In this interview, Angela Angove shares memories of her early life growing up in Carnkie near Redruth, Cornwall, offering valuable insight into domestic life, local industry, and rural childhood in post-war Cornwall. Angela recalls her family’s close ties to the region’s mining heritage, including stories of the smelting workshops, air shafts, and the remnants of tin mining in the local landscape. She describes childhood explorations around disused mine tunnels and slime pits once used to collect secondary tin, highlighting the environmental and social legacy of Cornwall’s industrial past.
Angela also talks about poultry keeping and home slaughter for Christmas, vividly describing her mother’s role in preparing chickens to sell for extra income. She offers further detail about family life, including early experiences of creativity, close-knit community living, and interactions with local wildlife—such as a memorable encounter with a particularly aggressive rooster.
The interview also touches on Cornish dialect and local accents, with Angela noting the distinctive linguistic patterns that marked different areas of Cornwall and beyond. Her account captures the blend of hard work, resourcefulness, and local identity that shaped everyday life in mid-20th-century Cornwall.
