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{{short description|Town and civil parish in Cornwall, England}}
{{for-multi|the township in Australia|Burra, South Australia#Redruth{{!}}Redruth, South Australia|the suburb of Timaru|Redruth, New Zealand}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2015}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2009}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name = Redruth
| country = England
| region = South West England
| static_image_name = Redruth.jpg
| static_image_caption = Fore Street, Redruth town centre
| population = 15,634
| population_ref = ''(2021)''
| os_grid_reference = SW699420
| coordinates = {{coord|50|13|58|N|05|13|35|W|region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| post_town = REDRUTH
| postcode_area = TR
| postcode_district = TR15
| dial_code = 01209
| constituency_westminster = [[Camborne and Redruth (UK Parliament constituency)|Camborne and Redruth]]
| civil_parish = Redruth
| unitary_england = [[Cornwall Council|Cornwall]]
| lieutenancy_england = [[Cornwall]]
| cornish_name = Resrudh
| website = {{URL|https://www.discoverredruth.co.uk}}
| static_image_2 = 
| static_image_2_caption = 
| type = [[Town]] and [[civil parish]]
}}

'''Redruth''' ({{IPAc-en|r|ə|ˈ|d|r|uː|θ}} {{respell|rə|DROOTH|'}}, {{langx|kw|Resrudh}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.magakernow.org.uk/pdf/placename_masterlist.pdf|title=List of Place-names agreed by the MAGA Signage Panel|access-date=11 January 2015|publisher=Cornish Language Partnership|date=May 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729194902/http://www.magakernow.org.uk/pdf/placename_masterlist.pdf|archive-date=29 July 2014}}</ref>) is a town and [[civil parishes in Cornwall|civil parish]] in [[Cornwall]], England, United Kingdom. According to the 2011 census, the population of Redruth was 14,018<ref>Office for National Statistics, Key Figures for 2011 Census: Key Statistics, Area: Redruth parish</ref> In the same year the population of the [[Camborne]]-Redruth urban area, which also includes [[Carn Brea, Redruth|Carn Brea]], [[Illogan]] and several outlying villages, stood at 55,400<ref name="Town populations">{{cite web|title=Data from the 2011 Census (Office for National Statistics)|url=http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=31822|publisher=Cornwall Council|access-date=15 November 2013}}</ref> which made it the largest conurbation in Cornwall. Redruth lies approximately at the junction of the [[Great Britain road numbering scheme|A]]393 and A3047 roads, on the route of the old London to [[Land's End]] trunk road (now the [[A30 road|A30]]), and is approximately  {{convert|9|mi|km}} west of [[Truro]], {{convert|12|mi|km}} east of [[St Ives, Cornwall|St Ives]], {{convert|18|mi|km}} north east of [[Penzance]] and {{convert|11|mi|km}} north west of [[Falmouth, Cornwall|Falmouth]]. [[Camborne]] and Redruth together form the largest urban area in Cornwall and before local government reorganisation were an [[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|urban district]].

[[File:Celtic wooden cross - Redruth - New Cut Car Park.jpg|thumb|upright|Celtic wooden cross in New Cut Car Park]]

==Toponymy==
The form ''Unyredruth'' ([[Euny]] being the patron saint) is recorded in 1563.<ref>Weatherhill, Craig (2009) ''A Concise Dictionary of Cornish Place-Names'' Westport, Mayo: Evertype; p. 59</ref> Earlier forms are ''Ridruthe'' (1259), ''Rudruth'' (1283) and ''Riddruth'' (1291).<ref>Ekwall, Eilert (1940) ''The Concise Dictionary of English Place-names''; 2nd ed. Oxford: Clarendon Press; p. 366</ref>

The name Redruth derives from its older Cornish name, {{lang|oco|Rhyd-ruth}}, meaning 'red ford' — literally 'ford-red': the first syllable {{lang|oco|rhyd}} means 'ford'; the second {{lang|kw|ruth}} means 'red'.

