EXTRACTS FROM THE BRITISH MINING WORLD HERITAGE DOCUMENT IN SUPPORT OF CORNISH NATIONAL MINORITY CULTURE

Thursday, October 09 2008 @ 10:45 AM BST Contributed by: Admin Views: 569 (Excluded from the English schools history curriculum in denial of cultural diversity) WHD - The title:- “Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape”. The Cornish Mining World Heritage Nomination Document (WHD) is available at www.cornish-mining.org.uk - downloads – nomination. The site does not give page numbers which are here included for each applicable section to facilitate cross reference. Section 1 – page 1 to 18; section 2 – page 18 to 46; section 3a-b-c-d-e – page 123 to 178 and section 4- page 180 – 237. WHD - The Cornish and West Devon Mining sites of World Heritage importance. (WHD p.61 to 70) St. Just; Port of Hayle; Tregonning; Gwinear & Trewavas; Wendron; Camborne and Redruth; Gwennap; Devoran; Perran & Kennal St Agnes; Luxulyan Valley and Charlestown; Caradon Tamar Valley & Tavistock. AA - The East side of the Tamar River Valley and Tavistock are in West Devon. West Devon – was part of Kernow/Cornwall up to 936AD when King Athelstan is on record as having expelled the Cornish from Devon and they “were compelled to accept the river Tamar as their boundary”. (Anglo-Saxon England, Professor F.M. Stenton, Clarendon Press, 1947, p.337). AA - Historically, the mines of Devon and Cornwall were administered separately by separate royal charters of 1305. “It is possible that the motives for the separation of the Cornish tinners from those of Devon in matters of administration were based on racial differences. While the Devon tinners apparently sprang from Anglo-Saxon stock, the miners of Cornwall formed a remnant of the Celtic race” (The Stannaries, G.R. Lewis, Harvard University, USA, 1908, p.85). Under English medieval law, the indigenous Cornish were charged the customary double tax for ‘foreigners’ on tin production in Cornwall up to the Coinage Abolition Act of 1838. (WHD 124). The tax on Devon production was levied at the basic rate for Anglo-Saxons. AA - Children in Tonbridge are instructed that: “There are still quite a lot of Celts living in the British Isles today. They live mainly in Wales, Cornwall and Scotland”. (www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk). AA - Whereas in Kent the Celts are considered to be ‘living’ and modern, in Cornwall, where they actually do live, they are presented as “early Celts” (English history curriculum) and “Celtic Britons” (WHD p.18). If it is possible to get it right in Kent, then every school in Cornwall should have the freedom to get it right. CORNISH - AN ORIGINAL BRITISH CULTURE WHD – (World Heritage Document) - The NARA (UNESCO) Document on Authenticity – all cultures and societies are rooted in tangible and intangible expression which constitute their heritage and these should be respected. (WHD p.183). ‘Integrity’ the holistic understanding of the Cornish mining landscape. (WHD p.38). WHD - Introduction. “The region has four millennia of history and tradition in metalliferous mining but it is for the 200 years from the early 18th century that its people and resources played such a vital role in the expansion of British and worldwide industrialisation resulting in the widespread export of innovative technological expertise and defined mining culture across the UK and overseas.” The Rt. Hon. Tessa Jowell MP., Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. WHD – The region’s ancient mining history was founded on the expertise gained in the working of tin and other metal ores by the Celtic Britons and the organisation of the medieval Stannaries. (WHD page 18). WHD – Cornish mining transformed both the region’s landscape and its society over a period of four millennia. The ‘industrial Celts. (WHD p.42). WHD - Cornwall and Devon was Britain’s only indigenous tin resource. (WHD p.123). WHD - Tin trade before the Roman invasion. (WHD p. 124). AA - A reminder of pre-Roman trade in tin, Britain’s first export orientated industry which deteriorated into people export through an enforced Cornish homeland exodus. WHD - The Greek explorer, Pytheas of Massillia is quoted as observing on his visit to Cornwall c.303BC that the natives work the tin in an ingenious manner. (WHD p.124). AA - Cornwall 303BC – The WHD deliberately excludes the reference made in the same passage by the Greek explorer affirming that, the people of Belerion, or the Cornish “were civilised” owing to their contact with traders from other lands. (The Extraordinary Voyage of Pytheas the Greek, Professor Barry Cunliffe, Oxford University, 2002, page 74). AA - Apparently, English Heritage is prone to downgrading Cornish culture by instigating an arbitrary revision of British history without reference to the scholars of Oxford University. THE GLOBAL