A HISTORY OF CORNWALL The Camborne Engineering Works, owned by Messrs. Holman Brothers, were established in the year 1839, by Mr. John Holman, father of the present proprietors. The name of Holman has been long and honourably associated with mine engineering and manu- facture. The genesis of the present works and their successful career must be sought in the family annals. As far back as the 1 8th century the Holmans were men of repute as smiths and mechanics. In the year 1802 Nicholas Holman, grandfather of Messrs. John H. and James M. Holman, established what is now known as the Cornwall Boiler Works, at Roskear. This was mainly due to the large demands of Richard Trevithick, who in the same year ran the first successful locomotive on the turnpike roads of Camborne. The progress of the Boiler Works was greatly helped by the introduction of high- pressure steam, which revolutionized the existing form of boilers. Nicholas Holman had four sons, all of whom became boiler-makers, or iron founders, namely : Nicholas Holman, at St. Just, James Holman who carried on the boiler works at Pool, William Holman, manager of the boiler works at Cop- perhouse, and John Holman, of the works at Camborne. In 1880 Mr. Holman handed over the business to his two sons, since when the works have been considerably enlarged, and the business has been developed to an extent that has placed it in a foremost position amongst mining engi- neering firms. The works at Wesley Street, Camborne, known as the ' Engineering Department,' cover over six-and-a-half acres of land, and employ many hundreds of persons, and are equipped with the most modern machinery. In another part of the town the firm have a Rock Drill Depart- ment, with a capacity for an annual output of more than a thousand drills. As far back as 1882 the 'Holman,' then known as the ' Cornish ' Drill, had established a high reputa- tion for excellence and efficiency. A large num- ber of the Holman drills are in use in the South African and other foreign mines. At Roskear are situated Messrs. Holman's Cornwall Boiler Works which date back a century, and are equipped with every appli- ance for coping with present-day demands. Here boilers of all descriptions are made. The Docks Foundry, Falmouth, belonging to Messrs. Cox & Co., was established for the pur- pose of building iron and steel vessels, marine engines, etc., and for ships' repairs, and em- ployed at the beginning from 1 5 to 20 persons only. The work carried out by this enterprising firm includes the building of steam trawlers, steel, iron and composite steam yachts, barges, tugs, passen- ger tenders, and marine engineering of all kinds. Shipbreaking is a branch of the business added of late years. The works are equipped with the most mod- ern pneumatic and hydraulic plant for drilling, riveting, caulking, and other operations. They comprise two forge shops, with three steam ham- mers, fitting and erecting shops, brass and iron foundry, with three large drying stoves, copper- smiths' shop, boiler-yard, and two ship-yards, with six covered building sheds ; also pattern- makers', boat-builders' and joiners' departments fitted with up-to-date machinery. Messrs. Cox & Co. have a private wharf with large lifting shears at the end ; from the wharf a branch line runs past the various portions of the works to the Great Western Railway system. The firm make their own forgings, and can turn in lathe to 10 ft., and build boilers up to 14 ft. in diameter. On the closing of Perran Foundry the firm made provision for dealing with heavier castings and forgings and larger general engine work than they had hitherto attempted. The number of workpeople varies according to the work in hand, from about 500 to 600. The works were originated in the year 1868 by Joseph G. Cox, Henry H. Cox, and C. Far- ley, trading as Cox, Farley & Co. Ten years later Mr. Farley's connexion with the firm ceased, the remaining partners continuing as Cox & Co. In December, 1901, these gentle- men disposed of the business to the present proprietors, Messrs. Herbert Henry Cox, Walter R. Cox, Ernest G. Cox, Alfred Cox, and William D. Cox. With regard to Budge's Foundry at Tucking- mill, one of the earliest, perhaps the earliest in the county, the following references appear in Francis Trevithick's Life of Richard Trevi- thick : ' Richard Trevithick, senr.'s account- book, closing in 1775, states that Mr. Budge was paid, for erecting Dolcoath engine, 63.' Elsewhere we read : ' Mr. Budge was the work- ing engineer erecting it (Dolcoath engine).' We also read of ' Budge's Foundry ' and ' Budge, a clever mechanic, who had a foundry at Tuck- ingmill.' The writer has been informed by Mr. Leonard W. B. Smith, that in turning over family documents he found that a Mr. Budge was resident in Tuckingmill in 1765. This person was probably the iron-founder of that name. One of the earliest of Cornish foundries was that of Messrs. Thomas Reed and Co., situated at Tarrandean, Perranarworthal, and was built some years before the Perran Foundry in the same parish. It was known as Tarrandean Foundry. The foundry was closed before 1805. The St. Agnes Foundry, situated about half a mile from Trevaunance Quay, St. Agnes, was originated by Messrs. Thomas and Son, and some years later was acquired by Mr. William Vivian, founder of the Tuckingmill Works. A Mr. Curtis afterwards took over the works, but owing to his bankruptcy, they were closed for about ten years. 574
