Cornwall

Nearby places

Camborne

In 1867, Camborne (Cornish: Kammbronn) was situated in the Deanery and Hundred of Penwith. It was bounded on the north and east by the sea and Illogan, on the south by Crowan and Gwinear, and on the west by Gwithian. The parish is thought to take its name from the Cornish for a 'crooked hill', but it was also the site of a 'holy well' situated within it, from which the name could be derived.

Until the mining boom towards the end of the 18th century, which saw the Camborne and Redruth district become the richest mining area in the world at that time, Camborne was just a village. Influx of miners transformed the village into a town in a very short space of time. The town of Camborne is surrounded by numerous mine workings; it comprises several uniform streets which were filled with miners' cottages. The growth caused the parish to be spilt and three new parishes were created from Camborne to serve this boom: Tucking Mill in 1845, Treslothan also in 1845, and Penponds in 1854.

From the middle of the 19th century and into the 20th century, many mines closed which led to mass migration from the area. The last tin mine in Cornwall to close was the South Crofty mine in Camborne which ceased operations in 1998.

Richard Trevithick is probably Camborne's most famous son. He was born in a cottage a mile or so from Dolcoath Mine in Camborne, where his father was a mine Captain. His curiosity about the engineering aspects of the mining area in which he grew up, started at an early age, and this led to a career during which he pioneered the use of high pressure steam, and increased the efficiency of the engines used to pump water from the lower levels of Cornwall's tin and copper mines. Trevithick's inventive mind was never still - his ideas ranged from the first successful self-powered road vehicle, and a steam railway engine, to schemes for wreck salvage, land reclamation, mechanical refrigeration, agricultural machinery and for tunnelling under the Thames. Trevithick spent eleven years in South America, working for owners of silver mines. His memory is preserved in the annual Trevithick Day festival in the town.

Camborne became pre-eminent in the training of mining engineers; the Camborne School of Mines continues with this task into the 21st century.

Cemeteries

• Transcriptions from the Wesleyan Methodist Centenary Cemetery, Camborne, and Camborne parish church are available on the Cornish Cemeteries site.
• The Cornwall Family History Society have published Monumental Inscriptions on-line for:
  • The Parish Church - 1145 entries
  • Centenary Methodist Chapel - 1468 entries

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Census

Census information for this parish (1841 - 1901) is held in the Cornwall Record Office. The Cornwall Family History Society offers a census search service for its members. The Cornwall Family History Society have also published on-line census detail by surname on the FamilyHistoryonLine site.

Specific census information for this parish is available as follows:

• 1841. The 1841 Census of Camborne (HO107/147) is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project as follows:
  • Enumeration Districts 1 to 4.
  • Enumeration Districts 5 to 9.
  • Enumeration Districts 10 to 17.
• 1851.
  • The 1851 Census of Camborne (HO107/1916) is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project as follows:
    • Enumeration Districts 1a and 1b.
    • Enumeration Districts 1c and 1d.
    • Enumeration Districts 1e, 1f, 1g and 1h. (District 1h is part of Illogan which was wrongly enumerated here as part of Camborne).
    • Enumeration Districts 1i, 1j and 1k.
    • Enumeration Districts 1l, 1m, 1n and 1o.
  • The New Zealand Society of Genealogists have compiled separate surname indexes of the 1851 Census for each Cornish registration district; Camborne is listed in Volume 37. The booklets are available in Cornwall at the Cornwall Centre, (formerly known as the Cornish Studies Library), and is also available in the Cornwall FHS Library.
• 1861. The 1861 Census of Camborne is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project as follows:
  • RG9/1583:
    • Enumeration Districts 1 and 2.
    • Enumeration Districts 3 and 4.
    • Enumeration Districts 5 and 6.
  • RG9/1584:
    • Enumeration Districts 7 to 10.
    • Enumeration District 11.
    • Enumeration District 15.
• 1871.
  • The 1871 Census of Camborne is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project as follows:
    • RG10/2323:
      • Enumeration Districts 1 and 2 (St Martin's).
      • Enumeration District 3 (St Martin's).
    • RG10/2324:
      • Enumeration Districts 4 and 5 (both St Martin's).
      • Enumeration Districts 6 (St Martin's) and 7 (St Martin's, Tuckingmill, All Saints, and Penponds).
    • RG10/2325:
      • Enumeration Districts 8 and 9 (Penponds).
      • Enumeration Districts 10 and 11 (St Martin's).
    • RG10/2326:
      • Enumeration Districts 12 to 14 (Treslothan).
      • Enumeration District 15. It should be noted that other parts of Camborne (St Martin's) parish are also included in ED 15, which also covers Penponds and Treslothan parishes.
  • The Cornwall Family History Society have published transcripts of: the 1871 Census of Camborne, enhanced with pictures and maps, which is available in CD format.
• 1881. The 1881 Census of Camborne is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project as follows:
  • RG11/2334 - St Martin's:
    • Enumeration Districts 1 and 2.
    • Enumeration District 3 [including Schools].
    • Enumeration Districts 4 and 5.
  • RG11/2335.
    • St Martin's - Enumeration Districts 6 and 7.
    • St John's, Treslothan - Enumeration Districts 8 to 10.
  • RG11/2336.
    • Penponds & Tuckingmill - Enumeration Districts 12 to 15.
    • Camborne, All Saints & Tuckingmill - Enumeration Districts 16 to 18.
• 1891. The 1891 Census of Camborne is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project as follows:
  • RG12/1850 - St Martin's:
    • Enumeration District 1.
    • Enumeration District 2.
    • Enumeration District 3.
    • Enumeration Districts 4 and 5.
    • Enumeration District 6 and 7.
  • RG12/1851.
    • St John's (Treslothan) - Enumeration Districts 8 to 10.
    • Holy Trinity (Penponds) - Enumeration Districts 11 to 14.
    • Tuckingmill - Enumeration Districts 15 and 16.
    • Tuckingmill - Enumeration Districts 17 and 18.

