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  • our-collections
  1. Our work
  2. Our collections

Our collections

The collection at Wheal Martyn incorporates objects and archive material which tell the story of Cornwall’s china clay industry - a ERF lorrysignificant part of Cornwall’s industrial heritage. 

As the only china clay museum in Europe, and probably the world, our collections are important both nationally and internationally. Combined with our built heritage, they are a unique resource for the people of Cornwall, visitors and future generations.

Object collection

We hold a collection of objects comprising almost 10,000 accessioned items, including industry tools, scientific instruments and mining memorabilia.

The collection provides a focus for culture within Cornwall’s clay area; our objects represent different aspects of community life, such as bands, choirs and chapels, in addition to paintings of the landscape and key people of the industry.  Literature is also a theme, with objects relating to the renowned local poet Jack Clemo, who was deaf and blind, and whose work was inspired by the landscape of ‘clay country’.

We have a programme of ongoing conservation work, two recent examples – the restoration of a Mobile Crane and the Torycombe Signal Box can be seen on our projects page. 

Geology

Our grounds have important geological features, including a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The granite here shows a state of kaolinisation usually only seen underground, at the bottom of a clay pit.

We also hold a collection of minerals, including some unusual and rare specimens. 

Did you know?

Some of the founding fathers of geology exercised their minds in china clay country and it helped them to develop some fundamental concepts in the subject.

Archive

We hold a substantial archive, most of which has been assembled since 2000 by the volunteers of the China Clay History Society. pit captains

Our archive covers many subjects relating to china clay mining, its associated industries and communities: for example, transport, shipping, geology, local culture, land use, engineering, mineralogical research, and labour relations.

We have records from many former mining companies and individual collections - including about 400 document boxes, 2,000 maps, 400 aerial photographs, 100,000 photographs, 200 films and several hundred engineering drawings! The main body comprises the records of English China Clays Ltd. which was established in 1919 and was taken over by Imerys Minerals Ltd. in 2000. 

We are grateful to Imerys Minerals Ltd. for providing the archive’s current accommodation while we work to develop plans so that it can be moved to purpose-built facilities at Wheal Martyn.  We are also extremely grateful to the China Clay History Society volunteers, who facilitate research enquires and provide access to the general public by arrangement.

Below are just a few tasters of what the archive includes:

Photographs

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The archive includes photographs covering a wide range of topics including clay folk, pastimes, clay villages, railways, road transport, clay pits, machinery and landscapes.

workers in the pit  pan kiln archive photo

Published: 20th February, 2020

Updated: 27th February, 2020

Author: Annabel Underwood

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Books and publications

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We hold copies of most of the books written on the china clay industry, together with many items on associated industries such as mining and railways. We also have an extensive collection of trade publications from the earliest china clay companies through to English China Clays Ltd. and Imerys Minerals Ltd.

books

Published: 20th February, 2020

Updated: 27th February, 2020

Author: Annabel Underwood

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Maps

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We have a large collection of Ordnance Survey maps, e.g. 1907 series 1:2500 sheets covering most of mid-Cornwall and North Cornwall and some sheets from West Cornwall and Devon; 1973 series 1:2500 covering most of mid-Cornwall and some of West Cornwall and Devon, and 1906 series 1:10560 covering most of mid- Cornwall and some of Devon.

We also have aerial photographs of the china clay area dating from 1948.

 map map

Published: 20th February, 2020

Updated: 27th February, 2020

Author: Annabel Underwood

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Documents

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These include leases or “Setts” to work for china clay (granted to the early china clay companies in the 19th century), engineering drawings, plans, correspondence and publications from English Clays Lovering Pochin (ECLP), English China Clays (ECC) and other clay companies. They have mostly been catalogued and it is possible to search for information on particular locations or topics.

sett sett

Published: 20th February, 2020

Updated: 27th February, 2020

Author: Annabel Underwood

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Showing 10 of 4

Latest

  • Wheal Martyn to receive £47,996 from the second round of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund

    Wheal Martyn to receive £47,996 from the second round of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund

    Wheal Martyn Trust is among more than 2,700 recipients to benefit from the latest round of awards from the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund. The award will help us to address the financial challenges arising from this latest lockdown and ensure we are ready to welcome our communities and visitors safely back, as well as plan exciting new opportunities and experiences for people to get involved with as we emerge from lockdown and beyond.

  • Funds secured to support our archive

    Funds secured to support our archive

    We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded funding from HM Treasury through The National Archives Covid-19 Archive Fund, receiving £50,000 towards progressing essential, immediate work required to safeguard our significant archive of Cornwall’s china clay industry.

  • The women of Clay Country

    The women of Clay Country

    Clay Country has often been an overlooked area of Cornwall because it is not as easy to romanticise the open pits and sky tips as it is the old tin and copper mining landscapes further west in Cornwall. In this sense, the people of Clay Country, especially the women, have often been overlooked. As it is International Women’s Day on the day of posting (8th March), it seemed a better time than any to help to correct this.

  • Exciting new project for Wheal Martyn

    Exciting new project for Wheal Martyn

    We have successfully joined this year’s New Wave Project with Heritage Open Days - one of just 10 organisations chosen from a cohort of over 80 applicants nationally!

Most read

  • Outdoor grounds reopening on 12 April

    Outdoor grounds reopening on 12 April

    On 12 April our outdoor grounds will be reopening for visitors to explore. We will be reopening fully from 17 May.

  • New Engagement Officer Appointed

    New Engagement Officer Appointed

    We are pleased to announce that Sian Powell has been appointed as Engagement Officer for Wheal Martyn, following her internship as Trainee Curator.

  • Our Proud Roots - a family exploration of our proud roots

    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!

  • Buy a ticket - timed slots

    Pre-book a timed slot to visit Wheal Martyn.

  • The women of Clay Country

    The women of Clay Country

    Clay Country has often been an overlooked area of Cornwall because it is not as easy to romanticise the open pits and sky tips as it is the old tin and copper mining landscapes further west in Cornwall. In this sense, the people of Clay Country, especially the women, have often been overlooked. As it is International Women’s Day on the day of posting (8th March), it seemed a better time than any to help to correct this.

  • Welcoming our community and visitors back

    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.

  • Exciting new project for Wheal Martyn

    Exciting new project for Wheal Martyn

    We have successfully joined this year’s New Wave Project with Heritage Open Days - one of just 10 organisations chosen from a cohort of over 80 applicants nationally!

  • Meet our new Trainee Curator, Alexander

    Meet our new Trainee Curator, Alexander

    A blog by our new Trainee Curator, Alexander

  • Nature’s Return

    Nature’s Return

    With spring just beginning to poke its head out from beneath winter’s chill and colour starting to return to the world, we decided to dive into the topic of how both colour and new life returned to Clay Country after centuries of industrial development.

  • A perspective on Wheal Martyn, by a volunteer

    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.

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Registered office
Wheal Martyn
St. Austell
Cornwall
PL26 8XG

01726 850362
[email protected]

Registered Charity No. 1001838

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The outdoor spaces and grounds at Wheal Martyn will be reopening on 12 April. We will be reopening fully on 17 May. Find out more here.