St Paul's Churchyard-The Miners Church- Gulworthy, Devon
N 50° 32.023 W 004° 11.502
30U E 415544 N 5598652
St Paul's Churchyard at Gulworthy is sited just off the A390 in the Tamar valley. The Church and surrounding churchyard is part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site.
Waymark Code: WM4QGA
Location: United Kingdom
Date Posted: 09/20/2008
Views: 8
The Tamar valley is now quiet and the mines have been closed for many years. However back in the middle of the nineteenth century the area was the largest copper producer in Europe. At that time more than 7000 people worked in or on the mines. In 1856 the Duke of Bedford, the main land owner, gave money and land for the building of St Paul's Church and the school next door. He wanted to help with the mining families' spiritual as well as their educational needs. Later in the century the mines started to close and the miners were forced to find employment elsewhere. The men and their families immigrated to all parts of the world. Their descendants travel from places such Australia and Canada to visit this little church to see the graves of their ancestors. Sadly gravestones were for the rich families and not for the poor miners who often succumbed to disease and accident in the mines.
Name of church or churchyard: St Paul's Churchyard, Gulworthy
Approximate Size: Large (100+)
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