Gunnislake

Settlement in Cornwall

England

Gunnislake

Tamar Trails Centre - car park Activity centre in Devon with walks and trails around mining heritage. — Tamar Trails Centre - car park Credit: Chris Allen

Gunnislake is a small village located in the Tamar Valley, Cornwall, England. Situated on the border of Devon, it is nestled within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, surrounded by lush green hills and the picturesque River Tamar.

With a population of around 2,000 residents, Gunnislake maintains a tight-knit community feel. The village is known for its charming stone cottages, traditional architecture, and a rich mining heritage. Historically, Gunnislake was an important mining area, with the extraction of copper and tin being its main industries. The remnants of this industrial past can still be seen in the form of old mine workings and engine houses scattered across the landscape.

Gunnislake is well-connected to nearby towns and cities, with regular bus services and a train station providing easy access to Plymouth and other parts of Cornwall. The village boasts a range of amenities, including a post office, shops, pubs, and a primary school.

For outdoor enthusiasts, Gunnislake offers a plethora of activities. The Tamar Valley is renowned for its scenic beauty and provides opportunities for hiking, cycling, and wildlife spotting. Nearby, Morwellham Quay offers visitors a chance to step back in time and experience life in a Victorian copper port, with restored buildings and interactive exhibits.

Overall, Gunnislake is a tranquil and picturesque village, offering a delightful blend of natural beauty, historical significance, and a strong sense of community.

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Gunnislake Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 50.524311/-4.213652 or Grid Reference SX4371. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Tamar Trails Centre - car park

Activity centre in Devon with walks and trails around mining heritage.

Chris Allen

One of the paths in the Tamar Trails

The positions are a best guess and are on the path heading towards the site of Wheal Emma.

Chris Allen

Wheal Josiah waste tip

I believe this includes a partially collapsed railway tunnel - probably straight ahead behind the no entry sign. I was not really looking for this at the time or I would have peered a bit closer. This area shows mounds of presumed toxic waste with very little vegetation. Some structured masonry is seen to the right.

Chris Allen

Wheal Anna Maria arsenic tailings

Toxic waste from arsenic mining and refining in the 1920s. Further along the path (behind the photographer) are the remains of the arsenic refining plant and associated chimney stack.

Chris Allen

Devon Great Consols Mine - former mine office

Now home to several display boards on the history of this mine that was an amalgamation of several older mines. The mine was last used for arsenic production and refining and there is a large arsenic calcining and milling plant nearby.

Chris Allen

Wheal Anna Maria Calciner Complex

Part of the Great Devon Consols mine complex. This was an arsenic calcining and milling plant. On the right is part of the labyrinth flue that was used to condense the arsenic out of the flue gases. It was then dug out for milling.

Chris Allen

Devon Great Consols - chimney

This is the chimney for the arsenic calcining plant at Wheal Anna Maria that was part of Devon Great Consols. The relative absence of vegetation is due to the contamination of the ground by toxic materials.

Chris Allen

Wheal Anna Maria Calciner Complex

Devon Great Consols latterly concentrated on mining and refining arsenic. This is part of the arsenic refining complex. On the right are the remains of two Brunton calciners that roasted the ore. They were connected by flues to the labyrinthine condensing flue on the left. The chimney is some distance away on the hillside. The complex also contains the remains of a second type of furnace and a mill for grinding the finished product. The explanatory display board is sadly faded but just about legible.

Chris Allen

Wheal Anna Maria calcining complex

Part of Devon Great Consols Mine from the period of arsenic production. This shows the labyrinth condensing flue where the arsenic condensed to be dug out later. At one time there was a second set of condensing flues for the gases from the final reverberatory furnace but these have now gone although the remains of the furnace are still to be seen.

Chris Allen

Wheal Anna Maria Calciner Complex

This is the base of reverberatory furnace that was used in the early 20th century for arsenic processing. The ore was crushed, roasted in the two Brunton calciners and then condensed and collected from a labyrinthine flue. This material was then roasted with a smokeless fuel in this furnace. The efflux from this furnace was condensed as 99.5% pure snow white arsenic trioxide. This was then milled and packed into barrels. It was mainly used as an insecticide.

Chris Allen

Wheal Anna Maria Calciner Complex - Brunton calciner

This complex dates from the early 20th century and was used for arsenic production from Devon Great Consols Mine. It apparently closed in 1925 after a life of around 5 years. The ore was crushed and roasted in two Brunton calciners (the other is partly seen on the left). The arsenic rich gases were conducted by the hot flue in the foreground to a labyrinth condensing flue where the arsenic was condensed and deposited to be dug out. It then went through a second stage of purification by roasting and condensing before being ground to a fine white powder. The arsenic trioxide that was produced is very toxic and was mainly used as an insecticide.

Chris Allen

Wheal Anna Maria Calciner Complex - mill

This arsenic processing complex was in use from about 1920 to 1925. The last stage was to mill 99.5% pure arsenic trioxide to a fine powder for packing into barrels. It was mainly used as an insecticide. This shows the millstones that are analogous to a flour mill. I do not know how long the timbers will continue to support them as it all looks a bit decayed.

Chris Allen

Wheal Anna Maria Calciner Complex

Part of Devon Great Consols Mine and used from about 1920 to 1925 for the production of finely ground arsenic trioxide. Bottom right is the edge of the reverberatory furnace that was used for the final refining to produce a white material that was then ground by the millstones on the left before packing into barrels. The arsenic was mainly used as an insecticide. Waste tips in the distance are largely devoid of vegetation due to the toxic nature of the waste.

Chris Allen

Wheal Anna Maria Calciner Complex

Part of Devon Great Consols Mine. This complex was used from about 1920 to 1925 for the production of arsenic trioxide, mainly for use as an insecticide.

Chris Allen

Wheal Anna Maria - trail marker and chimney

The position is a best guess. Wheal Anna Maria is part of grouping of mines into Devon Great Consols. The chimney is on the end of a long flue from the arsenic refining plant that was in use from about 1920 to 1925.

Chris Allen

Winter light on Tamar, New Bridge

The Tamar (Cornish: Dowr Tamar) is in south west England, it forms most of the border between Devon and Cornwall. The Tamar's source is 3 miles from the north Cornish coast, but it flows southward and its course runs across the peninsula to the south coast. The total length of the river is 61 miles. At its mouth, the Tamar flows into the Hamoaze before entering Plymouth Sound. Tributaries of the river include the rivers Inny, Ottery, Kensey and Lynher (or St Germans River) on the Cornish side, and the Deer and Tavy on the Devon side.

David Smith