CORNISH WHD - The World Heritage committee has acknowledged thematic imbalances in the World Heritage site List and recognises the significance of the Industrial Revolution for all humankind. (WHD page 23). WHD - (World Heritage Document) - Foreword - “Industrialisation is one of Britain’s most significant and lasting contributions to global society. The industrial sites selected for inclusion in the 1999 tentative list were carefully chosen because they were fundamental to the development of modern society as outstanding places representative of the origins and development of industrialisation, of processing and manufacture, developments in transport and virtuosity in civil engineering”. Sir Neil Cossons, Chairmen, English Heritage. WHD – Cornwall was among the earliest fully industrialised economy in the world. (WHD p.134). WHD - The World Heritage Site is an intrinsic part of that greater landmark of human history known as the industrial revolution. It played a key role in the growth of global capitalist economy. (WHD p. 45) WHD – Across the globe the Cornish introduced an efficient, highly structured and capital-intensive method of mining on a scale not seen before. (WHD 156) WHD - The Cornish mining industry also played a leading role in the diffusion of both metal mining and steam technology around the globe. (WHD page 18). Cornwall became one of Europe’s major emigration regions with perhaps over 200,000 people leaving in the century after 1830. (WHD page 21). Cornwall lost between a quarter and half a million people in the 19th century. (WHD p. 156) WHD – Global migration. In the 1860,s and 1870’s, when tin prices were also in recession the Cornish had a ready made option. They left. (WHD page 21). AA – Migration on such a large scale was in fact an enforced Cornish exodus. WHD - Cornwall pioneered the transfer of the British industrial revolution overseas. (WHD p. 18 & 39). Engine Houses in Mexico, Australia, Eire, South Africa. Spain (WHD p.36). USA (WHD p.157). Pumps in Holland. (WHD p.33). WHD - By 1800, however, Cornwall had become a scientific and intellectual powerhouse. (WHD p.150). The nominated site is an intrinsic part of that greater landmark of human history known as ‘the industrial Revolution’. Cornish mining made substantial technological, social and economic contributions to the British industrial revolution and it was Cornish mining which made pioneering use of industrial practices overseas. (WHD p.45). WHD - This occurred as a crucial formative period in the development of modern industrial society and played a key role in the growth of a global capitalist society. (WHD p.45). After the First World War Cornish miners abroad were increasingly replaced by native labour. (WHD p. 157). WHD – Cornwall, during the eighteenth and much of the nineteenth century was somewhat remote in terms of communication with ‘England’ and under-developed in education and public services. (WHD – page 150). AA – The WHD affirms that the global transfer of mining technology was ‘British’ whereas it is claimed by the BBC as “Roots of England”. Another case of seeking popularity and downgrading the Cornish without reference to Oxford University. CORNISH EXPERTISE WHD - Cornwall’s world-class export market in mining equipment, particularly the Cornish engine and boilers. (WHD p.156). AA - Cornwall produced 95% of all tin produced. (The Stannaries, G.R. Lewis, Harvard, 1908) WHD - Developed world-famous pioneer submarine mines. (WHD p.72). 3,000 Engine houses built. (p.137). Cornish rock drills exported. ( WHD p. 45). WHD – The acme development of steam – the Cornish beam pumping engine. (WHD page 31, 45 & p.136). WHD - Pioneer steam pumping technology (WHD p. 132). WHD - Cornish rolls (Copper crusher) and Cornish boiler. (WHD page 50). WHD - William Murdoch’s invention of gas lighting. (WHD p. 41). WHD - Richard Trevithick – statue in Camborne – Holding a model of his road locomotive which made its first run ‘up Camborne hill’ on Christmas eve, 1801. This was the first full-sized locomotive in the world. (WHD p.96). High pressure steam powered locomotive. ( pages 39+40+136). (Full page portrait, WHD p. 17). AA - Trevithick’s Cornish invention has been ignored for over 200 years by the Anglo-centric English education system, by Teachers’ Unions, University academics, civil servants and the party politicians at Westminster in order to promote the Englishman, George Stephenson to appeal to English nationalism. Another case of downgrading the Cornish rather than referring to a reliable source of information such as the Encyclopaedia Britannica under ‘Trevithick’. AA - Stephenson was actually even promoted as the inventor on a five pound note until recently. Presumably, ‘Trevithick’ does not sound English compared with Stephenson. Does it matter? AA - The front page of The Sunday