Social history soundscape
Listen to accounts of mining life, from difficult underground conditions to the customs and rituals encountered by new workers.
Museum & heritage
The story beneath Cornwall’s landscape
Discover the people, machines and ideas that transformed a former mining complex and carried Cornish engineering knowledge around the world.
Explore the historyMade by mining
A place of global significance
Heritage Cornwall stands within a landscape recognised as part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006.
The surrounding mining district played a major role in the development of hard-rock mining. When tin was in intense demand, Cornish miners and engineers took their expertise overseas, influencing mining techniques and communities far beyond Cornwall.
Today, the museum and surviving industrial structures help make that history tangible. Exhibitions introduce the rise and decline of Cornish tin mining through machinery, personal recollections and the fabric of the site itself.
Read the landscape
From local industry to a worldwide story
Mining shaped working life, architecture, technology and migration across Cornwall.
The museum places large-scale engineering beside human experience. Visitors can consider how steam technology moved people and materials, how demanding underground work felt, and why Cornish expertise became sought after in mining regions across the globe.
Heritage Cornwall also provides a starting point for discovering connected mining places and the broader story of the region.
Explore global connectionsInside the museum
Three ways into the story
Objects, machinery and recorded memories reveal different dimensions of Cornwall’s industrial past.
Steam power
Encounter the scale and importance of steam and electric winding equipment, boilers and the engineering systems that served the mine.
The engine house
Study the distinctive structure built to protect powerful pumping machinery from Cornwall’s demanding weather.
How to explore
Look, listen and follow the clues
The museum works best as part of a wider walk through the industrial landscape.
- Begin with the exhibitions and recorded working-life stories
- Look closely at the surviving machinery and building details
- Step outside to understand the scale of the former complex
- Continue into the gardens to trace Cornish migration overseas
Details and atmosphere
A heritage landscape in view
Architecture, engineering and interpretation combine to illuminate the region’s mining past.
Continue exploring
See the story from another angle
Follow the links between mining history, international migration and the future of this distinctive landscape.
Practical answers
Before visiting the museum
Operational details can change. Contact the visitor team before making a journey specifically for an exhibition.
What does the museum cover?
It explores Cornwall’s tin-mining story through industrial machinery, steam power, social history and the surviving structures of a former mining complex.
Why is this landscape internationally important?
The district forms part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006 for its global cultural significance.
Will I hear miners’ personal stories?
Yes. The social history soundscape introduces working conditions, traditions and experiences remembered by people connected with mining.
Can families explore the displays?
Yes. The combination of stories, large machinery and outdoor industrial features offers different points of interest for curious visitors of varied ages.
Is the museum the whole heritage experience?
No. The wider site includes historic structures and gardens that help connect Cornwall’s mining industry with migration and worldwide influence.
Where can I find current visitor details?
Use the visitor information page or contact Heritage Cornwall before travelling for the latest practical guidance.
Planning a heritage visit?