On 13th July 2006 select mining landscapes across Cornwall and west Devon were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site placing Cornwall and west Devon’s historic mining heritage on a par with such international treasures as Stonehenge, the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China.

The Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site bid project (2001 - 2006) was compiled on behalf of a family of organisations and individuals with a shared belief in the value of our mining history. Many of the partners in the World Heritage Site own or operate important mining landscapes and attractions, through which the story of Cornish Mining will be made available to the public. The World Heritage Site team have developed a Cornish Mining “brand” within which our partners will operate, based on our internationally important cultural characteristics and the principles and standards expected of a World Heritage Site, although all of the organisations and individuals involved remain independent.