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carnkie
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

17 years ago

The discussion on water in the other thread brings to mind an ironic situation from the mid 19th century. Many Cornish mines were very wet-in 1909 Wheal basset was pumping 3 million gallons per day-but Redruth suffered from a chronic shortage of water. Parly due to mining activities. Conditions in Redruth were, to say the least, pretty grim. Definately not the good old days. If anyone is interested in the social conditions of the time I've uploaded the Public Health Enquiry for Redruth in 1853. It covers the water and sanitation situations in some detail.

The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.

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Gwyn
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

17 years ago

I've just given it a first read.
Thank you, Carnkie, it's very interesting.
Was Redruth a pre-industrial village?
Was it built on free-hold land, unplanned?
I'm thinking of and comparing with, the settlements around here, both pre and post industrialisation and their water supplies.
Conway's first public water supply was from the LNWR's resevoir, built to supply the station and loco's.
Railways brought visitors who wanted clean water, this was important. The perceived widespread possibility of the disastrous economic consequences of bad water was taken very seriously. Who wants to catch typhoid or cholera or be poisoned by heavy metals?
We have to boil our water at the moment, Cryptosporidium!

carnkie
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

17 years ago

Yes it was a pre-industrial village. It was on the route from Bodmin to the far west. In the 14th century there was a leper colony there and it is mentioned again, on rather slender evidence, in the 16th century. Bishop Bitten's executors gave 9s to the lepers of Redruth in 1307-10 when at that time it was not a borough.
Having said that it's fair to say that the early 18th century marked it's growth. At least you haven't got aluminium sulphate in the water!

The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.

carnkie
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

17 years ago

Further to my last post. I've beeen browsing through John Hatcher's "Rural Economy and Society in the Duchy of Cornwall 1300-1500", (he also wrote the best book on the subject, I think, English Tin Producton and Trade before 1550). It's a bit complicated so to keep it short. In the 1330s Cornwall was divided into 17 demense manors. Redruth was in Helston-in-Kirrier and was perhaps the most significant centre of mining in the stannary district of Kirrier.
The administration of these manors finally came under the Duchy and leases were granted to individuals and also many free tenencies as well. So in answer to your second question I will offer a tentative no and no.

The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.