Ind Archaeol Rev 3 (1)

In Cornwall and West Devon, the fortunes of the copper mines were closely linked with those of the mining ports and shipping trade. This paper looks at the development of ports in Cornwall in the 18th and 19th centuries in relation to the mining trade, before considering the shortcomings of the ports and factors affecting their decline. The material remains of quay structures allow construction methods and layouts to be examined and compared; examples at several sites are considered. LD

This paper calls attention to the small but interesting collection of early wires and cables held by the Science Museum in London. The earliest specimen is of 1837 and represents a fragment of the first telegraph circuit in daily use. Some areas of research that study of the cables could contribute to are suggested, prior to individual descriptions of the specimens and their histories. LD

Note giving an update on work at Tocketts Mill, a 19th-century water corn mill near Guisborough in Cleveland. Following initial repairs ensuring the mill's physical preservation, staff and students from South Park Sixth Form College have embarked upon a restoration project. LD