CARN BREA is a hamlet, 3 miles south-south-east of Illogan and 1 south-west of Redruth, and has a station on the West Cornwall railway. The hill, a rocky elevation 740 feet above the level of the sea, was supposed by Borlase, chiefly on fanciful grounds, to have been the central place of worship for the Druids in this part of the country, and one of the many huge rocks is called “The Sacrificing Rock”: on the east are the remains of a castle, and on the west side of the hill traces of a circular fortification: on the summit is a lofty monument, of native granite, consisting of a pedestal, 42 feet square and 14 feet high, supporting an octagonal column with filial, erected by the county in 1836 to Francis, Lord de Dunstanville and Basset; the whole structure is 90 feet in height, and from the summit, reached by a stairway in the interior, a most comprehensive view of this great mining locality may be had; the cost of its erection was under £1,000, but a considerable sum in excess of this was collected, and a large portion was invested for the purpose of giving £10 annuities to miners who had lost their sight by accidents. On the death of Lord de Dunstanville, 14th February, 1835, the title of de Dunstanville became extinct, his only daughter succeeding to the barony of Basset; but on her death, unmarried, 22nd January, 1855, that title also became extinct. Here is a Wesleyan chapel and a fuse factory. Bosleake, Carnarthen and Tregajorran are places here, and at Tregajorran is a Wesleyan chapel. On the eastern side of the hill stands an ancient tower or castle, built originally, according to William of Worcester, writing in 1478, by Sir John Basset. The Carn Brea and Tincroft Mines Limited employ about 1,000 persons.