{{lang|kw|Rhyd}} is the older form of {{lang|oco|res}}, which is a Cornish equivalent to a [[ford (crossing)|ford]] (across a river), a common Celtic word: Old Cornish {{lang|oco|rid}}, [[Welsh language|Welsh]] {{Lang|cy|rhyd}} ([[Old Welsh]] {{lang|owl|rit}}), [[Old Breton]] {{lang|obt|rit}} or {{lang|obt|ret}}, [[Gaulish]] {{lang|xtg|ritu-}}, all from [[Proto-Indo-European language|Indo-European]] {{lang|ine-x-proto|prtus}} derived word in {{lang|ine-x-proto|-tu}} from the root {{lang|ine-x-proto|*per}}, 'to cross, to go through', [[Proto-Germanic language|Proto-Germanic]] {{lang|gem-x-proto|furdúz}} (English ''ford'', [[German language|German]] {{lang|de|Furt}}), [[Latin]] {{Lang|la|portus}}, all [[cognate]] to the Celtic word.<ref>[[Xavier Delamarre]], ''Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise'', éditions errance 2003, p. 258.</ref> 

Again, it is the {{lang|kw|-ruth}} (and not the {{lang|kw|red-}} part of the name) which means the colour red.<ref>Redruth & its people – Michael Tangye – {{ISBN|0-9501872-1-6}}</ref>

[[Béroul]]'s {{lang|xno|Roman de [[Tristan]]}} features a location in Cornwall called {{Lang|xno|Crois Rouge}} in [[Norman language|Norman French]], 'red cross' in English.<ref>[[Béroul]], ''The Romance of Tristan'', Introduction and translation by Alan S. Fedrick</ref>

==History==
{{expand section|date=January 2017}}
[[File:Native Copper from Huelvor near Redruth, Cornwall.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Native Copper]] mineral specimen from Huelvor near Redruth. Hand-colored copper-plate engraving by [[James Sowerby]], 1807.]]
Traditionally in the [[Penwith (hundred)|Penwith Hundred]], the town has developed away from the original settlement, which was near where the present Churchtown (around [[St. Euny]]'s Church) district of Redruth stands today. This location is a steeply wooded valley, with [[Carn Brea, Redruth|Carn Brea]] on one side and the now-called [[Bullers Hill]] on the other. The presence of shallow [[lode]]s of [[tin]] and [[copper]] lying east to west made it an advantageous site for extracting metals, including, tin, [[lead]] and copper. The first settlers stayed by a crossing in the river and started extracting metal ores, and this process turned the colour of the river red.

Historically, Redruth was a small [[market town]] overshadowed by its neighbours until a boom in the demand for copper [[ore]] during the 18th century. Copper ore had mostly been discarded by the Cornish [[tin]]-mining industry but was now needed to make [[brass]], an essential metal in the [[Industrial Revolution]]. Surrounded by copper ore deposits, Redruth quickly became one of the largest and richest mining areas in Britain and the town's population grew markedly, although most miners' families remained poor.{{citation needed|date=July 2015}}

Redruth was connected to the electric telegraph network in 1863 when the [[Electric Telegraph Company|Electric and International Telegraph Company]] opened stations at Truro, Redruth, Penzance, Camborne, Liskard and St Austell.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=The Electric and International Telegraph Co. |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003586/19550407/096/0009  |newspaper=Royal Cornwall Gazette |location=England |date=18 September 1863 |access-date=23 March 2025 |via=British Newspaper Archive }}</ref>

In the 1880s and 1890s the town end of Clinton Road gained a number of institutions, notably a [[School of Metalliferous Mining|School of Mines and Art School]] in 1882–83, St. Andrew's Church (replacing the chapel in Chapel Street) in 1883 and, opposite, the Free Library, built in 1895. The [[Mining Exchange]] was built in 1880 as a place for the trading of mineral stock.

By the end of the 19th century, the Cornish mining industry was in decline and Britain was importing most of its copper ore. To find employment, many miners [[Emigration|emigrated]] to the newer mining industries in the Americas, Pachuca, Mexico, [[Australasia]] and South Africa. By the turn of the 20th century, Victoria Park had been laid out to commemorate the [[Golden Jubilee]] and this part of town had taken on its present appearance – a far cry from the jumble of mining activity that had taken place there in the early 19th century. Redruth was making its transition from a market town dominated by mines and industry to a residential centre. Cornwall's last fully operational mine, [[South Crofty]] at [[Pool, Cornwall|Pool]] between Redruth and [[Camborne]], closed in March 1998.

