Murdoch, Manny and Redruth’s past, present and future

Molly Sexton talks to Manny Hernandez about William Murdoch and Manny’s vision for the future of this historic and famous town. Illustration by Saturday Simms

Meet Manny, who is a trustee of Redruth’s historic Murdoch House and the longest-running president of the Redruth and District Chamber of Commerce. Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, he’s been calling Redruth home for 16 years. 

As a trustee of Murdoch House, Manny’s responsibilities include keeping the property in good condition and working with community programmes. It used to just be one plain white room, so they transformed it. The team at Murdoch House even had somebody make the new lamps to reflect the original gas lamps. 

“It’s the most iconic building in Redruth,” says Manny, as he showed me around the place, which is largely unchanged since Murdoch was here.  

As the home of the inventor of gas lighting, Murdoch House was the first in the country to be lit safely using gas. The building is also to receive a plaque cementing its status as a World Origin Site. 

“When Murdoch lived here, he was the reason that Redruth became the wealthiest town in the world at that time,” adds Manny. “He changed this town, but he also changed the world.” 

While famed for the invention of gas lighting, William Murdoch also invented several other world-altering technologies. Beer clarification, steam cannons, and even the pneumatic messaging systems used in banks, are just a few of his ideas and many continue to this day.  

During his time in Redruth, Murdoch was working for Boulton and Watt, which means that they claimed the patent for a lot of his inventions, as the law stated that only an officer of the company could get a patent. Manny credits him as one of the unsung geniuses of the era. 

“If you look back in history, unknown people have done amazing things, and he’s one of them.” 

As well as being a trustee at Murdoch House, Manny is also the president of the Redruth and District Chamber of Commerce. He provides a voice for the businesses of Redruth and the surrounding towns.

“I just make sure that what’s going on is transparent, honest and represents the people,” he tells me. 

Manny works to look after the businesses and help them to work together to build a strong community; a job that he explains can be quite difficult, especially if the businesses are in competition with each other. 

“I generally tell people that the only way anybody is going to accomplish anything is if you all come together, support one another and move things forward.” This statement rings true outside of the business world too. Manny discussed his hopes for the future of Redruth and the importance of the younger generations. “It’s young folks with the minds and creativity here. They are the future.” 

He emphasises the importance of young people staying in their hometowns and working to find ways to make it a better place. “It keeps money flowing back into the economy and instils pride in the community.”

Manny’s vision of Redruth is one of optimism and excitement for the future. “I see Redruth as a phoenix rising and there is going to be a point in time where it once again becomes the heart of Cornwall.”

Who was William Murdoch?

William Murdoch was a Scottish engineer and inventor who moved to Redruth in 1779. While living in Redruth he invented safe coal gas lighting, and used it in his house on Cross Street, even going so far as to use gas to cook as well. 

He was the brain behind the steam cannon, which is now used to launch planes from aircraft carriers, and the Double D Slide Valve which made mining engines more accurate and more efficient.  

He also began developing the first high-pressure steam engine, but was discouraged by his employers, Boulton and Watt, who worried that he would leave to pursue this idea. Before Murdoch stopped working on it, he told his neighbour Richard Trevithick continued to develop it and patented it in 1802.  

While credited for the invention of coal gas lighting, and inventing many significant contributions to the engineering world, the patent went to Boulton and Watt as the law at the time stated that only an officer of the company could apply for patent. 

He did eventually become a partner at Boulton and Watt after the business had been handed over to their sons in 1810. 

We now celebrate Murdoch Day every year in Redruth to celebrate the ingenuity of Murdoch and his world changing inventions.