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Church History

• Anglican. The parish church is located in OS Grid Square SW6440 and was dedicated to St Meriadocus (Meriadoc or Meriasek), Bishop of Vannu, and St Martin in the 15th Century. Camborne church is a reminder of the parish's link with the important Cornish language Miracle Play Beunans Meriasek (The Life of St Meriasek) which was written about 1500.
  The church of St Martin appears to have been originally cruciform with transepts leading off what is now the nave and chancel aisle and may date from the 12th to 13th centuries. The north and south aisles and tower were added probably in the 15th century, in perpendicular Gothic style. From evidence in the churchwardens accounts it would appear that the east end of the north aisle was not added until the late 1530s, when the east wall of the chancel was also rebuilt incorporating a new window. The lower exterior walls of the chancel and its side wall to the north exhibit rubble masonry from the pre-15th century church. By 1671, - two churches stood within the churchyard walls, the main parish church as well as the chapel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, which was once an important shrine. During the reformation the chapel to the Blessed Virgin Mary fell into disuse. The Chapel was renovated only once again in 1630 to be neglected in the times of Cromwell. In 1671, the stones from the chapel were used to build the parish poorhouse in what is now Pendarves Road.
  In 1735, the Basset family of Tehidy added a small transept onto the south aisle for use as a family pew. The new outer south aisle, added in 1878-9, swallowed this up. In 1862 the existing church was gutted and the box pews and galleries removed; together with a new roof, this great restoration cost £1500. In 1879 the Vestry was erected. The porch also dates from this year, however it incorporates much of the 15th century stone work. The roof also includes 15th century carved timbers from the roof of the old south aisle. Finally in 1963, the church hall was added.
  The church comprises a chancel, nave, north and south aisles, south transept and a vestry. Arcades are of seven depressed four-centred arches supported on granite piers. There is an elaborate altar-piece of sienna marble which was erected in 1761 at the expence of Samuel Percivall Esq. of Pendarves. There is a north door and a south porch. The tower is of three stages, with battlements and pinnacles; it is about 60 feet high and contains six bells and a clock.
  St James's chapel is said to have existed here in 1437.
  Details about the plans of the existing church are available on-line.
  Other chapels known to have existed are: St Mary, St Anne, St Ye, St Derwe, and St Margaret. There is also another Anglican church at Pool.
  In the 19th century, the parishes of Treslothan, Penponds, and Tuckingmill, were created out of Camborne parish.
• Roman Catholic. In about 1845, Richard Pike, a Superintendent of the New West Cornwall Railway Company, a Quaker, married a Catholic, Elizabeth Lesher, whose family came from Alsace. His own family were of the "landed gentry" in Cork, Ireland. He was also director of some of the tin mining companies in the area and when many of the Cornish miners left for foreign parts to mine for gold, he brought in a large number of Irish labourers. The nearest Catholic Church was in Penzance (opened in 1843). Richard Pike was so impressed by the labourers who walked sixteen miles to Penzance for Mass, and especially his own maid, that he became a Catholic. In 1852, three priests came to Camborne, and began a Mission in a store just north of the railway station in Trevu Road. A chapel was later assembled in a loft of Mr. Pike's coach house. In 1857, Mr. Charles Reynolds, a barrister, offered a portion of his own property as a site for a church. It was near the station. The foundation stone was laid on 24th June, 1858. Bishop Vaughan solemnly blessed the new Church on May 26th, 1859. The present church is dedicated to St John the Baptist.
• Non-Conformist. In Camborne, there were chapels for the Wesleyan Methodists, Primitive Methodists, Bible Christians, New Connexion Methodists and United Methodist Free Church. Many of the Methodists' sects in Camborne are now united.
  TROON. In the West Briton on 23rd April 1852: FREE WESLEYAN CHAPEL - On Thursday the 15th instant, the Free Wesleyan Chapel, at Troon, in the parish of Camborne, was opened by the Rev. S. DUNN. A correspondent states that a report has been circulated to the effect that the present proprietors obtained possession of this chapel by fraud. This however, he asserts is not the case. It was he says "a perfectly just, upright, and honest transaction. On the expiration of the lease the chapel was valued by competent persons chosen by each party, and offered by the lessee to the Conference in their valuation. They however, would only give a quarter part of the sum, which of course was refused. It was then offered to the Free Wesleyans, who accepted it, and have now re-opened it for public worship".

