This innovative project saw the historic mining landscape around Phoenix United Mine (located in Area A9 - Caradon Mining District of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site) reconstructed within Minecraft. With the fantastic support and technical expertise of the team at Liskeard Library, the result was a dynamic and immersive experience that captured the imagination of everyone involved.

Working in partnership with the Cornwall Young Archaeology Club, Cornwall National Landscape, and Liskeard Library, the project set out to uncover the Caradon Mining District’s rich mining heritage and bring it vividly to life. By blending fieldwork with digital technology, participants were able to explore, interpret, and ultimately rebuild their local heritage in an interactive virtual world.

Project Aims

The Pick Axes to Pixels project explored how digital tools can transform heritage education by:

• Demonstrating how platforms like Minecraft can support learning and engagement
• Helping young people understand archaeological processes through hands-on activities
• Using virtual reconstruction to recreate and interpret historic mining sites, complete with signage and embedded information
• Integrating Cornish language into the learning experience

Day One: Exploring the Landscape

The first day took place around Minions on Bodmin Moor, where members of the Cornwall Young Archaeology Club visited Phoenix United Mine and its surrounding landscape. The visit was expertly facilitated by Iain Rowe and Tanya Brown, whose guidance helped bring the site and its history to life for participants.

Walking through the remains of this once-thriving industrial site gave participants a powerful sense of scale and history. The group explored not only the standing structures but also the wider archaeological landscape, identifying features such as:

• The Hurlers stone circles
• A network of railway tracks that once transported coal to the site in exchange for tin and copper
• Stone boundary walls, dressing floors, and spoil heaps

Participants also carried out a hands-on measured survey of the mine, recording wall dimensions and creating plans that would form the basis for their digital reconstructions the following day.

A visit to the former Count House provided valuable insight into the administrative heart of the mine and its role in the wider mining story.

Adding another layer of learning, the group used Cornish language flashcards to explore words connected to mining, landscape, and ecology - embedding local language and culture into their experience.

Day Two: Recreating the Past in Minecraft

The group gathered at Liskeard Library for the second phase of their adventure - transforming their fieldwork into a digital world.

Using a bespoke Minecraft environment created by Digital Facilitator Mark Blake, participants worked collaboratively to recreate the mining landscape they had explored. Guided by their own notes, sketches, and measurements, they constructed:

• Engine houses
• Beam engines
• Mine buildings and processing areas
• Mine shafts
• The wider industrial landscape

The library quickly became a hub of creativity and collaboration, with ideas flowing as young archaeologists translated real-world evidence into virtual structures. The integration of Cornish language, supported by the themed flashcards, added further depth to their builds.

The results were nothing short of extraordinary - detailed, thoughtful reconstructions that brought Cornwall’s mining heritage vividly to life in a format that is accessible, engaging, and future-facing. Take a journey through the amazing landscape created in Minecraft on our YouTube channel.

Inspiring the Next Generation

The energy, teamwork, and focus displayed throughout the project highlighted the potential of combining heritage education with digital skills. Participants not only gained a deeper understanding of Cornwall’s mining past but also developed new ways of thinking about how history can be shared and experienced.

This two-day programme formed part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site’s 20th anniversary celebrations, offering a hands-on opportunity for young people aged 8–16 to connect with their local heritage in a meaningful and creative way.

Acknowledgements

This project would not have been possible without the support and collaboration of:

• Cornwall National Landscape, through the Natural Beauty and the Beast project
• The National Lottery Heritage Fund
• Iain Rowe and James Richards - Cornwall National Landscape
• Mark Blake and Ed Hart - Liskeard Library
• Tanya Brown - Cornwall Young Archaeology Club

A special thank you goes to the Liskeard Library team, whose enthusiasm, support, creativity, and technical expertise turned an ambitious idea into an inspiring reality.

Looking Ahead

Pick Axes to Pixels has shown just how powerful it can be to bring together archaeology, technology, and community engagement. By enabling young people to explore the past and rebuild it in a digital space, the project has opened up exciting new possibilities for the future of heritage interpretation.

We successfully applied to be part of the event and were lucky enough to present at this prestigious national venue for the first time. We invited partners from Cornish Lithium and Camborne School of Mines to accompany us and share their pioneering work with the thousands of people who attended.

