Wheal Martyn - Archives

The Archives Collection

This museum archives contain hundreds of different documents including:

• newspapers produced by ECC such as the ECC Press or Review
• maps and plans
• cost books and rent books
• ledgers and accounts for many of the small clay companies
• drawings and sketches of machinery parts
• blueprints and dyeline prints
• share certificates for many of the small clay companies
• personal records and documents given by ex china clay workers         
• reference books
• photographs

The China Clay History Society

The china clay industry, which has been in existence for more than 250 years, has excited far less interest among Cornish historians and mining enthusiasts than the tin and copper industries. By comparison literature and studies based upon it are sparse.

The object of the China Clay History Society is, by stimulating a wide interest in the history of china clay and china stone, to encourage the study and preservation of a unique cultural and industrial heritage.

Field trips, a newsletter and a series of lectures, seminars and workshops relating to all aspects of the china clay industry - social, religious, commercial, economic and demographic - are all advantages of membership.

There is a considerable archive of documents. Consolidating these and determining the whereabouts and contents of other archives, both public and private, is a priority for the Society.

The Society Archive

This is separate to the main museum archives and collection. It consists of documents given by Imerys in 2002, a largely raw and untouched mass of material estimated to comprise up to 8,000 items and ranging in length from one or two pages to 100 or more.

The aim of the museum and the society, which has undertaken the extensive task of listing, is to find a home that will enable the archive to be fully accessible to the local community. The society is a volunteer run organisation.

Although the material is not as accessible as that in the museum main archive, the society welcomes, and makes every effort to answer, research enquires. It can be contacted through the museum Curator.

It is also keen to hear of anyone who would like to volunteer to help with the listing of the archive or who wishes to know more about the society's work.

For more information or to join the China Clay History Society please contact the China Clay History Society membership secretary c/o the Wheal Martyn.