==Governance==

===Parliamentary representation===
The [[Camborne and Redruth (UK Parliament constituency)|Camborne and Redruth]] [[county constituency|constituency]] was created for the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]], following a review of parliamentary representation in [[Cornwall]] by the [[Boundary Commissions (United Kingdom)|Boundary Commission for England]], which increased the number of seats in the county from five to six.<ref name="BCECornwall">{{cite web|url=http://www.boundarycommissionforengland.org.uk/review_areas/downloads/FR_NR_Cornwall_the_Isles_of_Scilly.doc |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20091102212641/http://www.boundarycommissionforengland.org.uk/review_areas/downloads/FR_NR_Cornwall_the_Isles_of_Scilly.doc |url-status=usurped |archive-date=2 November 2009 |title=Final recommendations for Parliamentary constituencies in the county of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly |publisher=[[Boundary Commission for England]] |date=9 January 2005 |access-date=1 January 2010 }}</ref>
It is primarily a successor to the former [[Falmouth and Camborne (UK Parliament constituency)|Falmouth and Camborne]] seat.

In the [[2024 United Kingdom general election]] the results were:

{{Election box begin|title=[[2024 United Kingdom general election|General election 2024]]: Camborne and Redruth<ref>{{cite web |author1=Kate Kennally |title=Statement of Persons Nominated, Notice of Poll and Situation of Polling Stations – Camborne and Redruth |url=https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/media/g03dtbv5/statement-of-persons-nominated-notice-of-poll-and-situation-of-polling-stations-camborne-and-redruth.pdf |website=[[Cornwall Council]] |access-date=8 June 2024 |date=7 June 2024}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|party=Labour Party (UK)|candidate=[[Perran Moon]]|votes=19,360|percentage=40.5|change=+6.3}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Conservative Party (UK)|candidate=Connor Donnithorne|votes=11,554|percentage=24.2|change=-29.1}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Reform UK|candidate=Roger Tarrant|votes=8,952|percentage=18.7|change=+18.7}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Liberal Democrats (UK)|candidate=Thalia Marrington|votes=4,113|percentage=8.6|change=+0.1}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Green Party of England and Wales|candidate=Catherine Hayes|votes=2,840|percentage=5.9|change=+3.1}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Liberal Party (UK, 1989)|candidate=Paul Holmes|votes=624|percentage=1.3|change=0.0}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Socialist Labour Party (UK)|candidate=Robert Hawkins|votes=342|percentage=0.7|change=+0.7}}
{{Election box majority|votes=7,806|percentage=16.3|change=+2.3|}}{{Election box turnout|votes=48,007|percentage=64.6|change=-7.1|}}
{{Election box gain with party link|winner=Labour Party (UK)|loser=Conservative Party (UK)|swing=+17.7}}
{{Election box end}}

===Local government===
Redruth until the late 1800s comprised the Redruth Urban District and [[Redruth Rural District]]. The urban district was merged with that of [[Camborne]] and parts of Redruth Rural District and [[Helston Rural District]] (both of which were being abolished) in 1934 to form the [[Camborne-Redruth Urban District]]. The urban district persisted until it was merged into the [[Kerrier]] district of Cornwall under the [[Local Government Act 1972]].<ref name=VoB>{{cite web|title=Camborne Redruth UD through time|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit_page.jsp?u_id=10002163#tab02|publisher=[[A Vision of Britain through Time]]|access-date=11 December 2019}}</ref> Redruth is represented on [[Cornwall Council]] by three wards: [[Redruth Central (electoral division)|Redruth Central]], [[Redruth North (electoral division)|Redruth North]] and [[Redruth South (electoral division)|Redruth South]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Cornwall Council Interactive Map |url=https://map.cornwall.gov.uk/website/ccmap/?zoomlevel=5&xcoord=170586&ycoord=42840&wsName=ccmap&layerName=Electoral%20divisions |website=[[Cornwall Council]] |access-date=8 November 2020}}</ref>

====Town council====
The composition of Redruth Town Council as of August 2024:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan=2| Party
! Councillors
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Independent (politician)}}
| 7
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
| 5
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
| 1
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Party (UK, 1989)}}
| 1
|-
! colspan=2| Total
! 14
|-
| colspan=3| Source:<ref>{{cite web | title = Councillors – Redruth Town Council| url = http://www.redruth-tc.gov.uk/Councillors_3417.aspx | publisher = Redruth Town Council | access-date = 11 December 2019}}</ref>
|}

==Education==
[[File:Library (28608161513).jpg|thumb|The Passmore Edwards Free Library]]
[[Redruth School]], a [[Technology College]], is a secondary school, for ages 11–16. It used to have a [[sixth form]], for students aged 11 to 16, however, it closed applications for new students in 2016 and officially closed in 2020 due to funding cuts.
The town used to have a coeducational independent school, [[Highfields Private School]], but it closed in 2012.

