A historic mine in South East Cornwall is to safeguarded from further deterioration and have access to the public improved thanks to a funding boost from the Cornwall Heritage Trust and heritage body Historic England.

Gunnislake Clitters Mine, a hidden gem tucked away on the Cornwall bank of the River Tamar, will benefit from a funds to help conserve, and improve access to, the Skinner’s Shaft part of this important historic site. The site was worked for copper, tin and arsenic (and later Wolfram, an iron manganese tungstate mineral) from 1822 to 1908. The workings occupy the slope down to the river known as Clitters Wood.

The Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is working in partnership with Historic England, the Cornwall Heritage Trust, Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site, and the Tamar Community Trust on this ’Rediscovering Gunnislake Clitters’ project. The aim is ultimately to slow the rate of decline of this scheduled monument, by initially facilitating access for further management works and public access. The AONB says it is also grateful to The Duchy of Cornwall, which owns the site, for its support of this work and in giving permission for the clearing of vegetation to improve access.

Cathy Woolcock, of the Cornwall Heritage Trust, said: “We are delighted to be able to support this really important project through our heritage grants scheme, with the aim of ultimately seeing the access to the site improve and its removal from the Heritage at Risk Register. Well done to the Tamar Valley AONB for their work to conserve and share this valuable heritage site.”

Historic England and the Cornwall Heritage Trust have awarded a total of £2,550 for this initial phase of a longer-term project, which will be delivered through the National Lottery Heritage Fund-supported Tamara Landscape Partnership Scheme.

John Ette, Partnerships Team Leader for Historic England in the South West, said: “We’re delighted to be working with the Tamar Valley AONB and partners to develop a series of projects which are unlocking the power of volunteers to look after our vulnerable heritage. This grant will help visitors understand this remarkable piece of Cornwall’s industrial heritage and preserve its amazing legacy for future generations.”

Through the £3.2 million Tamara Landscape Partnership Scheme (National Lottery Heritage funded), in collaboration with Historic England, a five-year Monument Management Scheme (MMS) will be developed and implemented to secure the longer-term positive management of the built heritage elements of the site and removal from the Heritage at Risk register.

Deborah Boden, Cornish Mining World Heritage Site Co-ordinator, said she was delighted to be involved in the project, adding: “Gunnislake Clitters Mine is part of the Outstanding Universal Value of the World Heritage Site within the Tamar Valley as well as being a scheduled monument. As a partner in the Tamara Landscape Partnership Scheme, we very much welcome the proposed conservation work at Skinner’s Shaft.”

Valerie Darwall, Project Officer for the Tamar Valley AONB,added: “We look forward to offering enriching, hands-on experiences for volunteers who wish to engage with the region’s mining history. In doing so, we hope to make Skinner’s Shaft at Gunnislake Clitters a great place for visitors, who come to enjoy its heritage and rich wildlife, whilst managing the site sensitively as a tranquil place in the heart of the Tamar Valley AONB”.