The Science Museum collaborated with UNESCO UK for this special evening of the Museum’s popular “Lates” events to showcase how their work contributes to making the world a better place for all. Three other UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Stonehenge, Maritime Greenwich and the Forth Bridge, alongside other internationally important environmental organisations like the British Antarctic Survey were among the other exhibitors. Set amongst the Science Museum’s collections with interactive displays, ground-breaking technology with some of the leading experts in science and heritage; the exhibits brought the museum and the UK’s science to life.

We spoke to a huge number of people about our Cornish mining heritage and its significance especially in relation to the fantastic work being undertaken by Camborne School of Mines and Cornish Lithium. The all-women team were lucky enough to speak to visitors from all walks of life with all levels of knowledge on the subject; we even had a big number of Cornish visit us at the event! A huge thank you to all the Cornish who came we are particularly grateful for your support. A particular thank you to Mark of Kernow in the City and Wreckers Wednesdays who got the word out to the Cornish in London and came down himself. Also a big thank you to Fiona from Cornwall 365 for coming to see us!

Situated in the making of the modern world gallery, the backdrop to our exhibit was the Puffing Billy; the world’s oldest surviving steam locomotive built in 1813-1814 weighing in at approximately 8 tons. Although the Puffing Billy is not Cornish, with Trevithick’s High Pressure Steam Engine and Boiler in sight in the adjacent Energy Hall we felt right at home!

Lucy Crane; Senior Exploration Geologist at Cornish Lithium and Hester Claridge; also an Exploration Geologist with Cornish Lithium were on hand to talk with people about what their phones are made of and where the raw materials come from, including how much of it comes from Cornwall. The ladies even had a selection from the Camborne School of Mines mineral collection with them allowing people to get hands on with the raw materials in their phones.

Cornish Lithium at the Science Museum, LondonCornish Lithium’s display also included an audio visual presentation showing the evolution of knowledge of our geological resources, from the early historic surveys and mapping of mines in our World Heritage Site to modern day GIS mapping and 3D modelling techniques.

With the Cornish Exhibit having crowds more than 5 people deep encircling them for most of the night and even having a last minute rush as the event was closing; it was clear how many people are in awe of Cornwall’s mining culture and the potential of responsible mining.

Karen Hudson-Edwards; Professor in Sustainable Mining at Camborne School of Mines, give a series of presentations throughout the evening on the theme of “Discovering the Treasures beneath our feet”- an illustrated talk exploring the mineral resources beneath Cornwall and Devon, and how the region is pioneering sustainable mining techniques to extract these essential materials for modern communications and carbon reduction technologies. The room was packed with standing room only at both talks and was given wonderful feedback by those in attendance.

This fantastic event gave us the opportunity to take those in attendance on a journey through time in the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site, finding out about the Earth treasures this amazing landscape holds, how these are essential to our everyday lives, and how we mine them today. Cornwall has always been and is now still at the forefront of mining technology and that doesn’t look to be changing any time soon. We were extremely proud to be able to showcase Kernow; our beautiful People visiting the Cornish Lithium stand at the Science Museumhome and all it has to offer through both its mining heritage and its potential to provide a renewable future.

We want to say a huge thank you to Cornish Lithium and Camborne School of Mines for their support especially to Lucy Crane, Hester Claridge and Karen Hudson-Edwards for their fantastic work. We would also like to say thank you to all who came to see us, Thank you to all involved in this wonderful event for making it such an experience.

Background on our partners

Camborne School of Mines

Camborne School of Mines is a world-class combined mining school and geoscience department, rich in history and culture for over 125 years. They provide academic education and professional training in geoscience and mining for their many students, as well as offering a number of unique and innovative programmes designed for individuals working within the extraction industries. Their research covers a range of geoscience subjects, and focuses on many key areas including past environmental change, volcanic hazards, deep Earth processes, intelligent mining, efficiency and safety, critical raw materials, and sustainable mining. CSM has a long history of successful partnerships with both national and international companies and projects, playing a vital role by providing innovative solutions to global energy, natural resource, and environmental issues.

Cornish Lithium

Cornish Lithium is using modern exploration techniques and digital technology to re-evaluate Cornwall’s mineral potential in the light of the battery revolution. Cornwall has a world-class mineral endowment but has stood idle for decades. The battery revolution provides the impetus and opportunity to explore for raw materials that are vital to modern technologies. Cornish Lithium believes that the extraction of lithium, in combination with geothermal energy, has the potential to rejuvenate the economy of Cornwall and to provide much needed high-value employment across the county. The Company is primarily focussed on extracting lithium from known occurrences in brine and in hard-rock. Cornish Lithium is also evaluating the potential in Cornwall for other metals, particularly those that are vital to modern technologies such as electric vehicles and power storage batteries.

