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Unity Wood Mines

OS Explorer Map 104: Grid reference SW736436

Plaque at Scorrier entrance to Unity Wood

Unity Wood lies between Scorrier and Chacewater in Kenwyn Parish and can be accessed from the Mineral Tramways Portreath to Devoran Tramway just south east of Scorrier. This large area is bounded by Scorrier in the west, Chacewater in the east and St.Day in the south. A walk through the woods offers a chance to see a pumping engine house, a winding engine house and stamps house along with several capped ancient shafts - the area is riddled with mine workings so as usual Please keep to the path. The area is rich in history and pathways lead the curious visitor through the trees on the way south towards the Poldice Valley. The difference between the leafy glades within Unity Wood and the stark Poldice Valley with its stark landscape and stunted plantlife is enormous. Paths lead off the main track up to Killifreth and to the engine houses of Wheal Unity and Magors Shaft.

Looking down into the former shaft and engine house foundations at Williams Shaft, Unity Wood

Waymarker on Portreath to Devoran Mineral Tamway trail at Zimapan, Unity Wood

Magor engine house at Wheal Unity Wood

Magor engine house plaque at Wheal Unity Wood

Magor engine house at Wheal Unity Wood

Clwyd capped remains of Tonkins Shaft, Wheal Unity Wood

There are capped mineshafts at almost every bend in the path and the area is full of history. Cornwall in Focus are currently researching the area as part of its ongoing Mining Database so watch this space....

Approaching a capped mineshaft at Unity Wood

Closer inspection of a shaft at Unity Wood

Now that 'World Heritage' status has been acheived Cornwall in Focus will monitor develpments and learn how the Unity Wood site will fit into the overall Mineral Tramways framework.

For those of you with possibly a little more time to explore, once you've done 'the tourist bit', why not explore Cornwall's industrial heritage through its Tin and Copper Mines or learn more from my Cornish Bookstore