Team Cornwall in training for 2012 International Mining Games

Students from the Camborne School of Mines (CSM) are in preparation for the International Mining Games, which will be hosted by CSM at King Edward Mine Museum, near Camborne from 31st March to 1st April 2012.

While many of us are trying to get into shape by sweating it out in the gym or pounding the pavements, they are heaving mine wagons, laying rail tracks and chiselling through granite.

Now in its 34th year, this is the first time the competition will be held outside the US or Australia. 40 teams from all over the world will compete in physical challenges based on traditional mining techniques, many of which were originally developed in Cornwall in the 1700s and 1800s. The event will be free and open to spectators.

The primary aim of the competition is to celebrate traditional mining techniques, many of which were originally developed in Cornwall. Events such as ‘jackleg drilling’, ‘mucking’ and ‘track stand’ test the competitors’ physical strength, speed and endurance, while challenges like surveying depend more on knowledge and quick thinking. All rely on preparation and excellent teamwork. CSM is entering three teams and the students have put together a busy training schedule, around their studies.

CSM student Oakley Turner is leading on the organisation of the games. He said: “The skills required for these traditional techniques are now extremely rare, but an understanding of them is still vital to the mining industry. CSM students are among the few people with this expertise, which puts our graduates in very high demand among employers.

“Hosting the International Mining Games is a wonderful way for us to celebrate our skills and bring a really exciting event to Cornwall. It will be a great opportunity for local people to see these techniques being carried out in the same part of the world as they were originally developed.”

The International Mining Games started in 1978 in honour of the 91 miners who died in the Sunshine Mine disaster, USA in 1972, as well as miners that have since died in the line of duty. Since then, it has grown and evolved and also provides a talent scouting opportunity for mining companies and companies in related sectors, as well as bringing together mining students from all over the world.

Head of Camborne School of Mines Professor Frances Wall said: “We are very proud that our students are bringing this prestigious competition to Cornwall. Representatives from some of the world’s biggest mining companies will be attending, so this will be an excellent opportunity for our students to network and potentially secure future employment.

“It will also be great fun for our students and for local people, who we hope will come to cheer along the CSM teams.”

King Edward Mine, known to generations of students as KEM, was for over a century CSM's field station for practical mining and surveying. Now open as a museum, the mine is owned by Cornwall Council and is managed by a team of volunteers who stated restoration work on the site 25 years ago.

Mining Engineer Tony Brooks, former CSM student and director of King Edward Mine Museum, said: "We are delighted to be able to help host the Mining Games at KEM. There could be nowhere more appropriate for this event. This will be good for CSM, Camborne and Cornwall"

Listen now to our latest podcasts!

This month we're looking inside Heartlands with two delicious podcasts from our exhibition planner, Andrew Leitch. As well as restoring the former mine buildings at Robinson's Shaft and preserving many of the artefact's that were found there, the World Heritage Site exhibition within Heartlands will bring to life the history of Cornish mining in an innovative and interactive way. In the podcasts, Andrew Leitch gives an exclusive glimpse inside the exhibitions revealing the captivating human story as well as the challenges involved in interpreting the Cornish Mining story.

The exhibitions will be delivered within the restored Robinson's Shaft mine buildings over the next couple of months.

For more information and a Guided Tour, please contact the Heartlands Team on 01209 722320.

Engine starting to take a shine thanks to volunteers

Work on restoring the engine is well underway thanks to a group of 15 volunteers.

Volunteers are working alongside engine restorer Geoff Wallace to clean and polish the engine which sits in the engine house at the centre of Heartlands. Geoff is working to get the beam engine moving which will become one of the main attractions within the Heartlands exhibition.

Underneath the scaffolding...........

In the next month we will be revealing all the hard work that has taken place to the headgear when the scaffolding is taken down to unveil Robinson's Shaft headgear and engine house at Heartlands.

The photos above and below show the headgear which has been blasted to remove rust, made strong and painted, restoring the wonderful structure back to its former glory.

We are restoring our engine and need your help!

Do you have any spare time to volunteer? Are you interested in Cornish Heritage? Do you fancy getting involved in a project that will transform an area of Pool? Then our engine restoration project could be the thing for you!

We are looking for volunteers to work alongside our restoration company who will be working to get Robinson's Shaft beam engine moving again. Volunteers would be needed to help us clean and polish the engine back to its former glory.

We would love to hear from you if you are interested. Please call 01209 722323.

Students hardwork is celebrated

Last week over 300 young people gathered to celebrate this years Heartlands Primary School Project, and to showcase their hard work.

This years project was the third year that Pool Business and Enterprise College and Heartlands worked together to host the project to 6 local primary schools. Treloweth, St Johns, Rosemellin, Portreath, Illogan and Roskear all focused on the interpretation centre that will be housed in the Robinson's Shaft buildings, which are at the hub of the Heartlands site. Year five and six students from each school looked at creating their own child-friendly visitor guides for the museum that will be built at Heartlands. Students visited several mining sites in Cornwall, such as Geevor and Cornish Mines and Engines in Pool, to inspire their project work. All six schools also visited the Heartlands site to take a look at what it looks like prior to construction work commencing.

