a new quay was added to handle the 30,000 tons of ore that were exported each year. Arsenic was also extracted and it became the world's largest supplier of the mineral in the latter part of the century. However, by 1903 the Consols' wealth was exhausted and the mines closed. By this stage, the railways had taken over and Morwellham's usefulness was also ended. The canal tunnel was used as a water supply for a hydroelectric plant and the inclined planes were abandoned. In 2009 Devon County Council withdrew funding for the mining museum, which as a direct result was placed into administration. In April 2010 the site was purchased by the owners of Bicton Park, and it reopened to the public later in the year. Industrial heritage The site has been imaginatively preserved to give an impression of Victorian industrial and rural life. The assayers' offices have been carefully preserved and Victorian cottages, farm and schoolrooms presented. The ore-crushing plants driven by a 32-foot overhead waterwheel can be seen. A battery electric-powered tramway, constructed as part of the tourist attraction in the 1970s, takes visitors for tours on a single level of the copper mine. There is also an extensive ecological programme of visits to explore the valley by water and land. Old lime kilns can also be seen. The three areas by the tunnel are listed as the bulk of sources of copper in the county in Lysons' guide to each county of Britain in the 1820s and the county's derived wealth from this metal alone were as follows: Edwardian Farm The BBC television series Edwardian Farm was filmed at Morwellham Quay during 2009/2010. See also New Quay (Devon) – A similar port slightly downstream, now abandoned. Calstock Harewood House, Calstock References Further reading Booker, Frank (1967) The Industrial Archaeology of the Tamar Valley. Newton Abbot: David & Charles; Revised impression 1971 External links Morwellham Quay Official website BBC Devon website Cornish Mining website European Route of Industrial Heritage Anchor Points Industrial archaeological sites in Devon Tourist attractions in Devon Redeveloped ports and waterfronts in England Geology of Devon Museums in Devon Mining museums in England Open-air museums in England Mining in Devon River Tamar Lime kilns in England