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Cornwall鈥檚 Steam Heritage

Ian Marchant celebrates a Cornish steam pioneer and the mark his inventions made on the British landscape.

Ian Marchant finds the streets of Camborne alive and hissing with the sound of steam traction engines. It鈥檚 Trevithick Day, commemorating Richard Trevithick, the inventor of the first steam-powered vehicle. As Ian finds out, the invention was a step towards the mechanisation of farming and road building, as well as the development of railways. Ian visits the preserved East Pool Tin Mine and hears how Trevithick鈥檚 innovation in high pressure steam-pumping engines contributed to the 19th century mining boom in Cornwall and around the world. He finds out how Trevithick's inventions have left their mark on the British landscape. Back in Camborne, Trevithick Day culminates with steam engines saluting the great man鈥檚 statue in a whistling drive past. Peep peep!

Presenter: Ian Marchant
Producer: Sarah Swadling

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24 minutes

Last on

Sat 25 Jun 2022 06:07

Broadcasts

  • Thu 23 Jun 2022 15:00
  • Sat 25 Jun 2022 06:07

Podcast