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Church Records

• LDS Church Records.
  • The LDS Church batch numbers for Camborne are: E002071, P002071, M0022971, Wesleyan Methodist C065031. These are searchable by surname.
  • The IGI coverage of this parish is 1538 - 1837.
• The Cornwall Record Office holdings: Baptisms 1591 - 1944, Burials 1538 - 1937, Marriages 1538 - 1946, Boyd's Marriage Index 1538 - 1812, Pallot's Marriage Index 1800 - 1812, Non-Conformist records 1828 - 1837.
• On-line Baptism Records.
  • Baptisms in this parish 1588 to 1837 (parish registers and Bishop's transcripts combined), and 1889 to 1911, are available on-line through the OPC Search Facility - (C-PROP).
  • Camborne Wesleyan Circuit baptisms 1828 to 1837 are available on-line through the OPC search Facility - (C-PROP).
  • The OPC has made the following Camborne (Parish Church) baptisms available on-line:

    Baptisms 1558 to 1596. Baptisms 1597 to 1607. Baptisms 1608 to 1619. Baptisms 1620 to 1628. Baptisms 1629 to 1636. Baptisms 1637 to 1645. Baptisms 1646 to 1657. Baptisms 1658 to 1664. Baptisms 1665 to 1670. Baptisms 1671 to 1675. Baptisms 1676 to 1680. Baptisms 1681 to 1685. Baptisms 1686 to 1689. Baptisms 1690 to 1694. Baptisms 1695 to 1699. Baptisms 1700 to 1703. Baptisms 1704 to 1706. Baptisms 1706 to 1710. Baptisms 1711 to 1715. Baptisms 1716 to 1719.

    Baptisms 1720 to 1722. Baptisms 1723 to 1726. Baptisms 1727 to 1729. Baptisms 1730 to 1732. Baptisms 1733 to 1735. Baptisms 1736 to 1738. Baptisms 1739 to 1741. Baptisms 1742 to 1745. Baptisms 1746 to 1747. Baptisms 1748 to 1749. Baptisms 1750 to 1751. Baptisms 1752 to 1753. Baptisms 1754 to 1755. Baptisms 1756 to 1757. Baptisms 1758 to 1759. Baptisms 1760. Baptisms 1761. Baptisms 1762. Baptisms 1763. Baptisms 1764.

    Baptisms 1765. Baptisms 1766. Baptisms 1767. Baptisms 1768. Baptisms 1769. Baptisms 1770. Baptisms 1771. Baptisms 1772. Baptisms 1773. Baptisms 1774. Baptisms 1775. Baptisms 1776 to 1777. Baptisms 1778 to 1779. Baptisms 1780 to 1781. Baptisms 1782 to 1783. Baptisms 1784 to 1785. Baptisms 1786 to 1787. Baptisms 1788 to 1790. Baptisms 1791 to 1793. Baptisms 1794 to 1797.

