Camelford (Cornish: Ryskammel) is a town in Cornwall, UK. Due to its name, it has been linked to the legendary Camelot.

The town lies on the River Camel, and its main industry was slate. It is the home of the North Cornwall Museum.

In July 1988, the water supply to the town and the surrounding area was contaminated when 20 tons of aluminium sulphate were poured into the wrong tank at the nearby Lowermoor water works in Bodmin. An independent inquiry into the incident (the worst of its kind in British history) was started in 2002, and a draft report issued in January 2005, but questions still remain as to the long-term effects on the health of local residents. Michael Meacher, who visited Camelford in his post as environment minister, was said to have called the incident and its aftermath, "A most unbelievable scandal." The Independent, 16 April 2006, Poisoned: The Camelford scandal

The town elected two members to the Unreformed House of Commons. It was considered a rotten borough and its franchise was abolished in 1832. It is now a part of the North Cornwall parliamentary constituency, and also North Cornwall District Council, which has offices in the town.

External links

• Camelford town website
• AboutCamelford
• Government Inquiry website
• Government Inquiry Report, 2005

References