Primary schools within the town include Pennoweth School, Treleigh School, Treloweth Community Primary School, Trewirgie Infant School and Trewirgie Junior School.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alltheschools.com/cornwall/redruth.htm|title=Schools in Redruth, Cornwall|work=Schools Directory|publisher=School Creations|access-date=10 August 2014}}</ref>

The Curnow Community Special School caters for students with special needs.

The Passmore Edwards Free Library was built in 1894. Its architect was James Hicks who used a castellated baronial style; there is a prominent octagonal tower. The reading room was once the school of Thomas Collins, where Collins, who had been headmaster of Trewirgie School, taught local children and the children left behind by parents who had emigrated overseas.<ref>Beacham, Peter & Pevsner, Nikolaus (2014). ''Cornwall''. New Haven: Yale University Press. {{ISBN|978-0-300-12668-6}}; p. 471</ref>

==Notable buildings==
[[File:St Uny's Church - geograph.org.uk - 352440.jpg|thumb|St Uny's Church]]
[[File:Old Court House, Penryn Street, Redruth, Cornwall - August 2022.jpg|thumb|The [[Old Courthouse, Redruth|Old Courthouse]]]]
The Parish Church of St Uny, which is some distance from the town centre, is of [[Norman architecture|Norman]] foundation but was rebuilt in 1756; it is grade II* [[listed building|listed]].<ref>{{NHLE|num=1161605  | desc=Church of St Euny |access-date=3 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=St Euny |url=https://redruthchurch.org.uk/st-euny-church/ |website=The Parish of Redruth |access-date=3 December 2024}}</ref> The patron saint is also honoured at Lelant. The tower is two centuries earlier and the whole church is built of granite. A [[chapel of ease]] was built in the town in 1828 but it is no longer in use.<ref name="Pevsner, N. 1970 p. 150">Pevsner, N. (1970) ''Cornwall'', 2nd ed. Penguin Books; p. 150</ref> The parish of St Euny is part of a group ministry with the parishes of Pencoys, Lanner and Treleigh.<ref>[https://redruthchurch.org.uk/our-churches/ Our churches The Parish of Redruth]; accessed 2025-06-02</ref>  Other places of worship include the Wesleyan Church of 1826, the Free Methodist Church of 1864 (in grand Italianate style) and the Quaker Meeting House of 1833 (no longer in use).<ref name="Pevsner, N. 1970 p. 150"/>

The former post office in Alma Place is now the Redruth Civic Centre and home of Redruth Town Council,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Contact Us - Redruth Town Council |url=https://www.redruth-tc.gov.uk/Contact_Us_3280.aspx |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=www.redruth-tc.gov.uk}}</ref> as well as the Redruth Library and Information Service.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Redruth Library and Information Service - Cornwall Council |url=https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/libraries-museums-and-archives/libraries/your-local-library/redruth-library-and-information-service/ |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=www.cornwall.gov.uk}}</ref>

The Mining Exchange building was used as a housing advice centre (it was built in 1880 as accommodation for share brokers).

The [[Old Courthouse, Redruth|Old Courthouse]], which once accommodated the local council, was completed in 1850.<ref>{{NHLE|desc=Old town hall and court house|num=1142565|access-date=6 June 2024}}</ref>

[[File:William Murdoch placque.jpg|thumb|Plaque on Murdoch House]]

===Murdoch House===
[[File:Murdoch House & St. Rumon's Gardens.jpg|thumb|Murdoch House and St Rumon's Gardens]]
The house now called Murdoch (or, sometimes Murdock) House in the middle of Cross Street was erected in the 1660s as a chapel and it afterwards became a prison. [[William Murdoch]] lived in it from 1782 to 1798. During this time, he worked on local tin and copper mines, erecting engines on behalf of [[Boulton and Watt]].
He fitted the house out with [[gas lighting]] from [[coal gas]] – this was the first house in the world with this type of lighting.

In the 19th century, the house was used as a tea room, run by a Mrs Knuckey. In 1931 Mr A. Pearce Jenkin, a leading citizen of Redruth purchased the house and gave it as a gift to the [[Society of Friends]] ([[Quakers]]).<ref>Janet Thomson; ''The Scot Who Lit The World, The Story of William Murdoch Inventor of Gas Lighting''; 2003; {{ISBN|0-9530013-2-6}}</ref>

Murdoch House has since been fully restored and is now regularly used by the Redruth [[Old Cornwall Society]], as well as the Cornish-American Connection and the Redruth Story Group. Next door are [[Media in Cornwall#Cinema|St. Rumon's Gardens]].

