Morwellham Quay in Devon is well-worth a GooseyGoo!
The history here is palpable. Situated on the border of Devon and Cornwall this seemingly remote place was accessed by the River Tamar and being the most inland navigable reach, made it the obvious place for a distribution port.
If you love a waterwheel, crane, limekiln and underground mining tour all situated in close proximity to a quality café like I do, then you’ll love Morwellham Quay!
Relics galore – this place was a thriving mineral port where the tidal reaches of the River Tamar meet the terminus of the Tavistock Canal.
The monks of Tavistock Abbey built the original quay (c 961) to transport goods between inland regions and Plymouth. Soon it was busy with tin ores, then later lead and silver.
The Great Dock and Quay were built in 1857-1858 to serve the Devon Great Consols; once the richest copper mine in Europe!
2,000 tons of copper ore per month were sampled, sold and exported to Swansea for smelting, and of course coal was brought in to power the mine’s steam engines and foundries.
When the copper prices dwindled, the miners won the manganese and arsenic too.
So much activity, so much history!
Check out the impressively restored 32ft overshot waterwheel, the working foundry and the cheeky inclined plane!
Morwellham Quay in Devon is well-worth a GooseyGoo!
The history here is palpable. Situated on the border of Devon and Cornwall this seemingly remote place was accessed by the River Tamar and being the most inland navigable reach, made it the obvious place for a distribution port.
If you love a waterwheel, crane, limekiln and underground mining tour all situated in close proximity to a quality café like I do, then you’ll love Morwellham Quay!
Relics galore – this place was a thriving mineral port where the tidal reaches of the River Tamar meet the terminus of the Tavistock Canal.
The monks of Tavistock Abbey built the original quay (c 961) to transport goods between inland regions and Plymouth. Soon it was busy with tin ores, then later lead and silver.
The Great Dock and Quay were built in 1857-1858 to serve the Devon Great Consols; once the richest copper mine in Europe!
2,000 tons of copper ore per month were sampled, sold and exported to Swansea for smelting, and of course coal was brought in to power the mine’s steam engines and foundries.
When the copper prices dwindled, the miners won the manganese and arsenic too.
So much activity, so much history!
Check out the impressively restored 32ft overshot waterwheel, the working foundry and the cheeky inclined plane!