Times of 1st June 2008 under the heading: “M.P.s, tell Brown to purge Scots”, reports that the government is being advised: “We need to have English voices speaking and giving messages that make sense in English communities”. Delete ‘English’ and insert ‘Cornish’ and such advice would automatically be condemned as racist. AA - The assertion that we need English names and we need English voices demonstrates consistent, deep-rooted, past and present, institutionalised anti-Celtic bias. The international demand for authenticity and accurate interpretation to achieve cultural diversity and proportionately equal cultural funding did result in the temporary suspension of centuries of censorship in order to secure the World Heritage status. However, having achieved World Heritage status the British government now appears to be in denial of the facts relative to Cornish culture and national minority identity contained in the (WHD) World Heritage Document. THE CORNISH CULTURE WHD – (World Heritage Document) - Cornishness continues to have a unique international dimension. (WHD p. 44). Cornwall’s rich cultural life. Global significance – exporting its culture. (WHD page 21). WHD - Crowst time – pasties – embedded in Cornish mining culture worldwide. (WHD p.42). WHD - Semi-independent tinner-smallholders. (WHD p.43). WHD - The Mining Exchange – Redruth. (WHD p.94). WHD - Miners and poets. (WHD p.43). WHD - The Cornish adopted cultural activities which were enjoyed in other parts of industrial Britain, including male voice choirs, brass and silver bands, carol singing and rugby, quintessentially ‘Cornish’ by the 1900s. (WHD p. 43). AA – Private associations for research into Cornish family history and Cornish family Celtic names and genealogical societies thrive globally. (Also, National Trust Names). Although the Cornish language is officially recognised, the people who can claim it as part of their British heritage are not recognised by the British government. Clearly, an English political interpretation has crept into the autonomous meaning of cultural diversity. WHD - Perhaps the most visible sign of this development is the flag of St. Piran, the patron saint of Cornish tinners, which is in widespread use. The flag, a white cross on a black background, symbolises the tin metal set in a black background of charcoal ashes as representing contemporary Cornish pride in a sense of identity and inheritance. (WHD p.44). WHD - Cornish words became commonplace - Cousin Jacks; Wheal, Bal and Bal maidens. Wage systems known as tribute. (WHD p.44). Cornish surnames via place names all derived from the Cornish language, now have an international aspect. (WHD p.42 AA - There is no reference to the Cornish language as Celtic, (Oxford English Dictionary) Celtic/Celts appears only twice in the WHD, p.18 “Celtic Britons” & WHD p.42 “industrial Celts”. There is also no reference to the miracle plays presented at open air ‘rounds’ called ‘plen-an-gwary’. The latest thirteenth century discovery, Bewnans Ke, in play in Cornish which includes Arthurian exploits. This demonstrates the genuine Cornish heritage of Tintagel Castle which has been transferred to English Heritage by the Duchy of Cornwall. A further case of politicians downgrading the Cornish without reference to reliable documentation. WHD - St. Piran’s flag is also unfurled at events in North America and South Australia connected with a renewed sense of trans-national Cornishness. In this way ‘Cornishness’ continues to have a unique international dimension. A photograph of the flag is included. (WHD p.44). WHD - Cornwall Record Office; Cornish Studies Library; Royal Institution of Cornwall. (WHD p.167). Local history. (WHD p. 178). Mineral tramways and railways. (WHD p. 145-7) WHD - Interpretation facilities – 26 within the nominated site areas – museums etc, covering technological innovations and the social impacts. (WHD p.177). WHD – Mineral collections – Cornish mines produced some of the finest mineral specimens, of certain species, that are known. (WHD – page 155). AA - The school has been absorbed by Exeter University, and the mineral collections of Camborne School of Mines and Penzance have been taken out of Cornwall. King Edward Mine still functions along with a splendid ‘working machinery’ museum on the surface. There are efforts to recover the mineral collections for the World Heritage Sites. A suspected attempt to downgrade Cornish culture. WHD - Camborne School of Mines began life in 1896. King Edward Mine was acquired for practical training. (WHD p.151). WHD - Great Houses includes Tehidy; Carclew; Trengwainton; and Trewidden etc, (WHD page 151). AA - Great Houses implying great estates – excludes the seventeen manors of the Duchy of Cornwall. WHD - The mine engine disaster at Levant Mine and Geevor mine museum, St.Just. (WHD p.159). South