Morwellham Quay Summary

• Address: Morwellham, Tavistock, PL19 8JL (Map)
• Tel: +44 (0)1822 832766
• Fax: +44 (0)1822 833808
• Owner: Simon And Valerie Lister
• Administrator: George Lister
• E-mail: Click here to contact
• Website: Go to the Morwellham Quay website

For 1,000 years Morwellham was a centre for shipping silver, tin, copper and other minerals. The busiest year was 1868 but by 1900 the Port was deserted and overgrown. Morwellham Quay is now rediscovered and new areas are restored and conserved every year for you to enjoy.

Morwellham is at the highest navigable point on the River Tamar and the quay developed here as a handy place from which to reach the sea 23 miles away. Over 1000 years ago, Morwellham served as a port for the local communities like the rich Abbey of Tavistock. About 1100, tin was discovered on the edge of Dartmoor and the ore was smelted and shipped out from Morwellham. Apart from this early mining, this was a peaceful place until the Industrial Revolution brought a tremendous demand for metals of all kinds. The hills of West Devon and East Cornwall were extremely rich in tin, lead, copper, arsenic and manganese.

Soon after 1800 there were scores of mines - some close to Morwellham, but bigger ones around Tavistock and on the edge of Dartmoor - and Morwellham Quay was the nearest convenient port. It was to South Wales with its huge supplies of coal for smelting, that the ores were shipped. Dragging great quantities of heavy ore from the mines to the port was a real problem and so, in 1803, work started on the Tavistock Canal. To reach Morwellham Quay it had to skirt the hills between there and Tavistock.

It took 13 years of hard labour to construct a tunnel through the rock but due to the formation of the land the canal ended high up above Morwellham. To reach the port below, a water-powered 'incline plane' railway was constructed. At the bottom, a network of sidings fanned out around newly enlarged quays and docks - Morwellham literally doubled in size. In 1844, the greatest copper lode in Europe was discovered near Morwellham.

A new company which became known as Devon Great Consols was formed to mine the ore. The mine was only 4 miles from the Quay, but it lay in a completely different direction from the canal. In 1856, the mine owners constructed a railway to the hill above the quay and a second inclined plane railway was built, passing through a tunnel beneath cottages and the village green. Extensive quays and a massive new dock were built. Morwellham Quay had yet again doubled in size and was hailed as 'the greatest copper port in Queen Victoria's empire.' 300 people lived there and ships from all over the world brought the vital supplies needed to work the mines and took away the cargoes of ore.

As copper deposits began to run out, arsenic ore was mined instead. This provided the deadly poison which was used in insecticides and weed killers. It was once said that there was enough arsenic stored on the quayside at Morwellham to kill every man, woman and child in the world. 20 years later Devon Great Consols was forced to close. The effect was catastrophic. Thousands of miners were forced to emigrate in order to find work. The quays fell into disrepair, the docks silted up and the place became almost forgotten. By 1970, nearly a thousand years of bustling activity had been reduced to bramble covered ruins but an ambitious restoration programme was put in place and visitors can now relive Morwellham as it was when it reached its peak in the mid 19th century. But find out much more about Morwellham on their Website.

Today the main site features include:

George & Charlotte Copper Mine:

Travel aboard the riverside train and deep underground into an authentic copper mine. Learn about the miners and the working of this ancient mine through the ages.

The Morwellham Farm & Nature Trails:

Explore the meadows, nature trails and riverside hides. See chickens, ducks, geese, pigs, shire horses and more.

Guided Tours:

Discover the stories behind the port, workshops and cottages of Morwellham. Experience Victorian life with the help of their guides.

Garlandstone:

Get aboard the Garlandstone, a fully restored 80' gaff-rigged ketch, built on the River Tamar over 100 years ago.

The Ship Inn:

Enjoy a drink and simple Victorian ambience of the Ship Inn - no canned music or gaudy advertising allowed!

Opening Times - 2012

• March - July: Daily 10 am - 5 pm
• July - August: Daily, 10 am - 5.30 pm
• September - October: Daily, 10 am - 5 pm
• November - March: Daily, 10 am - 4 pm

Admission Prices - 2012

• Adult - £7.95
• Seniors - £6.95
• Child (2-16) - £5.95
• Child (under 2) - Free
• Family (2+2) - £24.95

Groups welcome (16+)

• Please contact for details

Further information including opening times and prices

Image Gallery

Your Reviews of Morwellham Quay

There are currently no reviews for this Stately Home.

Additional Info for Morwellham Quay

• Parks
• Playgrounds
• Dogs allowed
• Disabled Access
• Education
• Refreshments
• Picnics
• Guides
• Meals Available
• Filming
• Gifts
• Live Entertainment
• Shop
• Car Parking

Credit Cards Accepted

• Mastercard
• Visa
• Delta
• Switch

Updating this Home

If you are the owner or manager of this property, now is your chance to update your information. In your interests, updates are checked to ensure that no incorrect information is entered from an unauthorised source.