===Kresen Kernow===
[[Kresen Kernow]], on the site of [[Redruth Brewery]], houses the archives and collections of the former Cornwall Records Office and Cornish Studies Library.  It also holds the Cornwall Tapestries (the work of the Tregellas Foundation) which depict the history of Cornwall in embroidery.<ref>[https://kresenkernow.org/our-collections/collections-guides/cornwall-tapestries/ The Cornwall Tapestries]; Kresen Kernow; accessed 2025-05-25</ref>

===Tin Miner Statue===
[[File:The Tin Miner - Fore St. Redruth.jpg|thumb|upright|Tin Miner statue]]
A [[bronze sculpture]] of a Cornish miner by artist [[David Annand]] standing at 6 feet 7 inches was erected in April 2008.<ref>[http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144125&command=displayContent&sourceNode=232450&contentPK=20243264&folderPk=108202&pNodeId=251466 thisiscornwall.co.uk news report on the statue]</ref>
The sculpture was commissioned by the Redruth Public Realm Working Party's Mining Art Group in response to comments received during the consultation process, that the town did not have anything to represent the history of the men who worked down the tin and copper mines in the area.
David Annand was selected from over 70 artists who responded to an advert placed by Cornwall Arts Centre Trust, the project managers, for expressions of interest in August 2006.

==21st century==
[[File:Regal Cinema Redruth.jpg|thumb|upright|Regal Cinema (see [[Media in Cornwall]])]]
[[File:Redruth - Fore St at night..jpg|thumb|upright|Redruth's Fore Street at night, showing one of the groups of bronze 'dogs'.]]
[[File:Bond Street Redruth.jpg|thumb|Bond Street, one of the two specialist shopping areas]]
Redruth is a small commercial town. It is [[Town twinning|twinned]] with [[Plumergat]] and Meriadec in Brittany, France; [[Mineral Point, Wisconsin]] in the United States; and [[Real del Monte]] in Mexico.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.redruth-tc.gov.uk/Twinning_3325.aspx|title=Twinning|publisher=Redruth Town Council|access-date=23 October 2019}}</ref> A museum organised by the [[Old Cornwall Society]]<ref>[http://www.redrutholdcornwall.org Redruth Old Cornwall Society.]</ref> is housed in the town council office at the bottom of the main street.

Redruth is also the site of [[Carn Brea, Redruth|Carn Brea]], a hill which has much historical interest. The Carn, however, is not the highest point in Redruth; it is beaten slightly by [[Carnmenellis]], south west of the town centre.

It is home to Cornwall's first ILR radio station, [[Pirate FM]]. On 20 June 2008, the town held its first regular [[farmers' market]] in Market Place: the market will now be held every Friday throughout the year.{{cn|date=May 2025}}

===Sport===
[[Redruth RFC|Redruth Rugby Football Club]] currently play in [[National League 2 South]] (tier 4 of rugby union in England). Players such as [[Phil Vickery (rugby union)|Phil Vickery]], [[Rob Thirlby]] and [[Richard Sharp (rugby union)|Richard Sharp]] OBE have played for the club. A resident of Clinton Road with his mother and brother Nigel, he represented Redruth, Cornwall, and England, leading his country to the [[Six Nations Championship|Five Nations]] title in [[1963 Five Nations Championship|1963]]. Redruth [[association football|football club]] has not enjoyed as much success but still thrives in its regular fixtures. On the high street there is a [[Tang Soo Do]] (Korean Karate) and [[Kickboxing]] Academy named ISK Martial Arts. [[Duchy Hockey Club]] are based at Pool Academy on the outskirts of Redruth and compete in the West of England regional leagues. [[Cricket|Redruth Cricket Club]] currently consists of 4 Men's playing XIs, one women's XI and multiple youth sides. Redruth First XI play in the [[Cornwall Cricket League]] ECB Premier League, coming second in the 2019 season.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Tables|url=https://cornwallcricket.co.uk/adult/cornwall-league/cornwall-cricket-league-tables/|access-date=2020-06-16|website=Cornwall Cricket|language=en-GB}}</ref> The Second XI placed second in County League One, the second division of Cornish Cricket, in the same year.<ref name=":0" />

===Performing arts===
Actress [[Kristin Scott Thomas]], electronic musician [[Luke Vibert]], [[baritone]] [[Benjamin Luxon]], opera singer [[Alan Opie]], record producer and broadcaster Tris Penna, and the co founder of and drummer with [[Fleetwood Mac]], [[Mick Fleetwood]], were all born here. The writer and comedian [[Rory McGrath]] was born here and educated at the town's secondary school, Cornish artist [[Jonathan Polkest]] studied art at The Redruth School of Art in Clinton Road, The musician [[Aphex Twin]] (and friend of Vibert) grew up near Redruth. Luke Vibert has released an album called ''Chicago, Detroit, Redruth'' and has also recorded under the alias ''Kerrier District''; a reference to name of the district in which Redruth is located. [[Hedluv + Passman]] both grew up in Redruth, and wrote the song "'druth" in tribute to the town. The traditional Cornish dance and music group, [[Hevva]] is based in Redruth.

