About our Tin

All About Our Tin

The South Crofty Collection was launched in 1988 with just two designs - an ingot and Celtic cross - and the project was an instant success. From humble beginnings, the Collection has grown to become a leading retailer of Cornish tin jewellery and gifts. Each item is designed and crafted by hand here in Cornwall for customers across the world.

South Crofty was the last operating tin mine in Cornwall. Following its closure in 1998, some of the last reserves of ore were stockpiled especially for the South Crofty Collection. This partly processed ore continues to be smelted in batches to meet the ongoing needs of the workshop.

The South Crofty Collection attracts customers from around the world, many searching for 10th anniversary gifts. This occasion is a major milestone in your journey through life together and is traditionally celebrated with a gift of tin. For gifts and ideas for celebrating your 10 year anniversary, you canread our guide here.

Each item is presented in a quality gift box and issued with a certificate of authentication explaining the origin of our tin and a brief history of Cornish tin mining.

We are delighted to offer you the opportunity to own a little bit of Cornish heritage and a special piece of Cornwall.

History of Cornish Tin Mining

Archaeological evidence suggests that the tin industry in Cornwall began over 2500 years ago. References to merchants trading with Cornish tinners are found among the most ancient writings of Greek and Roman geographers. The rare and valuable tin produced in Cornwall was taken all over the known world.

These pioneering Cornishmen streamed the valleys and mined the veins visible in cliffs and hillsides. Throughout medieval times the “tinners” were regarded as special people. Charters granted by King John and Edward III gave them unique rights and privileges.

Cornishmen are justly proud of their mining heritage, which at its peak, between 1750 and 1850, firmly established Cornwall as the centre of the hard rock mining world. Apart from supplying most of the world’s tin and copper, Cornwall’s vast experience in hard rock mining developed unique skills among its miners which were later put to work in mines throughout the world. Landowners, mineral lords and speculators made vast fortunes.

With the arrival of steam power in the 18th Century Cornish mining engineers pioneered and developed the massive beam engines, which have helped the mines to operate at ever-greater depths. Working in majestic granite engine houses, the remains of which dominate much of the Cornish countryside today, they could either pump water and raise ore and men from mines or provide power and water for the crushing stamps and ore dressing floors at surface on which thousands of Cornish men, women and children worked.

The decline of the industry in the mid 19th Century resulted in thousands of Cornish miners taking their families and their skills overseas to the developing mining areas of Australia, the Americas and South Africa. It is still said that wherever there is a mine you will probably find a Cornishman at the bottom of it!

The South Crofty Mine

The South Crofty Mine had seen continual working for tin and copper since medieval times, an unbroken record of mining activity had been kept since 1670.

During the 1830’s the mine, then know as East Wheal Crofty and producing copper, was the premier mine in the district. Later split into smaller units, the South Wheal Crofty section was eventually to become the largest Cornish mine in history.

By the end of the 1880’s tin had once again become the focus of the persistent and skilful search by Cornish miners deep underground.

From a tiny operation about 100 feet long, less than 100 feet deep and working a single main lode during the reign of Elizabeth I, South Crofty Mine grew to almost 2 ¼ miles long, 3000 feet deep and has mined over 40 different lodes. South Crofty produced more ore than any other Cornish mine.

Despite the benefits of modern technology and the unrivalled mining skills of its workforce, extraction methods at South Crofty remained remarkably similar to those used by previous generations of Crofty miners and up until it’s closure were still physically demanding and labour intensive.

Our Special Tin

South Crofty was the last operating tin mine in Cornwall. Following its closure in 1998, some of the last reserves of ore were stockpiled especially for the South Crofty Collection.

This partly processed ore continues to be smelted in batches to meet the ongoing needs of the workshop.

All of our items are made from this tinand come with a certificate of provenance to ensure that the jewellery you buy from us is made from the tin extracted from the South Crofty mine.