On Thursday 20^th October the living legacy of metal and china clay mining in the Luxulyan and Charlestown area of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site was celebrated as the outcomes of a multi-year interpretation project were highlighted at a launch at Wheal Martyn Clay Works.

The next generation explore the past through new installations funded by Cornwall Council

A project, that has seen Cornwall Council working in partnership with Wheal Martyn, the Friends of Luxulyan Valley and the Cornwall Heritage Trust, has produced new information boards along a waymarked trial in the Luxulyan Valley, a new Luxulyan Valley Guidebook (available in the Wheal Martyn gift shop), and has transformed the internal welcome space along with installation of a ‘sculptural’ external display at Wheal Martyn, which acts as an area centre for the World Heritage Site.

The event on 20^th October brought together representatives from the organisations involved and the local community, to highlight the achievements and encourage others to venture to either of the contrasting locations to explore the new information and find out how geology and resulting industry links them so intimately.

Along with speakers from the Wheal Martyn and the World Heritage Site team, the event heard from former Chief Geologist at English China Clays and Visiting Professor at Camborne School of Mines, Colin Bristow, remarking in his talk, how the impressive black and pink Luxulyanite boulder now proudly on display at the museum relays a story of the areas place in history.

The event included the home-school group that regularly use Wheal Martyn and who have enjoyed interaction with the new audio-visual and life-sized elements of the installations. Recently, the new displays have contributed to the groups learning about the life of Joseph Treffry and his innovative influence on both mining and quarrying industries in the area.  Mayor of St Austell, Cllr Andrea Lanxon said “the new exhibits are really interesting for both future generations to find out about the past, but also for people who remember working in the industry, to understand how it all came about through both the natural geology and the visionary work of a few powerful people”.

Young minds engage with the story of Joseph Treffy’s influence on the local landscape they live in today. Treffry brought water through leats in the Luxulyan Valley to power metal mining, and these were later used in the china clay industry.

Mayor of St Austell, Cllr Andrea Lanxon at the new external display, Wheal Martyn.

Audio-visual displays bring the past to life in the transformed visitor centre, Wheal Martyn.

From Left: Colin Bristow, former chief geologist ECC; Colin Vallance, managing director Wheal Martyn Clay Works; Cllr Julian German; Don Martin, Countryside Team Cornwall Council; Cllr Colin Martin; John Wood, Chairman Wheal Martyn Trust; Sally Weston, World Heritage Site Team Lead; Cllr Dave Crabtree, Chairman of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining World Heritage Site.

Representatives from the partnership project gathers on 20^th October to highlight how the new information resources in the Luxulyan Valley and at Wheal Martyn provide young and old, visitors or locals more to explore on their visits to these unique sites.

Back from left: Colin Bristow, Colin Vallance, Leroy Fox, Cllr Julian German, Cllr Colin Martin, Ainsley Cocks, John Wood, Sally Weston, Cllr Dave Crabtree

Front from left: Joan Farmer, Susan Perry, Charlotte Evans

Cllr Dave Crabtree, Chair of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining World Heritage Site said “The Luxulyan and Charlestown area of the World Heritage Site contains so many hidden gems, Wheal Martyn and the Luxulyan Valley are two of these – the new interpretation boards and displays provide a great educational resource and I would encourage anyone to go and have a look”.

Colin Bristow, former Chief Geologist at English China Clays and Visiting Professor at Camborne School of Mines, talking in the newly redecorated visitor centre at Wheal Martyn.