Wheal Martyn gets Imerys boost to inspire Cornwall’s next miners

Half a mile from the working clay pits that still ring the skyline above St Austell, a museum spends its days explaining to visitors what has been happening on the other side of the fence for the best part of two centuries. This week the neighbour who owns those pits came to visit, and brought a cheque with it.

A donation with a purpose

Mark Hewson, UK Lead at Imerys, visited Wheal Martyn Clay Works, Cornwall’s only museum dedicated to the history of china clay mining, last week to discuss future plans and hand over a donation of £2,500 from the Imerys Community Fund.

Imerys is Cornwall’s largest mining operator, and the donation builds on a partnership that already runs deeper than a single cheque.

Trucks, tyres and volunteer days

The ongoing collaboration includes updating exhibits with modern safety equipment and super-sized modern dumper truck tyres, organising volunteer days to help with site maintenance, and supporting an upcoming STEM event designed to introduce local students to careers in mining and mineral processing.

Speaking about the collaboration, Mark said:

“It’s always a pleasure to visit Wheal Martyn – especially in this weather. Its location in a shaded valley offers a welcome retreat from the heat and a great day out for all ages.

“The museum team does an extraordinary job preserving china clay heritage, which remains deeply connected to the culture of ‘the clays.’ We are incredibly proud to support their work, particularly initiatives that inspire the next generation by showcasing the diverse careers available in our industry. With decades of china clay extraction still ahead, sharing that knowledge and encouraging young people to explore STEM opportunities here in Cornwall is vital.”

Sharing a story still being written

Colin Vallance, managing director of Wheal Martyn, said the museum was grateful for the continued backing:

“We are grateful for the continued support of Imerys – the recent donation from its community fund will help us further progress initiatives to preserve and share our china clay heritage, helping to inspire the next generation of miners.

“We are so fortunate to be able to share the stories and achievements of an industry that not only has a rich industrial and community heritage but is still very much alive today – as a museum having that opportunity to witness the evolving story as it unfolds today is exciting, and such strong connections with Imerys enables us to provide a greater depth and relevance to our exhibitions, interpretation and educational offer.”

Colin didn’t put a date on the STEM event, only that it is coming. Anyone wanting to see what the museum gets up to in the meantime can find Wheal Martyn’s upcoming events on its website.