===Scholars and philanthropists===
The historians [[Kenneth Hamilton Jenkin]] and [[Charles Thomas (historian)|Charles Thomas]] were also born in Redruth, and the [[Victorian era|Victorian]] philanthropist [[John Passmore Edwards]] was born in the neighbouring village of Blackwater.

===Town centre shopping===
Key shops and other outlets within the [[town centre]] include a multi-screen [[Cinema (place)|cinema]], a covered [[market (place)|market]] way, an old butter market, various [[antique shop]]s, a second hand [[book shop]] and two supermarkets, plus Greens Newsagents, and the local cash and carry Jims. Off the main street (Fore Street), there are two separate specialist shopping areas, Bond Street (to the south of the [[Redruth railway station|railway station]]) and Green Lane to the north.

===Street landscaping===
Street landscaping in Redruth includes wooden seating, with granite furniture, [[signpost]]s, [[street lights]] and [[litter bin]]s, and two sets of [[bronze]] 'dogs', which were cast from the boots of former tin miners by sculptor David Kemp. The town has a burgundy colour theme, which is in the [[public realm]] regeneration work to highlight the town's name. A project to light various [[public buildings]] around the town with [[LED]] coloured lights has already begun. Some of the buildings opposite the railway station and St Rumon's Gardens have now (April 2008) been completed.

===Environment awards===
On 7 November 2007, Redruth jointly won (with [[Luton]]) the annual UK town centre environment awards, which are run by the BCSC (a retail property consortium).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bcsc.org.uk/news_art.asp?news_id=319 |publisher=BCSC |title= Environment award details|date=23 June 2022 }}</ref> The judges praised the cast bronze 'dogs'<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/7083063.stm |publisher=BBC Cornwall |title= Redruth Town Prize | date=7 November 2007 | access-date=4 January 2010}}</ref> and also liked the large amount of work that had been done to the town in terms of landscaping the central area (mainly Fore Street and the opes, i.e. alleys).

===Heartlands visitor park===
Just outside the town is a European funded visitor attraction, themed on the Robinson Shaft Mine, it offers parking, an adventure play ground for older children and a pleasant restaurant. At times the last working [[Cornish engine|Cornish pumping engine]] can be seen working.<ref>[https://plus.google.com/109520294795188720633/about?hl=en&gl=de Google review]</ref> The museum is an Anchor point on the [[European Route of Industrial Heritage]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.erih.net/nc/anchor-points/detail.html?user_erihobjects_pi2%5Bpointer%5D=0&user_erihobjects_pi2%5Bmode%5D=1&user_erihobjects_pi2%5BshowUid%5D=18485&user_erihobjects_pi2%5Bregionalroute%5D=0&user_erihobjects_pi2%5BanchorOnly%5D=1&user_erihobjects_pi2%5BmembersOnly%5D=0|title=ERIH Entry: Heartlands|year=2014|publisher=European Route of Industrial Heritage|access-date=15 January 2015}}</ref>

==Transport==
[[File:Redruth - Railway Station.jpg|thumb|Redruth railway station]]
Redruth is an important transport hub. The [[Redruth railway station|railway station]] is a [[railhead]] for both [[Helston]] and the [[Lizard, Cornwall|Lizard]], and there are frequent buses connecting the three places. Bus services to the town are provided by [[Go Cornwall Bus]], [[First Kernow]], and [[Hopley's Coaches]], all under the [[Transport for Cornwall]] scheme. The railway station is served by [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway (GWR)]] operated trains from [[London Paddington station|Paddington]], [[Cardiff Central railway station|South Wales]], and the Midlands, as well as a daily [[CrossCountry]] service to the North. Redruth is next to the main [[A30 road]] and thus has access to the main route out of the county as well as routes to the [[Penwith|far West]], [[North Cornwall]], [[South East Cornwall]] and [[Plymouth]]. Another road, the A393, bisects the town in a north–south direction, and links the A30 with the port of [[Falmouth, Cornwall|Falmouth]]. A third road, the A3047, links Redruth with [[Camborne]], some four miles ({{convert|4|mi|abbr=out|disp=output only}}) to the west.

