I think now is the time to congratulate all those who have worked towards
this designation and who have gathered a phenomenal amount of information
relating to the Cornwall and West Devon World Heritage Site. The data will
stand on its own, however people respond to the designation. For myself, I
find the whole concept rather bizarre - I had always thought the whole world
was a world heritage site! Never mind!
I disagree with Robert and Trevor to some extent. There is no doubt that the
Dartmoor region of west Devon has been, from a cultural perspective,
inextricably linked with Cornwall for thousands of years, largely due to the
granite and its aureole dictating cultural response. The mining phenomenon
of the 18th and 19th centuries reinforced this, which makes it all the
sadder that the designation does not include the 'Cornish' settlements of
Mary Tavy and Peter Tavy in west Devon. Indeed, it is somewhat surprising
that the whole of Dartmoor National Park is not included -it's odd to see
how a national park with such a wondrous and accessible range of mining
features from prehistory to the 20th century isn't of world heritage status!
Ah well, the obsessive 'designation' culture we live in is a peculiar beast,
with its own momentum!
Now that designation has been achieved for the 18th and 19th century let's
hope the Cornish community start to treat their earlier mining sites with
respect - for example, the extraordinary complex of 16th/17th century tin
crushing and smelting sites at Retallack which are in a disgraceful state of
management but which are the finest surviving example in a county which has
very few extant 'early' tin mills.
Tom Greeves.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Trevor Dunkerley" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, July 13, 2006 7:05 PM
Subject: Re: World Heritage Site Inscriptions: UNESCO at Vilnious
Robert W wrote:
>I have a distinct problem with the (implied) assumption that it is a
>Cornish World Heritage Site, despite the Bid Organisers' >calling it
>'Cornish Mining'. Devon is there as well, and is an important part of the
>new Site. Bear in mind both counties are >in the South-West Mining Field!
I couldn't agree with you more Robert and would suggest that in the main
part, the Devon mining field was considerably earlier than the Cornish! I'm
also a little saddened that the recognition is only for the Devon West
mining field and its association with tin and copper extraction.
Mid and North Devon were also a very large part of the much earlier
south-west mining field before Cornish mining was ever thought of!
But alas, I guess we will once more be consumed by the all powerful Cornish
(poor man) lobby which we in Devon for whatever reason do not have access
to.
Trevor Dunkerley
Visit http://www.histarc-hands.co.uk for the historical and archaeological
North Devon Scene.
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