained unusually buoyant compared with Council in 1895. Cross Street was redeveloped as parish significantly declined from a peak of 15,829 recession elsewhere in Cornwall. This led to the it increased in importance (as the link between in 1911 to 13,949 in 1951. Only in the later 20th 3.0 The Historic Development of Camborne Camborne Historic Development 3.0The of rebuilding in the late 19th century of much of the this new centre and the old core), while century was there an economic as well as a central area (in and around Commercial Street and Trelowarren Street saw increased redevelopment population revival. By 2001 the parish population Commercial Square). Ever larger buildings also with large commercial units further away from the had risen to 20,332 with about 15,000 in reflected increasing civic and public activity, old centre, reflecting the importance of this route Camborne town. particularly after the formation of a local board to towards Holman’s main site and Dolcoath Mine – run the town in 1873. both entering a period of recovery around the turn of the century. In the mean time, the older streets As well as an expansion in the size of the (Church Street, Fore Street, the top end of Basset commercial centre and in the scale of new shops, Road, Gurney’s Lane etc ), were becoming the parish church was renovated and extended in gradually less important. The scale, size and 1879; the Smith Methodist Institute was built in number of its public and commercial buildings and 1887, followed by the Salvation Army Citadel the spread of the central area in the early 20th (1890), Masonic Hall (1899), the Holman Fountain century, are amongst the most marked features of (1890) and a new post office in Chapel Street Camborne’s historic character, appearing to buck (1899). The development of the centre culminated the generally perceived idea of the failure and with the tram connection between Camborne and decline of Cornish industry in the late 19th and Redruth (1902), and the founding of a chamber of early 20th centuries. commerce (1908). The boom years of the early 20th century continued until the tin market collapse of 1913-14. After the First World War, one by one the great mines closed. The closure of Dolcoath in 1921 caused a depression from which the area never really recovered.

Development and expansion more or less came to a halt in Camborne after the first decade of the 20th century. The tram connection with Redruth closed in 1927. The mining industry ceased, in effect, to exist in Camborne, with massive unemployment. With whatever remained of retail, service and public employment, the major industrial activity in the town was now engineering, particularly Holman’s, which did well in the mid 20th century through its export trade.

Tram terminus in Commercial Square, courtesy of Cornish Island site, Camborne c1925, courtesy of Cornish Studies Studies Library Library

March 2010 12 Camborne Conservation Area Appraisal Influences on Historical Spacious middle class housing was generally built The very street names were in competition – along the old roads (even Basset Road is a Market Place versus Commercial Square. Both Development rationalisation of the old Church Lane). It areas had their respective church or chapel and culminated with the grand houses of the town’s civic buildings. The new centres had new or The historic shape and street patterns of dominant figures - mostly the prominent industrial improved routes to the station (Cross Street and Camborne have been formed by three major families. These include: the Rectory (now The Basset Street), which actually turned their backs influences: Grange); Rosewarne, the present Gladys Holman on each other with scarcely any communication House (Harris); Parc Bracket (Woolf); Tregenna between them. • the ancient churchtown on its defendable site; Villa (Holman); Trevu House (Bickford Smith) and

Camborne Historic Development 3.0The of • the eastward pull of development and the Pendarves family Dower House (no. 37 What is significant historically and remains population towards the major mines and Pendarves Road). significant in the character and appearance of the industries of the Camborne-Pool-Redruth Conservation Area today, is that Camborne was industrial zone; prosperous enough to overcome this dual push, Most of the new industrial town is composed of th and to adopt both central zones as its commercial • the early 19 century provision and rows of workers’ housing. These streets were laid core, and indeed to go further and see the improvement of new roads in and through the out on the relatively level fields, commons and old development of a third civic focus around 1900 at town; mine waste east of the churchtown. This area has Camborne Cross. It is a measure of how dynamic an exceptionally important and distinctive • The church is on a locally prominent rise. This and prosperous the town and local economy were. character of its own (unique indeed in Cornwall), is especially marked from the west and north. There can be few towns of this size anywhere that but, other than, those streets that have become This small spur projecting northwards from have a triple focus like this within the one central part of the commercial and civic core of the granite uplands may occupy the site of a Conservation Area, but also of the problems that Camborne, lies outside the current boundaries of prehistoric hill-fort or Iron Age Round face the Conservation Area as the commercial and the Conservation Area. (suggested by its location, its function as the institutional centre of the town has contracted and parish centre, and by the circular pattern of can no longer sustain its historic extent. lanes and property boundaries around the There is one peculiarity of the central area of church/market area). Camborne (the Conservation Area) that makes it quite distinct in Cornwall. It is clear that the two

There are a number of streets following ancient great local landowning families that together th roads and churchpaths - College Street, Fore created the 19 century town, the Vyvyans of Street, Trelowarren Street, Cross Street, and Trelowarren, and the Bassets of Tehidy, seem to Basset Road. These still provide major routes into have done so in something of a spirit of and through the town. This churchtown focus competition. Their different landholdings and stands to one side of the historic town and the different ambitions, are a major reason for the Conservation Area. contrast between the grid of industrial streets populated by the workers (Vyvyan) and the more The phase of industrial development that was organic, more establishment and middle class added to this old nucleus in the 1820s and 1830s developments associated with the churchtown/ is based upon a grid pattern related to the main market-place and the radial streets leading from it roads improved or created at that time - the im- (Basset). proved access routes from the town to the station (Cross Street and Basset Street), and the newly turnpiked throughroutes (what is now the Both landlords clearly had ambitions to promote Trelowarren Street/College Road axis, and their own town centres, creating a duality in the Centenary Road, South Terrace and Pendarves character and appearance of Camborne’s core area Road). unique in post-medieval Cornwall.

South Terrace, Camborne

March 2010 Camborne Conservation Area Appraisal 13 3.0 The Historic Development of Camborne Camborne Historic Development 3.0The of

Conservation Area

Proposed boundary extension to Conservation Area

Historic Camborne OS Map 1888 March 2010 14 Camborne Conservation Area Appraisal

3.0 The Historic Development of Camborne 15 Conservation Area Proposed boundary extension to Conservation Area HistoricCamborne OS Map1938 Camborne Conservation Area Appraisal Appraisal Area Conservation Camborne March 2010 3.0 The Historic Development of Camborne Camborne Historic Development 3.0The of

Topography of Camborne OS Map

March 2010 16 Camborne Conservation Area Appraisal Geology and topography While later industrial settlements in the area are all focused on these river valleys, the medieval church

town of Camborne was set on a small spur The Camborne-Redruth conurbation lies on the projecting northwards from the granite uplands northern edge of a mineralized ridge running down and stands in a relatively elevated position over- the spine of the peninsula, on a plateau sloping looking a wide sweep of land, above the valley northwards to the sea. The urban area of streams. Camborne is framed to the east by the steep slopes of the Red River valley, to the south by the The town is set against the now built upon granite uplands of Beacon Hill, Carn Entral and Camborne Historic Development 3.0The of Camborne Beacon. The immediate surroundings of Carn Arthen and to the west by a plateau of level Camborne in the pre-industrial period seem to ground. To the north the sea is a constant have been as much moorland and rough grazing as backdrop, only four or five miles away and beyond good agricultural land. Camborne Beacon was it the distant hills of West Penwith or St Agnes formerly covered with small upland fields and Beacon. unenclosed land.

Seen from distant views, Camborne and its Immediately to the north of Camborne, the A30 suburbs seem to climb the slopes of the beacon road forms a man-made landscape boundary and and are distinct from the surrounding landscape serves to separate the area from the richer because of the density of the built environment agricultural land on the other side of the dual and the intensity of the mature canopy of trees carriageway. The deeply cut railway to the south of which surround the urban core. the town also forms a parallel boundary. Both have

contained spreading development separating the The settlements are sited along the old cross- area from the surrounding agricultural lands. county road (A3047), which follows a slight ridge- Mining remains in the form of engine houses and line within the plateau. This was turnpiked in 1839 extensive workings are also an important part of and has now been pre-empted by the A30. The the landscape setting. surrounding area has been defined in the 1994

