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Clay Stories

Have you seen our Clay Stories? We have been sharing interesting historical snippets weekly for around two years. They give us the opportunity to research various historical events and aspects of life in Cornwall’s Clay Country, sourcing images from our wonderful collection of photographs.
Our Proud Roots project gains funding

We are proudly celebrating our local landscape, environment and people through ‘Our Proud Roots’, a new project funded by Feast and Cornwall Community Foundation.
CURRENT EXHIBITION: Celebrate Clay Country

On display outdoors around the Wheal Martyn grounds from August – October
Our Proud Roots Performance

A performance in the woods at Wheal Martyn, showcasing the community’s contributions to the Our Proud Roots project activities.

Buy a ticket - timed slots

Pre-book a timed slot to visit Wheal Martyn.
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.
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!
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.
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’.
CURRENT EXHIBITION: Celebrate Clay Country

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

Free to enter. Open 10.00am - 4.30pm, daily
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.