For the last 8 months, our dedicated team have been working day and night on the final phase of restoration that will protect the inside of the ancient Tolgus Tin Mill from the elements and uncover even more of what the mill has to offer for us all to enjoy, for years to come.
Built in 1865 the mill is located on a tin site over 500 years old and is the last working tin mill of its kind in Europe. Historically it was used to crush tin ore from local mines, allowing tin to be extracted. It was a hugely important part of Cornwall’s tin mining history.
What we’ve done
What’s so unique about our mill is that you still experience it, untouched, as it was hundreds of years ago with the machinery and water that you see around the mill just as it would have been. Remember the mill was always full of water so expect some areas to be wet! Therefore, while we needed to restore the roof to make the site weatherproof, we didn’t want to take away the past or move things and ensure that when you walk around the mill it really does feel like it did all those years ago.
The scale of the work has been enormous and we had only had our experienced team of two, Chris and Brad, working on it alongside contractors when needed!
By hand, they took off the old broken tin roof sheets one by one, then dropped them down to be used as a template for the new sheets made from reclaimed corrugate steel. After this they lifted each sheet back onto the roof and secured it into place, being extra careful not to damage the grade two listed building.
As well as the roof they have installed new wiring throughout which will enable us to get even better lighting, and the large frame house up and running again soon! Plus, a room that had been shut and locked for over 10 years can now hopefully we reused and opened for people to enjoy more of what the mill has to offer.
Sustainability and the new tin mill roof
We have used reclaimed wood and material where possible across the restoration, including over 3 tons of old Cornish railway sleepers! Whatever we have taken out we have put back in and we’ve used some great local suppliers along the way.
Processing and smelting tin on-site is ultimately the most sustainable way to progress the mill restoration. We put our own tin into our Tolgus collections sold exclusively at Cornwall Gold, the profits of which going back into restoring the mill.
This means that every time you buy a piece of our Tolgus Jewellery you are supporting the restoration and maintenance of the mill. It is like wearing a real piece of Cornish history…
The future of the Tolgus Tin Mill
We’ve got lots of exciting plans for the mill in 2025, not only has this restoration enabled us to open up a new room, and make it weatherproof and safer, but it has also meant we can now focus on the information signage inside, which will help our visitors understand the machines and processes used in the mill.
Watch our recent coverage on ITV West Country News to see all about our restoration and future plans for the mill below and here.
THE TOLGUS TIN MILL ROOF: STAGE TWO
The Tolgus Tin Mill roof restoration has been underway for the last 2 months and has another 6-8 weeks to go before it’s finished. Sweat, blood and tears (10 stitches and half an ear!) have gone into the restoration so far with the team working day and night in all weather to bring this ancient mill, the last of its kind in Cornwall, back to life.
Over 3 tons of reclaimed railway sleepers, corrugated steel and hundreds of hours of manpower have enabled us to reach the halfway point in this ambitious project. We’ve worked hard to make sure this is a sustainable restoration with everything we’ve taken out of the mill reused in other areas – nothing has gone to waste. We’ve linked up with local suppliers to make sure we support local business, re-dug every footing to future-proof the mill, and have even been lucky to find some hidden gems along the way like pre Second World War bottle tops and floatation tanks that were once used to separate the tin sediment.
The Tolgus Tin Mill Roof: Restoration Begins
Steeped in hundreds of years of history, the Tolgus Tin Mill at Cornwall Gold is Europe’s last remaining tin stream works, which is why we are determined to preserve this wonderful piece of Cornish history and bring the mill to life once again for generations to come.
Over the last 9 months, visitors have been voting on what part of the site to save next, starting with the new roof.
HOW WE WILL RESTORE THE NEW TIN MILL ROOF
To retain as much of the original features and structure as possible, the wooden A-Frame will be lifted off in parts so a new corrugated steel roof can be put in place. Any rotten wood will be replaced before being put back. At the same time, mundic affected areas will be removed whilst new lights and new wiring will be installed to get the frame house up and running in the not-too-distant future.
Here are some of the careful steps we will be taking:
- Firstly, we need to take off each of the old tin sheets on the roof one by one
- We will carefully drop each one down and start building new panels to size
- Using the same procedure we will pull each one back up individually and put them into place. Repeating over the whole roof.
We don’t want the roof to fall into any more disrepair, so right now it needs investment, time, and effort and that’s something we are passionate about. However, the estimated works are going to cost us around £50,000.
RAISING FUNDS AND AWARENESS
The sale of our Tolgus jewellery helps to raise vital funds to preserve the mill. Although the tin mill has been out of commercial operation for decades, the the machinery can still be switched on so we can process tin in the old-fashioned way. It can be smelted on-site and put into our Tolgus jewellery sold exclusively at Cornwall Gold. From Cornish wedding bands containing a touch of Tolgus Tin to stylish eco-friendly bracelets, stunning pendants and more, our jewellery comes from the heart of Cornwall.
This revenue helps to sustainably protect and maintain the mill, so we owe a huge thank you to all our customers who have supported us and bought our stunning jewellery.
VISIT US
In 2023 we created a brand new interactive exhibition dedicated entirely to the Tolgus Mill. Today visitors can learn more about the tin milling process, hear the stories of those who worked there, view original footage of the mill in action and dress up in traditional clothing! There is something for everyone and all ages.
Our free exhibition shows how much our industrial landscape has changed but there is a lot of work to do to make the mill operational and not just a record in the archives.
Book your free visit to Cornwall Gold here and receive a free £5 voucher to redeem in our jewellery showroom, plus discover the menu and locally sourced food we have in our award-winning Cornish Pantry here.
Find out more about this restoration project on the BBC Cornwall here and watch the ITV Westcountry report on the Tolgus Tin Mill roof restoration below: