John H Luxton Photography

Transport + Industrial + History + Regional

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Morwellham Quay From 2002
  1. The 35mm Film Archive
  2. Industrial Archaeology British Isles

Morwellham Quay 1970s to 1990s

Morwellham Quay is an historic river port on the Devon bank of the River Tamar that was developed during the 19th Century to support the local mining industry. Conservation work commenced in the early 1970s when the site opened as a living history museum.

Your webmaster first visited in 1976 and was a very regular visitor during the 1970s to late 1990s when most of the photographs in this gallery were taken.

Though the Museum is no longer operated by a charitable trust, it remains open to the public though some of the features such as the farm are no longer accessible to visitors.

In July 2006, UNESCO (the cultural arm of the United Nations) awarded World Heritage Site status to the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape area. Morwellham is strategically sited at the centre of the Tamar Valley Mining District which, together with nearby Tavistock, forms the easternmost gateway area to the rest of the World Heritage Site.

The industrial Heritage museum is an Anchor Point of ERIH, The European Route of Industrial Heritage.

Morwellham Quay and Farm is well known from the BBC TV History Series "Edwardian Farm" which was shown in 2010 - around the time the original Museum operation encountered financial difficulties following the withdrawal of support from Devon County Council.

Today most of the original site is operated by the proprietors of Bicton Gardens a well known tourist attraction in east Devon, however, the farm which featured significantly in the BBC TV series no longer forms part of the museum.
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  • Morwellham Quay - April 1997

    Morwellham Quay - April 1997

    Archaeological work underway in what was once the Timber Yard / Quay area.

  • Morwellham Quay - April 1997

    Morwellham Quay - April 1997

    The historic trading ketch GARLANDSTONE undergoing restoration on the slipway at Morwellham. The vessel was built locally at Calstock and is a registered historic ship.

  • Morwellham Quay - April 1997

    Morwellham Quay - April 1997

    Timber for the restoration of the historic trading ketch GARLANDSTONE.

  • Morwellham Quay - April 1997

    Morwellham Quay - April 1997

    Devon Great Consols Dock and replica Devon Great Consols railway wagons.

  • Morwellham Quay - April 1997

    Morwellham Quay - April 1997

    Devon Great Consols Dock and replica Devon Great Consols railway wagons.

  • Morwellham Quay - Summer 1980

    Morwellham Quay - Summer 1980

    Welcome signage and the Grade II Listed Quay Manager's (Slate Hung House).

  • Morwellham Quay - Summer 1980

    Morwellham Quay - Summer 1980

    The historic Grade II listed Ship Inn. Some parts of the building date back to the 16th Century, though many additions have been made over the years.

  • Morwellham Quay - Summer 1980

    Morwellham Quay - Summer 1980

    The Grade II listed Quay Manager's House before the creation of the period shop to the right of the building up the second set of steps.

  • Morwellham Quay - Summer 1980

    Morwellham Quay - Summer 1980

    The Manganese Mill Wheel 32ft – Morwellham The 32 feet overshot Manganese Mill Waterwheel is a centre piece of Morwellham Quay. It once powered the Manganese Mill. The original wheel is believed to have been installed in the early 19th Century. The current wheel was erected in 1975 having been recovered from a Cornish China clay works

  • Morwellham Quay - Summer 1980

    Morwellham Quay - Summer 1980

    The overgrown track bed of the Tavistock Canal Incline Plane with Blue Trail marker point.

  • Morwellham Quay - Summer 1980

    Morwellham Quay - Summer 1980

    The Morwell Down Tunnel - a view taken just over three years after my previous image which gives a clear impression of the speed of growth of the vegetation in this area.

  • Morwellham Quay - Summer 1980

    Morwellham Quay - Summer 1980

    Tavistock Canal sluice which controls the flow of water from the canal to Morwellham Power Station, located near the Morwelldown Tunnel south portal.

  • Morwellham Quay - Summer 1980

    Morwellham Quay - Summer 1980

    Tavistock Canal sluice which controls the flow of water from the canal to Morwellham Power Station, located near the Morwelldown Tunnel south portal.

  • Morwellham Quay - Summer 1980

    Morwellham Quay - Summer 1980

    Mining Museum Interior

  • Morwellham Quay - Summer 1980

    Morwellham Quay - Summer 1980

    This dining room extension to the Ship Inn housed the Port Museum.

  • Morwellham Quay - Summer 1980

    Morwellham Quay - Summer 1980

    Port Museum Interior which occupied the space of the Ship Inn dining room extension.

  • Morwellham Quay - Summer 1980

    Morwellham Quay - Summer 1980

    Top of the lime kiln

  • Morwellham Quay - Summer 1980

    Morwellham Quay - Summer 1980

    Morwellham Hydro Electric Power Station - photographed in 1980 it was being operated by the Central Electricity Generating Board - CEGB. By the 21st Century after passing through several owners it is now operated by South West Water. The feed water is routed from the Tavistock canal.

  • Morwellham Quay - Summer 1980

    Morwellham Quay - Summer 1980

    Interior of the Morwellham Hydro Electric Power Station the turbines of which are fed by water from the Tavistock Canal.

  • Morwellham Quay - Summer 1980

    Morwellham Quay - Summer 1980

    The water powered threshing machine in the Morwellham Farm. This area is no longer available to visitors.

  • Morwellham Quay - Summer 1980

    Morwellham Quay - Summer 1980

    Morwellham Farm. The saddle stones used to support ricks away from vermin and water seepage,. The launder columns carried the feed to the waterwheel driving the threshing machine in the farm building. The launder had been restored to working order by 1982.

  • Morwellham Quay - Summer 1980

    Morwellham Quay - Summer 1980

    The Grade II Listed Morwellham Farm which featured on the BBC TV Series Edwardian Farm. This was once part of the Morwellham Quay museum but is no longer open for visitors.

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