“The distinctiveness of Cornish Mining culture should be celebrated, promoted and propagated” (CMWHS Management Plan).

The project was developed and delivered by Golden Tree Productions in consultation with the CMWHS to meet both cultural and learning priorities, testing the proposal that: “Combining cultural and learning activities is a cost-effective high-impact strategy for communicating the CMWHS key aims”. 

Interventions, training, learning sessions and celebratory events were held in three locations; the Tamar Valley, Pool and Hayle. 

The Cornish Mining World Heritage Site (CMWHS) commissions cultural events and activities as an element of, and as a means for communicating, the Outstanding Universal Value. 

“The distinctiveness of Cornish Mining culture should be celebrated, promoted and propagated” (WHS Management Plan) 

On the subject of creativity UNESCO have made the following statement: 

“Creativity contributes to building open, inclusive and pluralistic societies. Both heritage and creativity lay the foundations for vibrant, innovative and prosperous knowledge societies. “ 

Geevor Consultancy 

Clint Hoskin, Learning Officer at Geevor Tin Mine was commissioned to support the project on a consultancy basis. Clint aided in the planning and delivery of training to artists, staff and volunteers and also delivered direct sessions in schools. This gave the entire project a solid foundation of Cornish Mining expertise and access to authentic resources. 

Key achievements: 

· The 1200 target engagement figure was more than doubled, with a final number of people engaged in schools and community sectors reaching 2892 

· Additional funds were secured from the National Trust and First Great Western 

· This represents one person engaged for approximately £8 of spend 

· Significant in-kind support came from Heritage sites and from commercial partners (Asda, Terrill’s Foundry, First Great Western) 

· All responding teachers demonstrated an increase in the knowledge of CMWHS and said that their schools had benefitted from participating 

· Heritage sites reported an increase in their knowledge of and engagement with the CMWHS Learning Strategy 

· 8 out of the 9 participating schools agreed that deploying artists was an effective way to learn about CMWHS 

· All participating heritage sites reported benefits to their organisations, principally increased visibility 

Perthi  Kov is an unincorporated, non-profit making community group that has been set up to research, devise, write, rehearse and present story walks, harvesting stories of lives lived and framing their meaning for contemporary eyes.  The group consists of the local community, professional artists interested in community engagement, choir leaders, historians, Church members and professionals working with other community groups and schools.

‘Until the Day Break’ - were story walks held in the two graveyards at the Miner’s Church St Euny, Redruth, bringing selected ‘residents’ to life to tell their stories on four evenings in May 2017.  The walks featured performance, storytelling, song and visual installations.  Several story-gathering events were held where people were able to share memories of relatives buried there and we were able to share stories, gathered through our historical research.  Stories gathered in audio and written form were responsibly archived. Stories were also recorded in collaboration with BBC Radio Cornwall for broadcast.

The story walks and digital archive told stories of people involved in many different aspects of Cornish mining life – Peter Renfree, who ran the Penhallick Fuseworks, Jane Harvey, wife of John Harvey, mine engineer, two of whose children were born in Cobre, Cuba, Captain Charles F Bishop who managed Wheal Grenville, Catherine Tonkin, wife of the Mayor of Geelong, South Australia, James Gill and Mary Angove, a young couple who left Redruth to find fortune in Colorado  – celebrating Cornish ingenuity, entrepreneurship and resilience. The project was particularly interested in revealing and celebrating the life stories of women, whose contribution to the great mining adventure is so often overlooked. 

The young mothers from WILD Young Parents Project created a magical memory box installations to decorate the lych gate and churchyard, celebrating the lives of women there that they feel a connection with. As well as the performances, local artists/creators created contemporary souvenir artworks for this project which celebrate our mining heritage and the mining landscape around St Euny Church. 

St Euny is the Miner’s Church, situated as it is on the eastern section of the Great Flat Lode. It sits at the northern end of Church Coombe, just below the workings at Wheal Basset and the stamps and smelter buildings at Seleggan. The Cornish Mining World Heritage Site Office had previously resourced excellent interpretation boards in the lych gate and graveyard.  

St Euny’s graves map the rich and varied history of Cornish life – stories of migration, fabulous wealth and intense poverty, infant mortality, mine accidents, trepanning doctors, cholera epidemics, long marriages (and very short ones).  The people the project researched have strong connections to the mining diaspora in Cuba, Colorado and Australia, testament to the huge impact Cornish mining skills and technology had globally. Peter Renfree’s story describes one of the ancillary industries – fuse and explosives manufacture and its attendant risks. 