The Barncoose by-pass connects between the Redruth Community Hospital and the Barncoose [[Industrial Estate]]. It is intended to reduce [[Heavy Goods Vehicle|HGV]] traffic using the main Camborne road and provide a direct access to the Industrial Estate. It did, however, provoke some controversy, as some residents in Barncoose lost their parking spaces to make way for the new road.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/6523417.stm BBC News – Residents anger]</ref> It was extended further towards Camborne in 2016.

==Cornish wrestling==
Redruth has been a major centre for [[Cornish wrestling]] for centuries. The ancient traditional location for wrestling tournaments was at [[Plain-an-Gwarry|Plain-an-Gwarry, Redruth]], which continued to be used as a venue, even after the [[Plen-an-gwary]] disappeared.<ref name="RCG12071823">Royal Cornwall Gazette, 12 July 1823.</ref> Many other venues started to be used in the 1800s onwards such as South Turnpike,<ref name="RCG14061823">Royal Cornwall Gazette, 14 June 1823.</ref> and the Recreation Ground/football ground.<ref name="WMN26081933">Western Morning News, 26 August 1933.</ref>

In 1887, Redruth hosted 2 challenge matches for the world title in Cornish wrestling at the recreation ground. In July, John Pearce drew with [[Jack Carkeek]] from the US.<ref name="WMN12071887">Western Morning News, 12 July 1887, p1.</ref> The results of the fight were disputed and at a later brawl in a hotel between the two, Carkeek bit off Pearce's ear.<ref name="SFE25071887">The San Francisco Examiner, 25 July 1887, p3.</ref> In August, Carkeek defeated Philip Hancock, although there were accusations that Hancock threw the fight.<ref name="WBCA18081887">The West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 18 August 1887, p 6.</ref><ref name="NYC06081887">New York Clipper, 6 August 1887.</ref>

In 1889, Redruth hosted the tournament for "Championship of World", where many wrestlers descended on Redruth, including Carkeek, who eventually won.<ref name="WBCA04071889">West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 4 July 1889.</ref><ref name="WSJ03081889">Wisconsin State Journal, 3 Aug 1889, p4.</ref>

The Interceltic games were held in Redruth in 1933<ref name="WMN28081933">Western Morning News, 28 August 1933.</ref> and 1972.<ref name="WBCA27071972">West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 27 July 1972.</ref>

