Located on the old London to Land’s End trunk road, Redruth is a historic market town in the heart of Cornwall. In the 18th century, it flourished with the demand for copper ore to fuel the Industrial Revolution and grew into a hub for one of Britain’s largest mining regions.
Things to do in Redruth
In the heart of Redruth is Murdoch House, a Grade II-listed building erected in the 17th century as a chapel and later became a prison. It was here that William Murdoch lived from 1782 to 1798 while building engines for the local tin and copper mines. Now beautifully restored, the house hosts meetings of the Redruth Old Cornwall Society and lies alongside the peaceful St Rumon's Gardens.
On the edge of Redruth is Kresen Kernow, which houses the world's largest collection of documents and photographs related to Cornwall's history. It was designed by the renowned architectural firm Purcell and incorporates the historic buildings of the old Redruth Brewery. A highlight of the collection is the Tregellas Tapestries, which depict the region’s past through embroidery.
While exploring Redruth, you can’t miss the two-metre-tall bronze statue of a Cornish miner created by artist David Annand. To learn more about the area’s mining heritage, head to the East Pool Mine, a National Trust-run property that operated from the early 18th century until 1945. It preserves two beam engines and a towering shaft chimney, which watches over the Industrial Discovery Centre.
Getting around Redruth
Redruth is just over an hour’s drive from Plymouth and a little under two hours from Exeter Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Regular trains connect to the Redruth railway station and buses travel through the town. The centre of Redruth is compact enough to explore on foot.