OUR HISTORY
A particular problem for the industry at that time was the number Cornish miners deployed in tunnelling in WW1, leaving a shortage of skilled men to safely work the mines back home, which was also vital to the war effort. The industry also suffered from a lack of available machinery and explosives. In 1917 to 1918 the Council of the Chamber of Mines successfully lobbied Government to ensure adequate representation on the national ‘Joint Industrial Council’, formed from the trade Unions.
Despite the challenging times, in 1918 there were over 150 members of the Chamber of Mines, including representatives from all operational mines and mineral Estates, as well as numerous mineral research and exploration enterprises.
Cornish businesses essential to the mining industry were also well represented in our membership. These included the likes J Bickford-Smith (pioneering safety fuse manufacturers), F Harvey (world renowned mine engine and boiler makers), R Henderson-Bull (foremost mine surveyor of the time) and J Holman (of Holman Brothers engineers, behind the deployment of compressed-air rock drills in mines).
In 2001, with a lack of active mining in region, the Chamber’s name was changed to ‘The Cornish Chamber of Mines and Minerals’ (CCMM) in recognition of the need for a body to help protect the mineral interests of Cornwall for future generations and promote the mining expertise and services of businesses still based in the region.
To further this aim, the CCMM co-founded the Cornwall Mining Alliance in 2016 and has hosted the online directory of over 100 local businesses ever since.
In 2017 the CCMM celebrated its centenary, which coincided with a resurgence of mining interest in the South West. The CCMM marked it’s 100th year with a conference and networking event at Heartlands entitled “A Celebration of Cornish Mining: from Local Expertise to Global Opportunities”.
It attracted 174 people, with 11 talks, 21 stands, 5 afternoon workshops and tours of South Crofty and Rosevale Mines. The talks were provided by established and innovative new companies exploring for minerals in Cornwall and Devons, new research and immersive technologies were presented by Camborne School of Mines and pitches made by supply chain businesses from the Cornwall Mining Alliance.
In the last ten year the CCMM has been a stakeholder in European mining research projects, provided strategic advice to Cornwall Mineral Planning Authority, commented on emerging minerals policy and guidance and steered the production of technical papers to help the industry to both input and respond to new regulations.
The offices of the CCMM are at Wheal Jane, which has generously supported and administered the CCMM for many years.
CCMM & the School of Mines
The Chamber of Mines reported annually on the progress of the precursor to today’s ‘Camborne School of Mines’ (part of the University of Exeter). Extracts from the 1918 Chamber of Mines Year Book read:
‘The School of Metalliferous Mining is an institution formed (1909) by the amalgamation of the three mining schools in Camborne, Redruth and Penzance. For many years the Camborne Mining School has been recognised as the principal centre of practical instruction in metalliferous mining in the kingdom, and a large number of its students, drawn from all parts of the globe, have, on securing the school certificate, received important appointments in many of the largest mining ventures in the world.
It’s early history dates from the establishment of the Miner’s Association in 1859. The success of (its) classes induced Mr G L Bassett (Tehidy Estate), in 1877, to give a site and build laboratories, which formed the first buildings of the Camborne Mining School. The school course for the mining diploma extends over a period of three years, and in each year the students are engaged in practical mining work two days a week. The students were originally placed in mines in the locality, but the defects of this system and the increase in numbers caused the governing body to acquire a mine of their own and run it as a semi-commercial mine. In 1897 South Condurrow Mine was purchased and is now worked under the name of King Edward Mine.’
The Cornish Chamber of Mines and Minerals continues to have strong links with Camborne School of Mines today, actively participating in their research initiatives and industry-orientated projects. A member of the Chamber Board is a Professor at Camborne School of Mines.