Cornwall Historic Landscape Characterisation (HLC) A radial pattern of ancient roads and tracks as predominantly of surviving Anciently Enclosed spreads out from the churchtown, linking it to the Land, with some Recently Enclosed Land to the major east-west routes that pass near by, in north west. particular the A3047, and to the large, rural parish

around the town. To the East a landscape of mainly industrial character has been defined. Cutting north-south Together with the neighbouring settlements of Pool across this relatively gently sloping landscape are a and Redruth, the conurbation is the largest urban number of narrow, deeply-cut river valleys such as area in Cornwall. that of the Red River, the lower parts of their sides made even more steep by centuries of exploitation for tin streaming and tailing and various other industrial processes. View over Camborne from Carn Brea

March 2010 Camborne Conservation Area Appraisal 17 Two local families had a great impact on the had created a town that was dominated by The influence of Mining and development of the town: the Bassets and the cottages rows, chapels and public houses. Engineering in Camborne Vyvyans. The Vyvyan’s Trelowarren estate was developed through the 1830s an irregular grid of The mining recession of the 1840s did have an streets was laid out, with Trelowarren Street being impact on Camborne, though the strength of mines extended during this expansion. The expansion such as Dolcoath helped to buoy the town. Indeed Camborne has played an important role in not only that the Bassets did around the church town was by 1869 Dolcoath mine was the largest tin mine in the history of Cornish mining and engineering, but based more around middle class housing, albeit Cornwall, employing 1266 people. The permanent with College Street and Fore Street having cottage decline in mining in Camborne only set in after the

3.0 The Historic Development of Camborne Camborne Historic Development 3.0The of has also had a national and international impact. Tin streaming and shallow lodeback (tin) mining rows built. The expansion was considerable, with tin boom of 1870-72. were first recorded back in the 14th century, and by the settlement more than doubling in size between the 16th century shaft and adit mining is recorded. 1809 and 1841. The first main stage of expansion during this period was the completion of the Vyvyan estate in the Camborne become Cornwall’s main industrial By 1841 Camborne was overtly a mining town, with 1850s (Centenary Street, Moor Street, Tolcarne centre with the advent of the early 18th century over two thirds of the working population directly Street, Trevenson Street, the western half of development of the local copper mines. By the employed by the mines. Camborne’s mining focus Carnarthen Street and Stray Park Road). 1770s the Camborne mines were major producers in Cornish mining, with Dolcoath being particularly important. Mining dominated the town, and although some mines were short lived the overall effect was that employment was created for miners and merchants alike.

The mining activity also attracted and supported related industries, famous examples being Richard Trevithick’s engineering workshop in Tehidy Road and Nicholas Holman’s boiler works, the latter founded in 1801. These two individuals alone had a great impact on Camborne.

The mining activity created a population explosion, with the local population doubling between 1768 and 1801. In 1802 Lord de Dunstanville of the Basset family built the first purpose-built Market Hall at Market Square to accommodate the growing population’s needs.

Between 1820 and 1840 the population doubled again (from 2000 in 1823; 4377 in 1841), boosted by the re-opening of the North and South Roskear copper mines and the expansion of Dolcoath.

Industrial development continued; the Hayle Railway and branches were constructed (1834-7), a gasworks was built in 1834, and Holman opened a foundry near the Centenary Chapel in 1839.