    Baptisms 1798 to 1800. Baptisms 1801 to 1803. Baptisms 1804 to 1806. Baptisms 1807 to 1809. Baptisms 1810 to 1812. Baptisms 1813 to 1814. Baptisms 1815 to 1816. Baptisms 1817 to 1818. Baptisms 1819 to 1820. Baptisms 1821 to 1822. Baptisms 1823 to 1824. Baptisms 1825 to 1826. Baptisms 1827 to 1828. Baptisms 1829 to 1830. Baptisms 1831 to 1832. Baptisms 1833 to 1834. Baptisms 1835 to 1836. Baptisms 1837.

• On-line Marriage Records.
  • Marriages in this parish 1538 to 1860 (parish registers), and 1538 to 1812 (Bishop's transcripts), are available on-line through the OPC Search Facility - (C-PROP).
  • Phillimore's Marriages of Camborne 1574 to 1812 are also available on-line from UK Genealogy Archives.
  • The OPC has made the following Camborne (Parish Church) marriages available on-line:

    Marriages 1538 to 1650. Marriages 1651 to 1705. Marriages 1706 to 1745. Marriages 1746 to 1775. Marriages 1776 to 1790. Marriages 1791 to 1802. Marriages 1803 to 1812.

    Marriages 1813 to 1816. Marriages 1817 to 1820. Marriages 1821 to 1823. Marriages 1824 to 1827. Marriages 1828 to 1830. Marriages 1831 to 1833. Marriages 1834 to 1835.

    Marriages 1836 to 1837. Marriages 1837 to 1844. Marriages 1845 to 1851. Marriages 1852 to 1858 Marriages 1859 to 1862. Marriages 1863 to 1875.

• On-line Burial Records.
  • Burials in this parish 1538 to 1837, and 1889 to 1936, are available on-line through the OPC Search Facility - (C-PROP).
  • The OPC has made the following Camborne (Parish Church) burials available on-line:

    Burials 1538 to 1546. Burials 1547 to 1548. Burials 1549 to 1563. Burials 1564 to 1576. Burials 1577 to 1587. Burials 1588 to 1597. Burials 1598 to 1610. Burials 1611 to 1619. Burials 1620 to 1628. Burials 1629 to 1639. Burials 1640 to 1655. Burials 1656 to 1665. Burials 1666 to 1673. Burials 1674 to 1679. Burials 1680 to 1685. Burials 1686 to 1691. Burials 1691 to 1696. Burials 1697 to 1706. Burials 1706 to 1712.

    Burials 1713 to 1720. Burials 1721 to 1727. Burials 1728 to 1731. Burials 1732 to 1736. Burials 1737 to 1741. Burials 1742 to 1745. Burials 1746 to 1749. Burials 1750 to 1754. Burials 1755 to 1795. Burials 1760 to 1762. Burials 1763 to 1765. Burials 1766 to 1768. Burials 1769 to 1771. Burials 1772 to 1773. Burials 1774 to 1775. Burials 1776 to 1777. Burials 1778 to 1779. Burials 1780. Burials 1781 to 1782.

    Burials 1783 to 1784. Burials 1785 to 1786. Burials 1787 to 1789. Burials 1790. Burials 1791 to 1792. Burials 1793 to 1794. Burials 1795 to 1796. Burials 1797 to 1798. Burials 1799 to 1800. Burials 1801 to 1802. Burials 1803 to 1804. Burials 1805 to 1806. Burials 1807 to 1808. Burials 1809 to 1810. Burials 1811 to 1812. Burials 1813 to 1814. Burials 1815 to 1816. Burials 1817 to 1818. Burials 1819 to 1820.

    Burials 1821 to 1822. Burials 1823. Burials 1824. Burials 1825. Burials 1826. Burials 1827. Burials 1828. Burials 1829. Burials 1830. Burials 1831. Burials 1832. Burials 1833. Burials 1834. Burials 1835. Burials 1836. Burials 1837.

