£34k revamp planned for famous inventor's Redruth home
Murdoch House was the former home of Scottish inventor William Murdoch
The work of inventor William Murdoch's going to be celebrated with a major revamp of his former home in Redruth.
Redruth 2000, the charity which runs Murdoch House, has been awarded £34,000 in grant funding to start its redevelopment and refurbishment of Murdoch House in Redruth.
Whilst living in the town Murdoch - who lived from 1754 to 1839 - worked on some of his most famous inventions, including the Murdoch Flyer, the first working model of a steam locomotive, which paved the way for Richard Trevithick’s high pressure steam engine and eventually Stephenson’s Rocket.
Murdoch House was also the first domestic house in the world to be lit by gas.
Every June Redruth celebrates Murdoch Day and it's hoped the project will create a permanent celebration of his life and inventions.
The money is coming from Historic England’s Redruth High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ), Cornwall Council and Redruth Town Council
Redruth 2000 will be carrying out refurbishments and installing a historic interpretation of the life of Murdoch within the house where he once lived.
It will then increase its opening hours and be available to schools and other groups, adding to its existing community use and the support it already receives from organisations such as the town’s Women’s Guild, Red Tent and Cornish language classes.
The project will start in January 2023, with the opening to the public expected in March 2023.
Colin Saxton, Vice Chair of Redruth 2000 said: “It is well over a decade ago that I accidentally discovered Murdoch House and William Murdoch. I was puzzled that such an important story was one of the best kept secrets in Cornwall. I determined to correct that during my time as chair of Redruth 2000, with some limited success.
"I am delighted by recent progress; through the efforts of our current chair, Deborah Reeve, and intensive research by Manny Hernandez, plus the hard work and enthusiasm from all of the Redruth 2000 Trustees, the incredible story of William Murdoch may at last be told.”