Busveal
| Busveal | |
| Cornwall | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SW716418 |
| Location: | 50°13’57"N, 5°12’7"W |
| Data | |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Cornwall |
Busveal is an old mining village in western Cornwall, about a mile east of Redruth.
Gwennap Pit
The Gwennap Pit is a large hole in the ground apparently caused by tin workings at Busveal, though of unknown date. It is now an open air amphitheatre.
The pit has remarkable acoustic properties and it became the favourite open air preaching place of John Wesley. Wesley was taken to the pit in 1762, describing it as "a round green hollow" and as "an amphitheatre". He was to preach there on 18 occasions between 1762 and 1789.
The pit is now owned by the Methodist Church, since 2001, it has been managed by a Committee appointed by the Cornwall Methodist District Synod. Since 1807 it has been used for the annual Whit Monday/Spring Bank Holiday Methodist Rally. As well as worship, as on summer Sunday afternoons, the Pit is used for musical events, drama, weddings - and sponsored walks.
There is a Visitor Centre close by and the little Busveal Chapel (built in 1836).
In 2006, Gwennap Pit became part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Busveal) |