• Other Records.
  • Baptisms.
    • Cornwall Legacy have published on CD parish baptisms (1640 to 1775), Marriages (1538 to 1775) and Burials (1640 to 1775).
    • Cornwall Legacy have also published on CD, baptisms (1837 to 1862) of the Falmouth Bible Christian Circuit. The area covers Falmouth, Camborne, Lanner, Penryn, Gwennap, St Agnes, and Kenwyn.
    • Cornwall Legacy have also published on CD, baptisms (1843 to 1900) of the Falmouth, Redruth & Camborne Bible Christian Circuit. The area covers Falmouth, Redruth, Camborne, Lanner, St Agnes, and Kenwyn.
  • Marriages. The Cornwall Family History Society have published transcripts of: Parish Marriages 1538 to 1837, which is available in Book, CD or downloadable .pdf file formats.
  • Burials. The Cornwall Family History Society have published transcripts of: Parish Burials 1813 to 1837, which is available in Book format.
  • Other Non-Conformist Records. OPC Coverage of Non-Conformist records of this parish is available.

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Civil Registration

The parish of Camborne was originally in the Redruth Registration District. It is now in the Registration District of Camborne-Redruth. There were sub-districts at Camborne, Gwennap, Illogan, Phillack and Redruth which have been abolished. Parishes in this registration district are: Camborne, East Phillack, Gwennap, Gwinear, Gwithian, Illogan, Phillack, Redruth, St. Sithian's, West Phillack.

The address of the Superintendant Registrar is: Roskear, Camborne, TR14 8DN. Tel: 01209 612924.

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Description & Travel

• ePodunk's Cornwall page - providing general, plus some historical and genealogical information, about Cornwall and its parishes, together with links (mainly relating to general sites and services, rather than ones that are specific to Cornwall or particular parishes).
• Photographs of Camborne are available on-line.

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Directories

• Kelly's 1856 Post Office Directory of Camborne.

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Genealogy

• OPC Assistance.
  • The On-line Parish Clerk (OPC) scheme operates a service to help family historians; the OPC page for this parish is available on-line, from where the OPC can be contacted by email.
  • The OPC has produced a genealogical website for the Town.
• Strays. Persons living in a parish but born elsewhere are known as "Strays".
  • 1861. Camborne Strays found in Devon in the 1861 Census are available on-line.
  • 1871. Camborne Strays found in Lancashire in the 1871 Census are available on-line.

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Land & Property

• The parish and town tithe maps, and accompanying survey books of c1840, provide a fascinating snap-shot of land use and ownership in the 19th century. In order to preserve the documents and improve access to them, the Cornwall Record Office are digitising these maps and survey books. The CD ROM tithe package include a map and survey books, together with a reader, for this town; it is now available from the Cornwall Record Office. Details are on their website.

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Maps

• Map of the Camborne and Redruth Registration district in which the parish lies.
• An old map of the parish of Camborne in the 19th century is also available.

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Occupations

• Information about the Camborne Mining Area is available on-line.
• A website dedicated to the King Edward Mine in Camborne is available. King Edward is typical of many small Cornish mines of the first decade of the 20th Century. Remarkably it has survived almost intact and today is the oldest complete mine site in Cornwall. All of the buildings are Listed Grade 2 star which means that they are considered to be of national importance. The King Edward Mine Museum is 1½ mile from Camborne Station, and is located at Grid Reference SW 6645 3890.

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Poorhouses, Poor Law, etc.

Camborne parish was part of the Redruth Union for Poor Law administration and parish relief. Overseers' Accounts (1648 to 1717) are available in the Cornwall Record Office.

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Population

Three parishes were formed from parts of Camborne parish: Tuckingmill in 1845, Treslothan also in 1845 and Penponds in 1854.

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Probate Records

• Wills & Admons for Camborne parish, 1660-1730 are available on-line.

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Societies

• The Carn-Brea Mining Society was formed in 1974 to encourage the study of all aspects of mining, geology and mineralogy in the South West of England. The Society is purposely based amid the traditional tin and copper area of Camborne and Redruth. Meetings and lectures are held at the Opie Building at the Cornwall College, and field meetings are also arranged. A news letter is published in June and December and a news sheet in March and September. The Society currently has 110 members. Membership of the Society is available to anyone.
• The Gowethas Kernow Goth Cambron (Camborne Old Cornwall Society) is on-line.

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Statistics

The parish comprised 6032 acres of land and 50 acres of foreshore.

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