Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Modern Industry
The last 50 years has been a period of fluctuating fortunes for the southwest. Traditional in-
dustries such as fishing and mining have almost completely disappeared (since the closure
of South Crofty near Camborne in 1998, there are now no working mines in the region),
and only Brixham and Newlyn retain sizeable fishing fleets. But the area's naval associ-
ations have continued, and Falmouth and Devonport Dockyard in Plymouth have both re-
tained their shipyards - with 15 dry-docks and 4 miles of waterfront, Devonport is the
largest naval base in Western Europe.
But the region's great growth industry over recent years has been tourism. Depending on
which statistic you listen to, tourism adds between £4.5 and £8 billion to the region's cof-
fers every year, and in some areas over half of all jobs are related to the wider tourist in-
dustry. Despite tourism's dominance, the southwest is slowly making the transition towards
a more diversified economy: culture, food and the environment are particularly strong areas
of growth. Exciting developments such as the Eden Project, as well as the conferral of Un-
esco World Heritage status for the Jurassic Coast and the Cornwall and West Devon Mining
Landscape, have helped refocus attention on the region's history, heritage and creativity.
TIMELINE
To 4000 BC
The southwest is populated by tribes of nomadic hunter-gatherers.
4000-1500 BC
First evidence of organised farming. Neolithic builders construct many dolmens, quoits, stone circles
and menhirs.
1000-500 BC
Arrival of the first Celts on British shores. Celtic warriors establish hillforts and fortified settlements
across the region, and gradually begin to integrate with native Britons.
55 BC
Roman legions under Julius Caesar land in Britain and defeat native tribes, although some areas of
west Cornwall and Devon remain effectively independent kingdoms.
