The Luxulyan Valley contains an extraordinary concentration of early 19th-century industrial remains!
In Cornish, the Luxulyan Valley is called Glynn Gwernan, which means alder tree valley.Luxulyan valley has two main car parking areas (free, but at your own risk): at the top of the valley near to Luxulyan village or Ponts Mill at the bottom, accessed from the main road from St. Blazey to Lostwithiel.It is now a beautifully managed, wooded valley, but strewn with semi-restored industrial relics! Once the 'office' of Joseph Thomas Treffry, a mineral merchant (or entrepreneur) in the early 1800s, it harbours several eras of activity.Copper, Granite, Clays and China Stone
He used the profits from Fowey Consols (Cornwall’s 4th largest copper mine), together with financial backing from a fellow investor, to realise his industrial empire.
The valley yielded many riches, including Luxulyanite, a ‘pink-tinged granite’ comprising ‘schorl, flesh coloured orthoclase and quartz’. It also provided tin, copper and clays.It includes the elaborate leat system crucial to utilise the power of water across the site. It carries the water from large ponds inland via the stunning aqueduct/ viaduct (now in decline) down through the valley via the numerous waterwheels.Now there is a delicious ruin of the Great or Carmears Wheel remaining, which the Friends of Luxulyan hope to restore, as well as the tramways, rails and glorious inclined plane – which really made Treffry's fortunes possible!Over the years other companies moved-in to exploit the mineral wealth and the existing transport structure. In 1972 it was the English China Clay Co who set up some china clay facilities near the bottom of the valley, such as drying kilns etc, which are impressive to see.
It's also part of the Cornish World Heritage Site.Read all about it on the Friends of Luxulyan Valley website HERE!.The top of valley car park is at coordinates: 50.38354904657587,-4.732464414450078Read the Cornish Mining.org.uk leaflet here! Learn about Joseph Treffry's achievements in more detail in his timeline of events – HERE!
