HOME | DD

ajcallaway — Gwennap Pit -2-

Published: 2009-05-08 23:59:42 +0000 UTC; Views: 116; Favourites: 1; Downloads: 0
Redirect to original
Description Gwennap Pit, Nr Redruth, Cornwall.

Info below from :[link]

"A depression caused by mining subsidence was subsequently used as an open air preaching pit. It dates from the mid-eighteenth century. It is located in what was the greatest copper mining district of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, and one of the most densely populated areas at the time.

Located just to the south of Redruth on the eastern slopes of Carn Marth, its fame is due largely to the preachings of John Wesley, who used the pit on 18 occasions from 1776-89. He greatly exaggerated its size (he put it at 200x300ft and 50ft deep) and it is possible that the same applies to his estimate that his largest audience was 32,000. In his memory the local people excavated the pit in 1806 into a regular oval 37m across and 8m deep. They added 13 rows of turf seats. A Whit-Monday service has been held there since 1807, and it has been used for other purposes, eg. Chartists met in 1839, and there was a theatre performance in 1951."
Related content
Comments: 1

Kernow-Photography [2009-05-12 12:10:27 +0000 UTC]

fascinating little place this, just up road from my parents.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0