March 2010 18 Camborne Conservation Area Appraisal The second phase of development is related to the Nationally important people Arthur Woolf (1766-1837) revival in the tin industry around 1870. Small and sites associated with the groups of cottages and rows of buildings were Arthur Woolf was a prominent Cornish engineer constructed directly by the mines (Wheal Gerry, area who was born in Camborne. Early on in his career Camborne Vean, Stray Park). There were also he left Cornwall to work at Joseph Bramah’s buildings constructed associated with the industrial Richard Trevithick (1771-1833) engineering works in London, Bramah being complexes around Holman’s and the railway famous for having invented the hydraulic press. station. To accommodate this growth there was Richard Trevithick was born near Carn Brea, the son Woolf returned to Cornwall in 1811. He worked at also civic expansion – the Basset family rebuilding of a mine captain. His early career was spent Harvey and Co, which was a leading engineering Camborne Historic Development 3.0The of the market and town hall in 1866 being an example building and modifying steam engines to avoid and foundry works. Woolf is famous for pioneering of this. royalties on Watt’s separate condenser patent. a high-pressure compound steam engine, which he Trevithick made an early demonstration of a moving patented in 1805. The central area of the town was largely steam engine in Fore Street, Camborne in 1801. He redeveloped, with much of the commercial area patented the high-pressure steam engine in 1802. Josiah Thomas (1833 – 1901) [Charles rebuilt from 1885 (Trelowarren Street, Commercial In 1803 he built the London Steam Carriage and Thomas article, Camborne School of Mines Street and Cross Street). New facilities for drove it from Holborn to Paddington and back. Journal 1986] Camborne included amongst others the tram Trevithick developed the use of his high-pressure connection between Camborne and Redruth steam engine on rails at the Pen-y-Darren iron- Josiah Thomas was a Cornish mine captain, born in (1902-27), the post office in Chapel Street, the works in South Wales. This was showcased in Killivose, Camborne. He came from a prominent Holman Fountain (Chapel Street 1890), the Smith London in 1808 with a locomotive called ‘Catch Me mining family, his father Charles Thomas was an Methodist Institute (1887), Masonic Hall (1899). Who Can’ as part of a steam circus. In Cornwall Underground Agent at Dolcoath Mine. Josiah Camborne School of Mines was developed from Trevithick used his high-pressure steam engine to Thomas became manager of Dolcoath Mine in the 1881 under patronage of the Bassets. In 1895 pump water from mines, for example at Wheal 1860s. He was heavily involved with the local Camborne gained the status of Urban District Prosper. Trevithick also took this technology to community and held many public offices, including Council and a new civic centre was created at The mines in Peru and Columbia. There is a statue Chairmanship of the Camborne School of Mines Cross, with the Public Rooms (1890), library (1895) dedicated to Trevithick outside Camborne Library at Committee. He was also a devout Methodist, and and the fire station (1903). the Cross. preached throughout Cornwall. Tregenna Villa in

th Pendarves Road, Camborne was built by Josiah The early 20 century saw boom years. However, Thomas, and is now used as a residential home. the tin market collapse of 1913-14 sparked a depression that Camborne as a mining town would William Bickford (1774 – never really recover from. Mining-related industries 1834). continued to grow in the town though, with

Holman’s pneumatic tools growing from 1919, In 1831 Bickford patented his taking over the Public Rooms in 1930 and building "safety rods" and manufactured a new factory in 1939-40. them at his factory at

Tuckingmil. Bickford’s “Safety Wartime requirements for munitions and Fuze” was of global significance. engineering also helped to keep up employment His son-in-law George Smith took levels. Sadly the town suffered from large scale over the business and was a post-war decline. historian of Cornish Methodism. The Smith Memorial Institute building on Chapel Street in Camborne is named after him.

Statue of Trevithick outside Camborne Library

March 2010 Camborne Conservation Area Appraisal 19 John Wesley The Bassets of Tehidy The Vyvyans of Trelowarren

John Wesley and his brother Charles were The Bassets were a powerful mine-owning family, The Vyvyans are a local landowning family. The preachers who resolved to live by rule and method’ with a manor house at Tehidy. They owned the family’s involvement with Camborne was based on from which the term ‘Methodism’ is derived. mineral rights for mines such as Dolcoath, and the the mining industry. They travelled the country preaching, and when family was responsible for large scale building In the early 1800s Camborne expanded due to the they arrived in Cornwall in 1743 they were well development around the Camborne, Roskear and reopening of copper mines such as North and received. A reason for this was that life in Cornwall Tuckingmill area. The Manor of Tehidy comprised South Roskear, and the expansion of Dolcoath. The

