Legacy Of Mines

Holman Brothers

The fortunes of Holman Brothers have gone hand in hand with Cornwall's mining history. Between 1801 and 1862, the number of Cornish mines increased from 75 to 340. Such a rapid expansion of the mining industry was possible only with a corresponding development in engineering. In the early days Holman's worked closely with Trevithick and others to produce steam engines. Gradually they expanded into exporting tools and machinery around the world. The Holmans of Camborne catalogue for 1879 contained `Steam engines, Air compressors, pulverizers ... and mining machinery of every description.'

Around the 1870s the discovery of large tin and copper deposits overseas resulted in a depression in Cornish mining. Vast numbers of Cornish emigrated all over the world in search of work. Camborne weathered the storm better than the rest of the county. It is notable that between 1861 and 1901, Camborne's population increased by 1,273 because of the expansion of its engineering, whilst Cornwall's population as a whole decreased by 47,056.

Cornish mining had to improve economically to stay viable and in this, everything depended on the engineers. Just as it was needed most, came the development of the rock-drill driven by compressed air. Holmans were among the first to produce an efficient and marketable rock-drill and this gave Cornish mining another 40 years of life. After the First World War, Holmans specialised in producing compressed-air equipment for pneumatic road rippers and other uses.

Holmans Foundry was the major employer in Camborne for many years. The No. 1 Works and an office building were situated at the site of the current Tesco supermarket. Polished pink granite pillars flanked an impressive office entrance. The No. 3 Works was located next to the railway line, bordering Trevenson Street and opposite Camborne Library. At this second site there was also a training school for apprentices and the Holman Museum.

Camborne School of Mines

The Camborne School of Mines was formed in 1882 and became world famous for its high standards of excellence in training. Situated incentre of town, the school's first building bequested by Gustavus Lambert Basset, who had already built a laboratory for pupils of the Miners' Association. In 1974 the school moved to larger premises with Cornwall College at Pool and the original building was demolished to make way for a supermarket.