Festival Tunnel Lights at Charlestown
Over Christmas and the New Year the Shipwreck and Heritage Centre at Charlestown has been staging a fabulous light display in the tunnels which were used to transport china clay to the docks. The clay was carried in wagons which ran on rails and were pushed by men. The clay was tipped down chutes directly into the ship's hold.
Charlestown Harbour showing the openings in the building on the right where the
china clay was tipped down the chute.
There is still time to see the Festive Light Display because it remains open until 12th January. And don't forget to see the outstanding Shipwreck and Heritage Centre.
The mining of China Clay in Cornwall is fully explained in the Bedrock Cornwall Books, Book I, on page 115.