Crofty mine, Pool, Camborne. (WHD p.160) WHD - Listed Buildings. (Images of England or Listed Buildings on line). (WHD p.164). AA - The concept ‘pre-England’ is not used by English academics. In constitutional law both England and Scotland were dissolved and replaced by Britain under the Act of Union with Scotland of 1706. WHD - The established Church had become too class ridden, too hierarchical, and was failing to respond to basic spiritual needs. Methodist meetings were held in cottages and barns. Cornwall was ultimately well suited to non-conformity. The Church of England had lost the people. (WHD p.149) Cornwall has a higher proportion of Methodist members and chapel goers than any other part of England. (WHD p.43). AA - Cornish traditions, culture, language and flag are defined by English academics as ‘local’. The Celts are in fact ‘national’ British since they were indigenous to the whole of Britain long before the incursions of the Anglo-Saxons and long before the beginning of the present Christian era 2008 years ago . A further attempt at downgrading Cornish culture. WHD – Tin used in the manufacture of Church bells and pewter. (WHD p.124). First discovery of China Clay 1746 – this led to the foundation of the British porcelain industry. (WHD p.82). THE CORNISH TIN MINING INDUSTRY WHD – Glossary – STANNARY – Pertaining to tin mines or miners with its roots in the Latin ‘stannum’ (tin); the Stannary Parliament and Stannary courts existed for the administration of justice among the tinners within Cornwall, Devon and elsewhere, and were also courts of record. WHD – The Stannaries The importance of the tin industry in the medieval period was recognised by the establishment of a special legal framework. It was first enshrined in a charter from King John in 1201 that included a number of pre-existing common law practices. The charter gave privileges to the tinners, and their industry, in return for which they paid a special tax, that was calculated at the time of coinage. From the earliest records in the twelfth century through to abolition in 1838 the tax levied on tin production in Cornwall was at double the rate applied in Devon. (WHD p.124). WHD - The powers of the Stannary Parliament included the right to veto laws from the Parliament at Westminster and some claim that the powers have fallen into abeyance but have never been repealed. (WHD p.225). AA - The historic and unique royal CORNISH STANNARY VETO Charter of Pardon 1508 is excluded from the English schools history curriculum. The failure to even question the origins of, and reasons for, the CORNISH right to VETO the permanent English majority of the Westminster Parliament arouses the suspicion of a hidden agenda for the revision of British history and the downgrading of Cornish culture and identity. AA – The 1508 charter is designed to prevent laws “to the prejudice of tinners” being made applicable to Cornwall. Currently deemed to be Statute in Force and Constitutional law by the Royal Mines Act 1693 as published by Her Majesty’s Stationery Office 1978. The text extends the meaning of ‘tinners’ to include everyone in any way associated with mining. WHD – The Stannary system of bounding encouraged enterprise, multi-ownership and partnerships intended to produce the greatest profit in the shortest time. (WHD p. 23). Cornwall was one of Europe’s earliest industrial regions. The social structure (engendered by Methodism) enabled mining communities to be relatively independent. (WHD page 20). WHD - In 1836, the Stannaries Act was successfully promoted at Westminster in order to re-establish the mining courts of the Duchy of Cornwall. (WHD p.151). AA – It is believed that the classless Cornish Stannary Parliament mining laws created the Cornish spirit of independence and industry. The Stannaries Act of 1836 (WHD p. 151) extended the powers of the Stannaries to cover:- “all metals and metallic minerals in Cornwall in the same way as heretofore over tin”. WHD – Mining practice in Cornwall was based on Stannary law, a codified version of customary mining traditions which included such practices as the adventurers’ right to ‘bound’ land, in other words to stake a claim to a piece of land for mining purposes without regard for the constraints of normal landed property rights. (WHD page 42 & 220). AA - ‘Bounding’ is still legal and recognised as a Cornish custom of overriding interest under the Land Registration Act 2002. WHD – The Stannary courts and Convocation existed in association with the Duchy of Cornwall (the Duchy being an institution which tied Cornwall and parts of Devon into a close relationship with the Crown) and did so for their mutual advantage. (WHD p.42). WHD - The Stannary system included dedicated courts and a convocation (later a parliament). A main seat of the administration was the elaborate