3.0 The Historic Development of Camborne Camborne Historic Development 3.0The of at that time was hard and dangerous, especially for of the parishes of Camborne, Illogan and Redruth. expansion of the town was largely due to the miners, and Methodism’s simple doctrine of The Bassets owned and developed Camborne’s development of the Vyvyan estate (largely sited on justification through faith and instant salvation central religious and market core – Basset Road, old mine workings and rough grazing land) on would have been comforting in the face of such Basset Street, South Terrace and Trevu Road. which in the 1830s a grid of streets and workers’ danger. Fine Basset buildings can be seen around cottages were laid out. In the 1850s the Wesley preached to thousands in the nearby Camborne. The Market House building (now the development of the Vyvyan estate was completed, Gwennap Pit. By 1851 attendees at Methodist Corn Exchange nightclub) was constructed in 1802 which included Centenary Street, Moor Street, chapels in Cornwall were in the majority. In and replaced in the 1830s. After severe storm Tolcarne Street, Trevenson Street, the western Camborne there are Methodist chapels at the top of damage in 1864, the building was rebuilt by John half of Carnarthen Street and Stray Park Road. So Trelowarren Street (Wesleyan Centenary Chapel, Francis Basset and reopened in 1867. although the Bassets developed the town’s central 1839) and Camborne Wesley Chapel (1828) on The former Tehidy Estate office on South Terrace religious and market core, it was the Vyvyans who Chapel Street. is another impressive Basset building. Now used as actually provided the majority of new housing. a community centre, this building was originally Trelowarren Street is still Camborne’s commercial Silvanus Trevail (1851-1903) where the Bassets ran their mineral interests in centre. the 19th century. The Vyvyans were also responsible for civic work. Silvanus Trevail was born in Luxulyan in Cornwall. They were important patrons of the church, the The Vyvyan-funded Chapel Street may be a He was a prolific Cornish architect, a Mayor of rectory, the market, local schools, institutes and deliberate attempt at town planning of a public Truro, and President of the Society of Architects. Camborne School of Mines.. The patronage of Lord space, containing a better standard of housing He undertook around 300 architectural commis- de Dunstanville enabled many local projects to go than neighbouring streets. The Chapel (1828) and sions in his lifetime, including hotels, banks, ahead, from prominent locals like Richard Literary Institute (1842) were impressive public schools, libraries and hospitals. Trevithick and Arthur Woolf. buildings as was the now demolished Commercial Hotel. In Camborne, Trevail designed the public library at the Cross, No. 6 Chapel Street, The Fiddick and Holman Bros Michel building including bank premises on Commercial Street, the Public Rooms building on Nicholas Holman started a boiler works in 1801 Trevenson Street, and a conservatory at Polstrong which was to pave the way for a successful near Camborne. He also designed the Vivian Bros Camborne-based rock drill and compressor building and an extension to the School of Mines business, producing equipment for use in Cornish building, though these have since been mines and also for world-wide export. 80 years on demolished. from its inception Nicholas Holmans sons John and James, along with James McCulloch patented and produced the highly successful Cornish Rock Drill. There were various Holman works located around Camborne, but now the last surviving historic Holman site is the No.3 works opposite the train station, which is one of the most important sites in the Conservation Area.

Former Camborne Public Rooms Building, The Cross by Silvanus Trevail

March 2010 20 Camborne Conservation Area Appraisal Camborne School of Mines. Dolcoath was a considerable size, the engine houses and other mine buildings ran from Valley Camborne School of Mines (CSM) was founded in Shaft in the east to Stray Park in the west. Stray 1888 and is of international repute. In the late Park Mine was absorbed into Dolcoath Mine in 1800s there was a need for an establishment to 1870. The existing Stray Park pumping engine provide practical and theoretical training for miners house at Park Lane just off Foundry Road has to keep the mining industry as efficient as possible. recently been refurbished. The mine was Three mining schools had been set up by the end of restructured in the late 1800s and acquired Carn

