DISCOVER CORNWALL'S SECRET
at the UK's only china clay mining museum

Why visit

Dig deep and discover the special ingredient in your everyday life that still shapes Cornwall and the world today…china clay! It hides in your toothpaste, your paper, your car tyres and even your cosmetics. It’s a billion pound, global industry. We are telling the story of Cornwall’s secret, and the people who brought it to you, from the heart of Clay Country.

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Donate

Please consider making a donation to Wheal Martyn. Your donation will go where it is most needed; for example, preserving our collections or the Victorian clay works, providing educational opportunities or developing community activities such as our Memory Cafe.

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Target amount: £0.00

Amount raised: £957.90

Our museum

China clay mining has shaped the landscape, lives of people and economy of mid-Cornwall for over 250 years. It is Cornwall’s largest mining industry. A fully Accredited Museum, we are based within two Victorian china clay works, now a Scheduled Ancient Monument. We tell the story of this fascinating industry and the people who worked and lived in the shadows of Cornwall’s iconic ‘white pyramids’.

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Author: Annabel Underwood

2025 is a great time to discover Wheal Martyn 

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 Acres to Explore, Discover and Enjoy!

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 Years of mining at Wheal Martyn and new facilities and exhibitions launched

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 Months admission with your ticket

Upcoming events

  • Claylines exhibition

    Claylines is a joint exhibition of four local artists (Sarah Davies, Justine Hambly, Eleanor Russell and Olivia Drew) exploring the china clay landscape through collage, ceramics, printmaking and mixed media. Open until 7 June. Read more

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    Location: Wheal Martyn Clay Works, Carthew, St Austell, PL26 8XG

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  • Garker Street Band

    A four piece band with a singer, sax-keyboard player and two guitarists, performing a mixture of known and popular songs from 1960 to 2020. Read more

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    Location: Wheal Martyn Clay Works, Carthew, St Austell, PL26 8XG

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  • Basic Introduction to Pottery Workshop

    Have you ever wanted to have a go at pottery but not sure where to start? We are running a one day workshop where you will be shown two basic techniques – how to make a pinch pot and a decorative tile. Read more

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    Location: Wheal Martyn Clay Works, Carthew, St Austell, PL26 8XG

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