The imaginations of the students and teachers ran wild, with replica model engine houses being built, merchandise such as bookmarks, badges and colourful fridge magnets produced that could be sold in the gift shop at Heartlands, miners helmets were made and also wonderful t-shirts, as well as the very impressive visitor guides, which were filled with interesting facts, puzzles, maps and important information about Robinson's Shaft.

Beam engine moves again after 55 years!

Opening up the beam engine

The beam engine which sits within the Robinsons Shaft complex at the centre of Heartlands returned to motion last week after 55 years.

Robinsons Engine House at Heartlands.

Engineers have been exploring the possibilities of how we can power up the Robinsons pumping engine for when Heartlands opens. The Robinsons beam engine was used to continuously pump water from the mine from 1906 until 1955. Electric pumps were used at Robinsons after this time due to the cost of maintaining the Cornish pumping engines.

An engineer gets inside the beam engine to inspect its condition.

International Council on Mining and Metals visits Heartlands

Heartlands was visited by the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) to show how a cultural regeneration project is developing in Cornwall.

ICMM, who are the industry's leadership association in mining and sustainable development visited Heartlands as part of a trip hosted by the Eden Project.

The delegation was made up of 20 people with a wide and diverse background and expertise related to international mining, from high level mining executives of some of the biggest mining companies in the world to staff based in London offices.

Birds eye view of Heartlands

Heartlands recently used a crane to survey Robinson's Shaft head frame, which is at the centre of the Heartlands site. We thought it would be a good idea to take some aerial photos to show the extent of the project from above and the developments so far.

The photo above shows the view looking down on to the head frame. The head frame at Robinson's Shaft will be incorporated in to the exhibition at Heartlands.

The photo below shows the winding house, this building will also be part of the exhibition.

The above photo shows the carpenters shed to the left, which will be converted in to a cafe and restaurant. The building in the centre of the photo is the old Compressor House which will contain the biomass boiler, a key part in Heartlands aim to become zero carbon.

Above shows the view to the east of the site. The market square will be surrounded by the new buildings which include artist studios, office space, apartments and a community building.


Diaspora gardens with planting from around the world will be located to the bottom left of the above photograph, with a play area, events arena and open lawn occupying the remainder of the space.

Mine is Yours

Heartlands has teamed up with local artist Laura Smith and Aune Head Arts to work on the Mine is Yours project. Laura Smith worked with the local community surrounding Heartlands to research stories from the area and also looking at the mining history in Pool.

Pool Business and Enterprise College students recorded the stories that were collected from local people, miners and their families. Laura's work with Heartlands has been documented on the following website:
Mine is Yours

Cornwall College students help capture Heartlands in pictures

Every stage of Heartlands' development is being documented on camera by students from Cornwall College, Camborne.

The photography students will be making regular visits to the site to document each stage in the £35million project. Before work officially gets underway, the students have been busy capturing the site, documenting and archiving the historic buildings before the site is cleared and prepared in preparation for building work in the summer this year.

The pictures will be an inspirational resource not only for artists and designers working at Heartlands, but also for the community, including educational and community organisations. Heartlands social archive has been created to raise awareness about Cornwall's cultural heritage, as well as recognising and celebrating its achievements and aims to offer insight through learning from the material culture of this historic World Heritage Gateway.

The Cornwall College students that are photographing the site are studying for the Foundation degree in Animation and Foundation degree in Multimedia Design. Stephen Howard, Head of Multi Media and Animation at Cornwall College said "We are delighted to be able to work with Heartlands, the students are enjoying being involved in an exciting live project right on their door step and gaining valuable work experience too".

Lost Words Found Objects Blog

Heartlands have been working with Pool Business and Enterprise College and artist Ben Cook on the Lost Words Found Objects project. Click here to keep up to date with all the Lost Words Found Objects news.

Australian mining expert visits Heartlands

Heartlands has welcomed a mining expert from Australia to the site as part of a wider tour of the county.

Corrine Unger, who has a specialist interest in the use of former mining sites, spent an afternoon at Heartlands earlier this month, to learn about the £29.5 million project and how it is set to transform the area into a truly inspirational landscape.

The visit to Heartlands was arranged by the Post-Mining Alliance, which is an independent not-forprofit organisation with a mission to encourage and promote the regeneration of old mine sites for the sustainable benefit of the local community and natural environment.

Heartlands is planned to transform Cornwall’s most derelict urban area into a truly inspirational cultural landscape. Heartlands became a reality in 2007 after receiving a £22.3 million grant from the Big Lottery Fund’s Living Landmarks programme, the only project in England to be awarded this funding. Additional funding has been provided by the Homes and Communities Agency, the national housing and regeneration agency for England and from Cornwall Council. All funding for the project is secure and major works are planned to start in early 2010.

Carolyn Rule, Cornwall Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration, said:
"Heartlands is an exciting project and the former mining site is rich with history and of great interest to those in the industry. It is great for the Heartlands project team to welcome global visitors, such as Corrine to the site, and give them the opportunity to spread the word about this inspiring project.”

Scott James, Heartlands Programme Director, said: “We were delighted to welcome Corrine to Heartlands and give her a first hand account of what is planned for the site. Corrine was really interested about the scale of the project, with the community and sustainability elements, which are embedded within a physical regeneration scheme.

“We enjoy welcoming industry specialists to Heartlands as it gives us the opportunity to discuss with people how we intend to transform the site whilst understanding more on shared issues which affect their projects and ambitions in different regions of the world."