the century, in Redruth, Penzance and Camborne. Camborne, Camborne Vean and Camborne Consols Camborne Historic Development 3.0The of In 1897 CSM acquired the nearby King Edward mines. Dolcoath Mine closed for good in 1921. Mine to provide practical training for students. By the early 1900s the three schools were grouped South Crofty Mine together under the name of the School of Metalliferous Mining. South Crofty Mine is located at Pool in between The Camborne School was located in the centre of Camborne and Redruth. It was the last working tin Camborne until 1975 when it moved to Trevenson, mine in Cornwall, closing in 1998. Pool. The School then moved to Tremough, just The mine has an imposing location, and the tall outside of Falmouth. Graduates from CSM can be headframe and buildings surrounding the New found working in the mining industry worldwide. Cooks Kitchen Shaft can be seen from Pool and Tuckingmill, forming a landmark for the area. King Edward Mine Camborne – Redruth Tramway System [credit King Edward Mine is the oldest complete mine site L Fisher Barham, Cornwall’s Electric Tram- in Cornwall, and lies within the World Heritage Site ways] area at Troon, about 1.5 miles south of Camborne. It was created in 1897 from the former South The first piece of earth for the Camborne – Re- Condurrow mine site and was then used as a druth tramway system was cut in 1902 at the ter- training site for students from Camborne School of minus site at West End, Redruth. The tramway ran Mines. It is now a museum which houses an from West End in Redruth, along through Illogan Holman Fountain, Commercial Square. impressive collection of historic mining machinery. Highway, Pool, Tuckingmill then Roskear and fin- For more information see; ished at Trelowarren Street in Camborne. The www.kingedwardmine.co.uk . route was completed in October 1902. in 1927 the tramway system closed for passenger service, but Dolcoath Mine the mineral trams continued to run for another seven years. The mineral transport section opened Dolcoath was a copper and tin mine. It had deep in 1903, a year after the passenger system workings, running down to 290m by 1780. by 1758 opened. The mineral line section started at East it was equipped with atmospheric steam engines. Pool Mine, from Robartes Shaft north of the A30 Copper was the first material that was mined for and Mitchells Shaft to the South. Both branch lines there, but by the 1840s the mine’s copper reserves came together on the main road joining the pas- were becoming exhausted, and so the workings of senger line at Agar Road, which went on to Pool, the mines were extended further down to try and then to Trevenson Road and on to the depot near find tin. When tin was discovered there the second the top of East Hill. period of activity for the mine began. There turned out to be rich reserves of tin there, which made Dolcoath a major player in world mining, and in the 20th century it became known as the Queen of

Holman machinery on display at the King Edward Mine Cornish Mines. Museum, Troon.

March 2010 Camborne Conservation Area Appraisal 21

y y There are fine public buildings 19th thepublicbuildings from Theremid fine are Hall Town complex, Hall/Market (theold century andthe Office former formerEstate the Tehidy 20thearly andthe from century LiteraryInstitute) (particularly the group at Camborne Cross). There Cambornegroup the at Cross). (particularly school buildings interesting arearchitecturally ornamented richly TrevuRoad, and Road) (Basset Road, grounds (Basset in mature standing houses RosewarneRoad, Trevu Pendarves Road). and commercialbuildings, imposing There also are around heyday period the from those particularly manyrichly them ornamented, of and 1900.Tall detailing, or architecturall ornateterracotta have elevations. sophisticated andgreater in much Cambornehas, formerlyhad striking a There shopfronts. arrayof numbers, are century19th fewexamples timberearly good of a moremuch of includingone example shopfronts, significance TheseBassetRoad. no.5 local than at grandscale,pilasters, with a on be can brackets, doorwaysseen shared typically in cornices, etc., Only less Place. imposingareslightly Market cornicebay- andbuildingsin the and shopfronts moststyle whichcharacteristic the window is centre, whereCamborne’scommercial of feature elevationsand shopfronts ornatearchitectural less together. aremoulded

March 2010 Settlementmovement form& of the to the south high town, the ground From out map. laid like a Camborneappears Key beacons tall,19thof century large, buildings, high civicstand above commercepride and the up withinfrom thehouses. Even built surrounding up the crescendo old build a around views to area, core, thewith chapels, roofs commercial the of Houseold and Town the Hall/Market shops skylines.These the buildingsarein set dominating ancient follows that an patternof streetscape a tightly from spaced surrounding distinct the roads, from workersRadiatingout of the grid housing. webstreetsalleysinofthe old and circular streetsunfolding curving and the churchtown, with bold thelinesof the dead contrast views cutacrosswhich century19th roads, the straight vistas receding (the long, with landscape view Trelowarren onethe of along most is Street Cornwall). reproducedstreetscenesin theAreaare important Conservation Within monuments medieval like the ecclesiastical church Methodistand chapels,churchyard various the and known andin best the of two biggest the including Cornwall. wholeof first thesethe of amongst arefewSet remnants a 1800 Camborne around expansion of period when listed centre (such the as important emergedan as cottagesthealong theold church and by inns Road/Fore AnotherStreet). Tehidy particularly the group public by is interesting made houses thecentre,from around in period the most dotted a Cambornewas when 1820s 1830s the and formining having morenoted town pubs booming shops. than