We expect to work with a wide range of ages and backgrounds, making contact with groups through WILD Young Parents Project, the Red River and Ingleheart choirs, Scary Little Girls, the Church, Pool School, Redruth Town Council and Youth Council, connecting them to the extraordinary history of their community.  

The programme of community events invited people to help create a lasting legacy for future generations. A series of tea parties were held in Redruth in order to talk to local people in the community to collect their stories of the lives of family and friends buried at St Euny.  The church congregation were also engaged at services and church festivals. 

Audiences for the story walks experienced a vivid window on the lives of their predecessors, enabling a deeper understanding and respect for their challenges and achievements.

EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES

The project team had involvement with WILD Young Parents Project who work with special needs young mums/mums to be age 20 and under and their children. These young people had a visual presence by their work making and displaying memory boxes.  

The Redruth Youth Council will be involved in various activities on the project – performance, research, music, stage management, evaluation etc. They will also be our key ambassadors in enrolling other young people into the project.

Drama students from Pool Academy and Redruth School will form an integral part of our project and this will become a part of their curriculum activities from the beginning of the New Year 2017.

Perthi Kov team members and volunteers have received training from Azook in collecting oral history records, in order to make them fully accessible and useful for future generations.

About 1200 people benefited directly from the project through participating in it or witnessing the performances.  In the region of 9,000 people benefited through the improvement of access to the graveyard and through the availability of new material in local archives, through broadcast of the stories by the BBC and through publication online and on social media.  

Visit http://www.perthikov.org.uk/until-the-daybreak/ for more.

Edward Rowe has developed an immersive learning experience called the Cornish Caretakers where he explores different characters from Cornish history or culture as part of an interactive performance. The Cornish Caretakers show has previously educated school children on the work of Cornwall Heritage Trust and Kresen Kernow; both shows were excellently well-received across Cornwall, even having showings at Royal Cornwall in Cornwall Heritage Trust’s tent. In this newly developed version the Cornish Caretakers will explore 6 characters from Cornwall and west Devon mining history to teach the children about the Cornwall and west Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site.

It was all hands on deck in the development of the mining show.  Mr Rowe called on Cornish engineering and carpentry students from Cornwall College, St Austell, asking them to create a replica of the famous "Puffing Devil"; Camborne inventor and engineer Richard Trevithick’s first steam powered road vehicle. Edward had already worked with the College on a similar project for his ‘Trevithick’ show. His design brief for this Puffing Devil was to make it smaller and more manageable to transport to local primary schools.

Edward has explained that the engineering students have “brought something special back to life." He added, "It seems so authentic and I am thrilled. It’s fantastic.”

The students worked collaboratively to bring the woodwork and engineering together. This improved communication skills between the students which is key within all trades.

Level 2 Engineering student at Cornwall College, Jack Spencer, said working on this project was “brilliant”. “I feel I’ve really improved on my existing skills and we can show future employers a fantastic project which we have worked on. “The steam engine is very realistic, it puffs and it has a smoke machine inside. I think it is brilliant that Kernow King will really encourage more young people to get into engineering.”

Luke Bazeley the Course Manager for Engineering at Cornwall College St Austell said the students should be “really proud of how well they have worked as a team."

The Cornish Mining version of the show starred Edward Rowe alongside Cornish actress Kate Edney as the “Cornish Caretakers”. The show was created by Palores Productions and Cornish Director Simon Harvey. Not only does the show star the “Puffing Devil” replica but the World Heritage Site Team provided a selection of Cornish mineral samples for the children to handle and learn how they are used in items such as electronics, machinery and rechargeable batteries. Some of these samples are so rare that single locations in Cornwall are the only place they are found, anywhere in the world.

Edward also worked with the World Heritage Site Office to produce a, one of a kind, mining inspired board game “Mines and Ladders”, specifically for the project. The board game takes the children on a journey across Cornwall with real life mining highs and lows moving them forward and back.

The World Heritage Site team said “We have been thrilled to be able to support this version of Cornish Caretakers. Having current engineering students involved has added so much value. Working with Edward Rowe has been an absolute pleasure; his passion for our mining heritage and Cornwall in general is wonderful and his creative approach has allowed us to reach children in such an engaging way. The show is a fantastic celebration of our mining heritage. It is sure to inspire the next generation of world changing engineers and miners!”

The production toured primary schools throughout the World Heritage Site and beyond in Cornwall and West Devon in early 2020.