Duchy Palace complex established in the 1290’s in Lostwithiel. Some parts of the Medieval building survive within the planned medieval town. (WHD p.125). WHD – In 1497 the Cornish revolted against new Stannary laws imposed by Prince Arthur, Duke of Cornwall. As a result the Charters were confiscated, to be renewed by the Charter of Pardon issued in 1508 in return for a payment of £1,000.00. This included the right, through the Stannary Parliament, to veto any statute or proclamation which was ‘to the prejudice’ of the tinners. (WHD p.125). AA – According the British Library Stannaries Manuscript 6713, folio 136, the Duchy of Cornwall Charters were also confiscated by King Henry VII and both were reinstated by the Charter of Pardon of 1508. AA - Other sources confirm there were miner-farmers and miner-fishermen which extended the definition of tinner into the overwhelming majority of the population. (Rural Economy and Society in the Duchy of Cornwall 1300-1500, John Hatcher, Cambridge, 1970). WHD – Tin halfpennies and farthings were introduced by King James II (reigned 1685-1688). In all £10,000.00 worth of tin was purchased, and £65,000.00 worth of coins issued. (WHD p.142). WHD – Copper coinage. Between 1797 and 1806, 4,200 tons of two penny pieces, pennies, halfpennies and farthings were produced (equivalent to around one year’s production of metal from the Cornish mines. (WHD p.143). AA – Extensive profits were made through the minting of tin and copper coins. In the case of tin this often arose through the King’s right to the pre-emption of tin. Since the King/Duke already claimed ownership of the tin itself through ownership of the Stannaries by charter of 1337, Lord Coke’s authoritative observation in his ‘Case of the Stannaries’ that, it would be ‘absurd’ for the King to claim the right to purchase his own tin, can hardly be denied. THE DUCHY OF CORNWALL (Managed by the Heir to the Throne and the Lord Warden of the Stannaries) WHD - The Stannary courts and Convocation existed in association with the Duchy of Cornwall (the Duchy being an institution which tied Cornwall and parts of Devon into a close relationship with the Crown) and did so for their mutual advantage. (WHD p.42). Ownership – Duchy of Cornwall –Tamar Valley. (WHD p.180-181). AA - Since the Crown has had a constitutional “special relationship” with Cornwall for many centuries (Royal Commission on the Constitution 1973) it is essential to consider whether the association with the Duchy of Cornwall has been discontinued for undeclared reasons. Has the decision led the government to reject Cornwall’s case for inclusion in the Council of Europe’s human rights provision of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Consequently, it is felt necessary to investigate the possible meanings and consequences of being, or, then not being, placed in permanent “close relationship” with the Crown and Duchy of Cornwall. WHD – When the Duchy of Cornwall was established in 1337, coinage formed a significant source of revenue. The Duchy was also probably the largest single mineral lord in the south-west. Most of the fundus (river-bed) of the principal rivers, and some of the estuaries, were owned by them, and considerable royalties were gained from tin-streaming activities in those areas. (WHD p.125). WHD - The foreshore of Cornwall was awarded to the Duchy of Cornwall in 1858, by which it was entitled to royalties on any minerals produced. (WHD p.151). WHD - The chief officer of the Duchy is the Lord Warden of the Stannaries. (WHD p.125). WHD - The Duchy of Cornwall coinage stamp. After smelting, tin ingots were submitted to the Coinage Hall by the producer. There, a corner, or’coin’ was removed and assayed. On receipt of the tax, tin of the approved purity was struck by the Hammerman with the ‘Duchy coinage stamp’. (WHD p.142). WHD - The second and final smelting took place at a Blowing house in a Stannary Town for taxation purposes. (WHD p.125). AA – The monarchy of Sweden provides a one stop written constitution with a guarantee that: “Courts and public authorities shall observe in their work the equality of all persons before the law”. This basic principle applies across Europe and America to facilitate the resolution of historical anti-social habits. Without regard to the consequences, lack of transparency in government and education has led to fear of change which in turn has generated intolerance, bias and racial discrimination against those Cornish people who assert their international right to hold on to their Celtic roots despite centuries of “relationship” with the Duchy of Cornwall. “The Future of Culture” needs a climate of transparency and unqualified cultural diversity for one and all “including the cultures of persons belonging to minorities”.

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