ic ic

l The subtle topography of the town town the ofprovides topography Thesubtle Cornwall an in unusual feature streets, level towns. seen can still be from development The town’s the earlierroadpatternaround radiating the core gentlytown lines and the sinuous church century form nineteenth the grid of the from expansion. residential environmentcomprises built The town’s terracedlow rowsbuilt, stone distinctive of workersan alongwith riseindustrial cottages century nineteenth core impressive of urban chapelscommercial buildings, civic and the earlier buildings such as premises, Tyack’s century at inn coaching eighteenth a surprisingand numberin villas of Hotel set fringes. suburban

This section describes the character and section and describescharacter This the • • • appearance of the Conservation Area. This is is This Area. Conservation the of appearance to because for alterations proposals important and the needto publicrealm buildings they that the demonstrate preserve will enhance or Area appearanceConservation the of and character refer should receive proposals to Such consent. set outprinciples here.the Area Conservation CamborneTown coversCentre urbancivcore It includes central town. the the of complexes, religious the with and together urbanelite. of houses century 19th suburban the and environmentisdiversity one great of The built Camborne’s distinctive quality. locally high derived number key a of is from character elements: 4.0 Characterisation Camborne Conservation Area Appraisa Area Conservation Camborne

4.0 Characterisation 22 Building types, age and Classical detail and styles remained dominant in The Gothic style is reflected in Camborne as can be Camborne long after the Gothic revival had made seen in Chapel Street on the former Basset Road architectural detailing its mark elsewhere; for the most part this means Board School, and on the group of public buildings the Italianate commercial style (the old Market around Camborne Cross. An alternative is found in The cornice and bay window style, applied over a Hall/Town hall complex), or the simplified, if often the early 20th century, almost Art Nouveau style, long period, and to residential office and shop richly finished, builder’s stucco-work seen in seen on the New Connexion Chapel. buildings alike, is locally distinctive to Camborne. Basset Road. Some buildings in Camborne show a It is used in a range of materials, scales and severe, elegant restraint in design that raises them There is little to be said about 20th century proportions, from simple, very stripped down to a higher architectural level (Gladys Holman architectural style in Camborne. Some post-war façades (Cross Street) to architecture on a grand House, Chapel Street Wesleyan Church, Camborne buildings around Commercial Square were built in scale (28 Commercial Street). One great Community Centre). Only the Donald Thomas a stripped down classical/modernist style. Other advantage stylistically was that it could be used on Centre, which is the former Literary Institute and later 20th century and 21st century buildings in both classically-inspired elevations, and gothic and one of the best small classical buildings in and around the Conservation Area have more often renaissance inspired styles of the later 19th Cornwall, shows a more adventurous approach to than not been harmful to the character and century, giving the whole central area a continuity design. appearance and do not warrant imitation. overriding some of the stylistic differences of the individual buildings. Gothic revival design is not common in Camborne – even the chapels that employ Gothic do so in a A special group of buildings worth noting are the relatively low-key manner (Roman Catholic Church pubs in central Camborne. These generally survive and former Trelowarren Street Mission Church). in an early 19th century original form as there is The most important building in the style, Tregenna less pressure to enlarge or alter these buildings. Villa, an important building in the wider Cornish The interiors have not changed radically compared context, lies on the edge of the Conservation Area. to other retail units. 4.0Characterisation

