Kennall Vale Gunpowder Mills 2025






Tucked away in a wooded valley near the village of Ponsanooth, is a site of great historical interest having a wealth of industrial archaeological features. A producer of gunpowder for the mining industry from 1812, it was one of only two gunpowder works operating in Cornwall at this time.
Contacts
Operator: Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Address: Kennall Vale Nature Reserve Nr Ponsanooth Cornwall
- Website: View website
Open Days & Times
Access at all times. Visit website for more details.
Travel
- By Rail: Penrhyn / 4 miles
Facilities
- Part disabled access
The old Gunpowder Works were in operation from the 1800s until the early 20th Century, when they were forced to close due to the invention of dynamite. Today, the remains stand in a nature reserve maintained by The Cornwall Wildlife Trust with its old ruins, beech woods, waterfalls and the Kennall river. Park in the village of Ponsanooth, walk past the shop and up the steep hill. The reserve entrance is on your right.
At the peak of its production in the 1860s, the company employed over 50 men, and also owned two paper mills, a farm and a number of cottages in the locality. (Relax and enjoy a walk through the woods with only the birds and wildlife for company, and plenty of time to explore.)