© Cornish Mexican Cultural Society
Building on Cornwall's International Heritage
The Cornish Mexican Cultural Society
Sociedad Cultural Cornish Mexicana
A. Pasties were introduced to Real del Monte and Pachuca where today the paste industry is of major economic significance; paste retail chains can be found across Mexico. Each year Real del Monte holds a three day International Paste Festival drawing thousands of visitors from around the world. In 2012 the International Paste museum was opened at Real del Monte.
Q. Who introduced Mexico’s national sport of football?
Q. Who was the mining baron of the Pachuca silver mines?
In Rotary and want to know more about the friendship link?
…and benefit from family history research, the network of contacts in Mexico and much more...
8th September 2014, Heartlands, Pool. Redruth. “Cornwall-
A. Cornish miners at the Pachuca silver mines; they also formed Mexico’s first International Football team in 1901. Pachuca boasts the national football museum and FIFA’s World Hall of Fame where Cornwall’s influence is celebrated. The Cornish also introduced cricket and tennis
Mexico’s “Little Cornwall” lies 60 miles, 95km NE of Mexico City in the Pachuca and Real del Monte area within the State of Hidalgo. Hover over the questions below to find out why!
Q. How can you tell the difference between a Cornish Mine Engine House and a Mexican one?
Q. Where will you find a British graveyard in Mexico?
Q. Who makes more pasties: Cornwall or Mexico?
A. They appear identical, except the Mexican ones have cacti surrounding them, whilst the Cornish ones have gorse!
A. At the summit of a hill over looking Real del Monte is the Panteon de los Inglesis (English cemetery) with over 700 graves dating from 1860. Over 650 are to those originating from, or descendants of the Cornish. Today surviving descendants express their wish to be buried with their kin.
A. Francis Rule, who originated from Troon, Camborne, Cornwall. His mansion is now State of Hidalgo offices. He financed the clock in the main square of Pachuca. Here you will also find Grenfell’s Hotel and numerous other indications of the influence from Cornwall. Nearby is a Methodist church.
There can be few places that have been so deeply influenced by emigrating Cornish miners than the Pachuca and Real del Monte (aka Mineral del Monte) area of Mexico. Today these communities celebrate their British heritage and culture to their economic gain.
During the 1820’s mineworkers from Cornwall arrived in Mexico to rehabilitate abandoned silver mines. Funded by British capital the Cornish brought their mining expertise and steam engine technology to newly independent Mexico.
The Cornish presence in Pachuca and Real del Monte is indelibly stamped on the landscape
in the shape of Cornish-
The principal aim of the Cornish-
The Cornish Mexican Cultural Society aims to increase awareness of these significant links to the betterment of those communities in both countries.
The late Richard Williams MBE was instrumental in strengthening the links and forming the Cornish Mexican Cultural Society. This website is largely drawn from his archives.