Wheal Martyn China Clay Museum

Wheal Martyn is the only museum in the UK dedicated to the china clay industry that shaped mid-Cornwall’s landscape for over 250 years. The site occupies two Victorian clay works - now a Scheduled Ancient Monument - spread across 26 acres of grounds, 2 miles north of St Austell on the B3274.

The indoor galleries trace the geology of Cornwall’s clay deposits and the industry’s evolution from its early days in porcelain manufacture through to modern uses in paper, medicines, and ceramics. Reconstructions of a clay worker’s kitchen and a cooper’s workshop bring the 19th-century working conditions to life. Outside, the remains of the original works include Cornwall’s largest working waterwheel, settling tanks, vintage lorries, and a collection of industrial tools and machinery. At the top of the site, the Pit View lookout offers a direct view into a massive modern working china clay pit where full-scale earth-moving equipment operates below.

Beyond the museum, 26 acres of woodland walks connect to the Clay Trails network for walking and cycling. Wheal Martyn also serves as the gateway site for the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site, which spans 10 areas across the county. The museum holds full Accredited Museum status.