Redruth

"REDRUTH, a parish, post, and market town in the hundred of Penwith, county Cornwall, 9 miles S.W. of Truro, and 11 from Falmouth. It is a station on the West Cornwall railway. This place, which is of great antiquity, was originally called Dre Druth, or "the Druids' town," of which its present name is only a slight modification; but for some time after the introduction of Christianity it was called "Uny," from the patron saint to whom its church is dedicated. It is a large and prosperous mining town situated in a barren spot On the great road from Truro to Penzance, and occupies the declivity of a hill, which attains an altitude of 414 feet. The parish comprises, besides the town of Redruth, which consists mainly of one long street, the hamlets of Little Redruth, or Plengwary, and Treleigh. It is a polling-place for the county elections, and a petty sessions town. It is well built, and partly paved and lighted with gas; but the water supply is very insufficient, notwithstanding large sums of money have been expended by the Board of Health to remedy this inconvenience, though all in vain, owing to the drainage of the extensive mines in the vicinity. The town contains a townhall, built in 1850, a theatre, literary institution, savings-bank, commercial bank, and a clock tower at the entrance to the market-place. The county court for the Redruth district is held monthly in the townhall on the Wednesday and Thursday following the second Tuesday in one month, and the Thursday following the second Tuesday in every other month. The board of guardians for the Redruth Poor-law Union, which comprises 8 parishes, meets at the union poorhouse every alternate Monday. There are an extensive brewery, safety fuse manufactory, and iron foundry; but the chief prosperity of the place is derived from the Consols and United copper mines, which are the richest in Cornwall, and are 1,620 feet deep. These mines, together with others at Huel or Wheal Tolgus, Wheal Mary, and at Cook's Kitchen, are the means of employing a large number of the inhabitants. The substratum is chiefly granite and killas rock, abounding in tin and copper, some lodes of which yield ten per cent. of fine copper on the gross quantity of ore extracted. The tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of £480. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Exeter, value £432. The church, dedicated to St. Uny, is a modern structure, with a tower containing a clock and six bells. The interior of the church contains several monuments. There is also a district church at Treleigh, erected in 1828 at an expense of £2,400, by grant from the parliamentary commissioners, the living of which is a perpetual curacy, value £130. There are National schools for both sexes. The Wesleyans, Baptists, Primitive Methodists, and Society of Friends have places of worship. On Cairn-Brea, or Carnbre, Hill stands the Dunstanville pillar; and in various parts of the parish are Druidical remains, consisting of circles, stone pillars, cromlechs, cairns, and other relics, though many have of late years been almost obliterated. Market days are Tuesday and Friday. Fairs are held on 25th March, 2nd May, 4th August, and 13th October."

"CROFTHANDY, a hamlet in the parish of Redruth, hundred of Penwith, in the county of Cornwall, 8 miles W. of Truro."

"LANNARTH, a village in the parish of Redruth, hundred of Penwith, county Cornwall, 8 miles W. of Truro. The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of Exeter, value £150, in the patronage' of the crown and bishop. The church is called Christ Church."

"TEHIDY, an old seat of the Bassets, in the parish of Redruth, county Cornwall, 3 miles W. of Redruth, and 9 W. of Truro. It is surrounded by extensive plantations, and contains a gallery of paintings by the best masters."

"TRELEIGH, an ecclesiastical district in the parish of Redruth, hundred of Penwith, county Cornwall, 1 mile froze Redruth, and 8 miles S.W. of Truro."