I have three historical presentations on offer, but I can also offer more casual talks based on my own quest in search of lost mines and maps and the stories from the countries I have visited.
If you would like to schedule a talk please email me at joelgriffett@gmail.com.
- The Lost Years of Richard Trevithick in Latin America 1816-1827 was the first talk I gave and provides a general overview of the entire eleven-year adventure from Peru to the Pacific, Costa Rica to the Caribbean. This is the most popular one.
- Cornishmen and machines in Peru 1815-1839 is a new talk based on my recently submitted thesis A Torrent of Silver: Richard Trevithick in Peru. It covers in depth Trevithick’s contributions to mining in Peru as well as stories of the other Cornish mine captains and smelters who joined him from 1819 onwards, most of whom stayed in the Andes long after Trevithick had departed.
- On the Avocado Mountain: Richard Trevithick in Costa Rica 1824-1827 is a joint talk given by myself and Ben Sumpter (Cornwall Underground Adventures). We will talk of the history and the geology of the Monte del Aguacate gold mining region of Costa Rica, as well as our adventure to the region last year where we discovered Trevithick’s lost gold mine, first claimed by him in 1825.
Below is a list of upcoming talks I have scheduled (more to added once scheduled)
- Thursday 14th May – Friends of Godolphin, Townshend Village Hall (The Lost Years of Richard Trevithick)
- Monday 25th May – St. Tudy History Group (The Lost Years of Richard Trevithick)
- Friday 5th June – Trevithick Society, King Edward Mine, Troon (joint talk on Costa Rica with Ben Sumpter)
- Wednesday 9th September – Perranzabuloe Old Cornwall Society, Perranporth Memorial Hall (Cornishmen and machines in Peru)
- Monday 16th November – St Columb Old Cornwall Society, St. Columb Bowling Club (joint talk on Costa Rica with Ben Sumpter)
- Friday 5th February 2027 – Hayle Old Cornwall Society, Hayle Day Centre (Cornishmen and machines in Peru)