25th April 2009 - Trevithick day - Camborne Hill
Richard Trevithick was making high-pressure steam engines. He mounted one on a road carriage and on Christmas Eve 1801 drove some friends up Camborne Hill.
The final leg of the Trevithick day steam parade recreates the climbing of camborne Hill, or to be correct Tehidy Road up into Fore Street.
First comes the replica of the 1801 engine,
Puffin Devil "going up Camborne Hill".
The story goes that they hit a pothole and the vehicle lurched over. Whilst celebrating in a pub, the boiler ran dry and the carriage burst into flames.
This test run was the inspiration for a very familar Cornish Folk song.
Going up Camborne Hill, coming down,
Going up Camborne Hill, coming down,
The horses stood still,
The wheels went around,
Going up Camborne Hill, coming down.
Tradition has it that children place coins on the hill.
only to be flattened by the steam rollers.
The drivers need all their concentration to get to the top of the hill.
going up Camborne Hill, going down,
going up Camborne Hill, going down,
The horses stood still,
The wheels went around,
going up Camborne Hill, going down.
Click here for more information on Trevithick day.
Click here for more information on the Trevithick Society.
18 April
Gorseth Kernow proclamation
25 April
Trevithick day
Steam Engine parade
Camborne
