China Clay Museum - Wheal Martyn Museums

Just imagine today everything we do is fully automated. . We have machinery to undertake all our everyday tasks. Did you realise, however, that back in the 1820's when china clay was (and still is) a major industry in Cornwall and Devon, everything was done by hand. The workforce undertook even the most difficult and time consuming of tasks.

Wheal Martyn is situated in a beautifully landscaped 26 acre site, originally two clay works called 'Wheal Martyn' and 'Gomm', situated close to St. Austell, Cornwall in the Trenance Valley which at one time contained several china clay works. There are many species of flora and fauna to investigate for those who have additional interests.

The clay works have been carefully restored in 1975, to give an historical idea of what they originally looked like, and go back to the 1870's. Wheal Martyn is still active today, and it is possible, following a walk to a viewing point, to see some activity in the pit.

There are plenty of places throughout the site for a picnic, bench tables and chairs in all sorts of nooks and cranny's, just right if you want to enjoy the area, but at the same time have a bit of privacy. If you have forgotten something, just nip back to the Tea Shop, where we have a stock of most picnicking items. .