South Croft Tin Mine

The miners of South Crofty sing for their supper.

Miners at South Crofty Mine at Pool sing a cappella. First it was a copper mine but by 1873 it was also extracting tin. Set in and around what is now part of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site between Camborne and Redruth South Crofty was a productive mine for over four hundred years and Cornwall's last one in operation closing in 1998. Cornish miners love to sing and a modern song entitled Cornish Lads was written by Roger Bryant and graffitied on the mine wall when it closed.

Camborne and Redruth with Portreath are one of ten metal mining industry areas with a celebrated industrial heritage. Miner's cottages and what is known as the Great Flat Lode, a shallow mineral ore vein of high grade tin exploited for over half a century. Cornish mining engineers exported innovations, experience and knowhow worldwide but as competition grew from other countries industrialising, Cornish miners migrated overseas and extensive communities now exist in the United States, Canada, Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa and Brazil. They also helped to export wrestling, Rugby Union and pasties.