Luxulyan Valley is the steep, wooded valley of the River Par in mid-Cornwall. Its present atmosphere can conceal what a heavily engineered place it became: watercourses, tramway remains, inclines and the Treffry Viaduct belong to a landscape shaped around industrial work.

Water here was a source of power as well as something to cross. The viaduct carried a tramway and an aqueduct, linking transport with the water supply for Joseph Thomas Treffry’s mining interests. Farther down the system, Ponts Mill connected with the canal towards Par Harbour. Granite quarrying added another reason to move heavy loads through the valley.

The valley forms part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site. That designation is easier to understand when the structures are read together. A bridge is impressive on its own; a bridge that helps explain how ore, stone, water and ships belonged to the same business is considerably more interesting. The area pin locates the valley, not a particular car park or walking entrance.

Where it is

Luxulyan Valley

50.39, -4.744 · Position source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxulyan_Valley

Luxulyan Valley — broad landscape orientation

Visiting and access

A location reference, not confirmation of public access or a visitor entrance.

Sources

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxulyan_Valley Source: https://www.nationaltransporttrust.org.uk/heritage-sites/heritage-detail/treffry-viaduct-luxulyan Source: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1007279

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