A History of Cornwall in 100 Objects

Following the BBC series, "The History of the World in 100 Objects", Museums in Cornwall have launched  "A History of Cornwall in 100 Objects".   To find out more, please see the BBC website www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld

King Edward Mine has two of the 100 objects chosen for Cornwall;

Cornish Pasty Money Box

When Cornish miners emigrated they took elements of their culture with them. This money box from Mineral Point, Wisconsin, is a variant on the typical Cornish pasty shape. Many Cornish emigrants lived here in Shake Rag Street, named after 'the pasty is ready' signalling system then in use.

Mineral Point in Wisconsin was a prime destination for Cornish miners. Founded in 1827 as a lead and zinc mine, it is now a tourist attraction. During America's first mineral rush 1836-48, Cornish miners and their families brought hard rock and deep mining know-how to Mineral Point. William Goldsworthy of Camborne was one of the founders and by 1845 about half the town's population were Cornish. Some of their one and two storey stone houses - including Pendarvis House and Trelawney House - survive thanks to a preservation society started by Bob Neal and Edgar Hellum in 1935.

 KEM is proud to be able to represent the Cornish through our object. 

Californian Tin Stamps

Stamps were large machines used to pound and crush ore from mines. Before the introduction of stamps into Cornwall, this work was mostly done by hand by women known as Balmaidens. Stamps were introduced into Cornwall in the early 19th Century and were usually water powered. The noise they produced was very loud and at some cliff top mines it was said that the noise of the stamps was used by sailors as a navigational aid!

Californian Stamps were introduced in America during the gold rush of the late 1840s and differed from the traditional Cornish stamps design in several ways notably five not four stamps heads which were circular rather than square. By the end of the 19th century better performing Californian stamps began to be used in Cornwall - see short video below.

The set of Californian Stamps at King Edward Mine was made by Messrs Fraser and Chalmers of East Kent, under license and came from the Paris Exposition of 1900. The building that houses the stamps was specially constructed to house them and is now Grade II* listed.

Californian Stamps are now very rare and ours are believed to be the only working set remaining in Europe.