Exhibitions

'Relic' - by Neil Brownsword

A new ceramic exhibit by Neil Brownsword, ‘Relic’, is now on display at Wheal Martyn Clay Works, as part of the Whitegold Festival projects in St Austell. Read more

CURRENT EXHIBITION: Celebrate Clay Country

On display outdoors around the Wheal Martyn grounds from August – October Read more

Upcoming in 2020

Details of upcoming exhibitions Read more

Latest

Be a part of our Fun Palace

We would love any contributions to our Fun Palace, either digitally or in person. Find out more.

Woodland Performance to Celebrate Hidden Nature in Clay Country

We are shining a light on the beauty of china clay country this week, celebrating the national festival ‘Heritage Open Days’ with outdoor mixed art performances of Our Proud Roots on 19th September.

'Relic' - by Neil Brownsword

A new ceramic exhibit by Neil Brownsword, ‘Relic’, is now on display at Wheal Martyn Clay Works, as part of the Whitegold Festival projects in St Austell.

Community input on helping to complete records

Social media can be a powerful tool for museums; not only is it a way for museums to promote their collections and offers for potential visitors but it can also be a way of reaching those visitors on a more personal level.

We are open!

We are now open to visitors. We're excited to welcome you back! Find out about the measures we have put in place to maximise the safety of our staff and visitors.

Buy a ticket - timed slots

Pre-book a timed slot to visit Wheal Martyn.

Our Proud Roots - a family exploration of our proud roots

Proudly celebrating our local landscape, environment and people, Our Proud Roots is a chance to explore and reflect on what makes our place and community special, as seen through fresh eyes and with a new perspective in our changed world. This is a chance to re-discover nature and the wonderful effects it has on our body and soul!

Prices

Pay once and get free entry all year!

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’.

Welcoming our community and visitors back

Since reopening on the 5 July, we have enjoyed welcoming back lots of familiar faces as well as some new visitors.

CURRENT EXHIBITION: Celebrate Clay Country

On display outdoors around the Wheal Martyn grounds from August – October

A perspective on Wheal Martyn, by a volunteer

I like to think that in some small way we volunteers – whatever task we do - are making a contribution to the preservation of the industry history in general and Wheal Martyn (something once commonplace but now virtually unique) in particular. Not just for the benefit of future generations but also so that it will not be lost. So future Cornwall explorers can be as astounded as I was.

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.

Wheal Martyn receives £49,800 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund

We have received £49,800 in National Lottery support to help address the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on heritage.