REDRUTH, a market-town of England, county of Cornwall, on the brow of a hill, 8 miles W.S.W. of Truro, and 9 N.W. of Falmouth. The surrounding country, barren and covered with heaps of rubbish, presents no very delightful appearance to the eye, but is full of mineral riches, especially copper and tin. In the town, consisting mainly of one long street, are a town-hall, court-house, market-house, and fine granite clock-tower. The church, about half a mile off, was, with the exception of its Gothic tower, rebuilt in 1768. A chapel of ease in the pointed style, and places of worship for Baptists and Methodists, are among the ecclesiastical edifices of the place. National schools, a grammar school, a literary institution, reading-room, and small theatre, provide for the instruction and amusement of the inhabitants, who are chiefly employed in mining operations and iron-foundries. There is some trade in minerals; and railways connect the town with several seaports. Redruth is said by some antiquaries to be one of the oldest places in the kingdom; but this opinion has been called in question. Pop. (1851) 7095.
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