Men from Redruth were very successful in Cornish wrestling throughout the world.<ref name="CDP09071887">''The Wrestling Championship of the world'', Cornish & Devon Post, 09 July 1887, p3.</ref><ref name="WBCA06011927">''Redruth mans success in South Africa'', West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 6 January 1927, p7.</ref><ref name="WBCA01101953">''Home from South Africa, where her husband is wrestling champion'', West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 1 October 1953, p12.</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Svetlana Alliluyeva]], daughter of Russian dictator [[Joseph Stalin]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/stalin-s-daughter-the-extraordinary-and-tumultuous-life-of-svetlana-alliluyeva-by-rosemary-sullivan-book-review-a28891.html|title=Stalin’s Daughter: The Extraordinary and Tumultuous Life of Svetlana Alliluyeva, by Rosemary Sullivan - book review|last=Poole|first=Oliver|date=12 June 2015|work=The Independent|access-date=14 March 2024}}</ref>
* [[Peter Bayley (scholar of French literature)|Peter Bayley]] (1944–2018), scholar of French literature, born and educated in Redruth.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Peter Bayley (1944–2018) |journal=French Studies |date=October 2018 |volume=72 |issue=4 |pages=649–651 |doi=10.1093/fs/kny221 }}</ref>
* [[Harriet Carne]] (1831–1931), Canadian businesswoman, philanthropist, centenarian, born in Redruth
* [[Mick Fleetwood]] (born 1947), drummer and co-founder of the band [[Fleetwood Mac]]<ref name=obit>'Susan Fleetwood; Obituary,' ''[[The Times]]'' (2 October 1995), p. 23</ref>
* [[Stephen Frost]] (born 1955), actor, writer and comedian{{citation needed|date=January 2017}}
* [[John Gray (Wisconsin)|John Gray]] (1817–), member of the [[Wisconsin State Assembly]]<ref>{{cite book |title=The Legislative Manual of the State of Wisconsin |edition=17th |location=Madison, Wis. |year=1878 |page=472 |url=http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/WI/WI-idx?type=goto&id=WI.WIBlueBk1878&page=472&isize=L }}</ref>
* [[Harold Hayman]] (1894–1966), Labour MP<ref>"HAYMAN, Frank Harold (b. Redruth, Cornwall 12 December 1894 – d. 4 February 1966)" (2005), in: ''Who Was Who 1897–2005''</ref>
* [[Hedluv + Passman]], inventors of Casio Rap<ref>{{cite web|title=Hedluv & Passman – Cornish Rap Show|url=http://www.carntocove.co.uk/event/hedluv-passman-cornish-rap-show/|website=Carn to Cove|access-date=29 January 2017}}</ref>
* [[Aphex Twin|Richard D. James]] (born 1971), musician and DJ, also known as Aphex Twin, attended [[Redruth School]]<ref name="Stuart Aitken">{{cite web |url=http://www.stuartaitken.com/post/43555798376/aphextwin |title=Rephlexology |date=28 November 2003|author=Stuart Aitken|work=mad.co.uk }}</ref>
* [[Benjamin Luxon]] (1937–2024), baritone and narrator<ref>{{cite web|last1=Eriksson|first1=Erik|title=Benjamin Luxon – Biography & History|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/benjamin-luxon-mn0000788726/biography|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=29 January 2017}}</ref>
* [[Rory McGrath]] (born 1956), actor, writer and comedian<ref>{{cite news|title=Rory McGrath arrested in Redruth over alleged assault|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cornwall-22546080|access-date=29 January 2017|work=BBC News|date=15 May 2013}}</ref>
* [[David Menhennet]] (1928–2016), former librarian of the [[House of Commons Library]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35705298|title=Been and Gone: The refugee behind television's famous pigs – BBC News|last=Serpell|first=Nick|newspaper=BBC News|publisher=[[BBC]]|access-date=3 March 2016|date=3 March 2016}}</ref>
* [[JG Montgomery]], Australian-based writer and musician
* [[Fanny Moody]] (1866–1945), soprano 
* [[Hilda Moody]] (1876–1961), soprano 
* [[Henry Roach]] (1808–1889), captain of the Burra mine in South Australia from 1847 to 1867.<ref>{{citation|ref={{harvid|The Monster Mine – Burra Mine}} |title=The Monster Mine|work=Burra Mine|publisher=Department of Mines and Energy |url=http://www.burrahistory.info/BurraMining.htm|access-date=15 August 2016}}</ref>
* [[Ben Salfield]] (born 1971), lutenist and lutarist
* [[D. M. Thomas]] (born 1935), poet, novelist, translator<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dmthomasonline.net/info.html|title=Personal History|quote=I'm Cornish, and very proud of it. It's where I live now.}}</ref>
* [[Kristin Scott Thomas]] (born 1960), actress<ref>{{cite news|title=Redruth-born actress Kristin Scott Thomas to receive damehood|url=http://www.cornwalllive.com/8203-redruth-born-actress-kristin-scott-thomas/story-26199521-detail/story.html|access-date=29 January 2017|work=CornwallLive|date=19 March 2015}}</ref>
* [[Sidney Toy]] (1875–1967), architect and architectural historian<ref>{{cite journal |last=Guy |first=Neil |title=Sidney Toy - a biography |pages=209 |journal=The Castle Studies Group Journal |volume=25 |date=2011–2012 |url=http://www.castlestudiesgroup.org.uk/CSGJournal2011-12X5Toyrev8.pdf}}</ref>
* [[Luke Vibert]] (born 1973), musician and electronic music producer<ref>{{cite web|last1=DiGravina|first1=Tim|title=Chicago, Detroit, Redruth – Luke Vibert|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/chicago-detroit-redruth-mw0000585056|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=29 January 2017}}</ref>
*[[E. Florence Whitlock]] (1889–1978), composer

==Twinning==
Redruth is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:

* [[Plumergat]] et Meriadec, [[Brittany]], France 
* [[Mineral Point, Wisconsin]], United States 
* [[Real del Monte, Hidalgo]], Mexico<ref name="Museum">{{Cite news|author=Millward, David|date=14 November 2011|title=World's first Cornish pasty museum opens in Mexico|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=UK|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8887155/Worlds-first-Cornish-pasty-museum-opens-in-Mexico.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8887155/Worlds-first-Cornish-pasty-museum-opens-in-Mexico.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Cornwall}}
*[[Cornwall College (England)|Cornwall College]]
*New Redruth, a district of [[Johannesburg]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
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