Where In The World Did They Go?
Monday, December 4, 2006
A mini-survey is being carried out in the Tamar Valley to discover where the mine workers who were forced to leave the Valley went.
The survey is part of the Tamar Valley Mining Heritage Project, which is seeking to conserve and celebrate the rich mining heritage this area possesses.
Researcher, Vanni Cook, explains what is already known; ‘We know from previous research that miners, quarrymen, searchers and woodworkers who had lost their jobs at Devon Great Consols and other mines within the Valley, fanned out across the world in search of new employment within the industry.
She
continues; ‘Timmins in Ontario became affectionately known as ‘Little
Gunnislake’ and the mine captain, Harry Hancock, from Horrabridge,
left his stamp on the Moonta copper mine in the Yorke Peninsula, South
Australia.
Other workers went to Mexico, Montana and the Kolar Fields in India’.
It is possible to discover the names of those that left the Valley and
went out to work abroad through shipping records, but the project team
are keen
to find out how many people who went abroad actually stayed in touch
with their families, and how many workers remained in the Valley with
their
loved ones.
If you have any information that you would like to share about family links with mining areas abroad, please contact Vanni Cook or Jo Lewis – 01822 615610 or email info@tamarvalley.org.uk.