3 Basset Road Former Board School, Basset Road United Methodist Chapel. Trelowarren Street

March 2010 Camborne Conservation Area Appraisal 23 Building Materials An exceptional use of brick is found on a group of Timber is rarely used as an exposed structural buildings all dating from the mid-late 19th century, material, although many of the commercial Killas and local, fine grained granitic stones are in the same area of the town and probably all by buildings (in Market Place, for instance) conceal predominant building materials in the town. Both the same hand (Camborne Indoor Market; 10 timber framed upper floors behind their stucco are brown-buff in colour, laid either randomly or Vyvyan Street; 5-9 Tehidy Road; 1-3 and 96-106 facades. Mostly, timberwork is used for traditional else in rough courses. Walling in these materials Trelowarren Street). Moulded and unmoulded joinery work like glazing bar sashes, once the often has roughly shaped lintels and quoins. In the bricks are used for jagged mouldings, surrounds universal window type in Camborne. later 19th century, machine-cut and dressed and dogtooth cornices to enrich spiky ‘Ruskinian ’ locally quarried granite becomes more prevalent. Italian –Gothic inspired elevations. To find one Despite many having been removed, those that Early use of well-cut coursed granite moor-stone is such building in a Cornish town is rare enough, to survive add a sense of quality (contrast, for restricted to a few important buildings (the church, find such a group is almost unheard of. instance, identical buildings in Trevu Road, [nos. Tyack’s Hotel, Gladys Holman House). The streets 7-11a], Cross Street [nos. 15-17], or nos.18-20 of cottage rows are built of this material, but so There are other, more restrained uses of brick on South Terrace). The loss is not simply because of are larger, more polite buildings (including those some commercial buildings in the Conservation noise and traffic pollution – the sashes on Tyack’s with dressed stone or stucco fronts), as revealed in Area (14-24, 29-39 and 41 Commercial Street, 5 Hotel show that traditional timber windows are side and rear elevations. It is sometimes worked to and 24-26 Trelowarren Street) and there are perfectly practical in the town centre, questioning a finish, particularly the rough rock-faced finish others almost certainly underneath a covering of the need to replace them elsewhere. typical of the years around 1900. stucco. Brick is actually a much more commonly used material in Camborne than might be thought. Spectacular intricate timber fenestration patterns Grey Carnmenellis granite is used to great effect are a feature of houses in Basset Road and Basset for lintels, dressings, ornamental details and as There is a small group of terracotta-clad Street; glazed porches add to the visible quality of finely cut ashlar in some key buildings, particularly commercial buildings in Camborne (1-3 the area. from the mid 19th century (Donald Thomas Commercial Street; 42 Commercial Street; 71 Centre; Chapel Street Wesleyan church; Smith Trelowarren Street). The design and detail of these There are some fine examples of traditional Institute; Camborne Community Centre). prominent buildings suggests that they were the shopfronts in Camborne, many with relatively work of a single designer. They are tall richly simple timber frames in stone surrounds. In the later 19th century designs that exploited the ornamented and prominent in the streetscene and Reference should be made to Kerrier’s 2004 contrast between the two stones became in wider views over the roofscape of the town, and Shopfront Survey, a companion document to this something of a local specialty (Basset Road Board amongst the most important buildings in report. An outstanding example is no. 5 Basset 4.0Characterisation School; Library; Council Offices). A similar contrast Camborne. Road. between granite and the grey-green veined Devon limestones was used to great effect in some of the Perhaps the most typical material in the central most attractive buildings in the town (28 Market streets is stucco, whether as a total covering, or in place; 9 Chapel Street; 38 Cross Street). the form of moulded architectural details. It is used on residential, commercial and institutional Brick is universally used for chimneys, and also for buildings, some of them amongst the grandest window and door lintel and arches on earlier 19th buildings in the town, (Trevu House, Centenary century buildings (predating the general use of Methodist Church, and Lowenac Hotel). It is also quarried and cut granite for the same purpose). used on a variety of smaller and simpler buildings, Terracotta finials and crested ridge tiles still grace but was always used to give a sense of hierarchy. many roofs, especially the later gabled roofs associated with the cornice and bay style in the From the mid 19th century onwards, stucco was town. used less to give a sense of refinement and taste, more a means for sometimes flamboyant display. This is seen particularly well on commercial buildings in Trelowarren Street, where boldly moulded pilasters, cornices and window surrounds Former Girls’ Grammar School, Trevu Road form part of the shops and shopfronts.

March 2010 24 Camborne Conservation Area Appraisal