History & Heritage

Cornwall's vibrant image has evolved from a rich history and culture which still lives and breathes through the sites and scenery scattered throughout the county today. And with over 50 miles of heritage coastline, stone circles, castles and a rich maritime heritage, it's a history worthy of discovery and celebration.

Cornwall has long played a pioneering role in mining and although the mines may now lay silent, with the hum of machinery and pickaxes at the pit face a fading memory, the legacy lives on and has earned parts of Cornwall international recognition from UNESCO.

UNESCO has credited World Heritage Site status to ten landscape areas from the west of Cornwall to west Devon, which best represent our mining past. This status not only showcases Cornwall's culture on a global level, ranking our historic mining landscapes alongside the likes of the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China, but preserves the landmarks, ensuring that the story of Cornwall's heritage is told for generations to come. 

To explore this fascinating world, why not visit one of the Cornish Mining Heritage attractions?

See Cornwall's mining history come to life at Geevor Tin Mine, the largest preserved mining site in the UK. Don a hard helmet and head underground to the narrow 18th century tunnels where hundreds of men once spent much of their waking hours extracting tin. A guide will transport you to the bygone age reviving the harsh conditions.

If you want to get more intimate underground and experience the results of mining on a smaller scale, Rosevale Mine at Zennor opens to small groups (by appointment only). Alternatively, you could throw yourself back in time at Poldark Mine. Pan for gold and take a guided tour through one of the most atmospheric mines in Europe dating back to the 18th century.

The best way to experience Cornwall's mining heritage is on two wheels. Saddle up and take the Mineral Tramways cycle route through the mining districts of Camborne, Redruth and Gwennap, passing remarkable remains of the area's 19th century mining heyday. Or why not take a stroll from Chapel Porth to St Agnes where you will find impressive Cornish engine houses in dramatic cliff-top locations. Retrace the miners' steps at Botallack by walking through the labyrinths of the world's best preserved arsenic works which once produced a commodity much in demand globally.

For a full list of attractions within the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site click here.

Speaking of the past...

Whilst we celebrate Cornwall's heritage and its prominent part in the future, it is also time to credit the Cornish language as a part of history that continues to fly Kernow's unique flag. The native Cornish tongue is considered by many to be a dodo of the language world, but whilst its revival is urged by the Cornish Language Fellowship and growing fraternity of dedicated followers, there is no doubt that it plays an ongoing part in Cornwall's cultural identity of the past, present and future. With bilingual signs heading up public buildings, texts published in Cornish and even schools latching onto the mother tongue, the proliferation of the Cornish language adds yet another dimension to this exclusive haven beyond the border of the River Tamar.

Maritime: a world on water

In a county where nothing is much more than a stone's throw from the coast, it comes as no surprise that the ocean environment has been another of the major influences that has shaped Cornwall's buzzing image of today. Traditional and modern cultures have met to mould a thriving maritime scene that washes through fishing villages, sailing communities and a cutting edge watersports scene.

On land, the National Maritime Museum Cornwall brings together one of the most comprehensive overviews of the county's maritime heritage through its exhibitions of boats, oceanography, surfing and the underwater world. See the hull of the historic Team Philips catamaran, climb the lookout tower overlooking the harbour and estuary, or try your hand at sailing a remote controlled boat.