Charity takes over historic moorland engine house

A landmark building that has long been a symbol of a county's mining past has been taken over by a new owner.

The Prince of Wales Engine House, perched on the south-eastern edge of Bodmin Moor, has been transferred from Cornwall Council to the Cornwall Heritage Trust.

The handover of the Grade II listed building, which is part of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site, marks the fifth historic site transferred from the council to the charity in the past year.

The trust already looks after nearby historic spots including the Hurler Stone Circles, King Doniert's Stone and Trethevy Quoit and in April took ownership of a historic Grade II* listed Georgian country house near Penzance.

Trust chief executive Cathy Woolcock said the team were thrilled to be taking on the building and "securing the future of this much-loved landmark".

She added: "This is an important step in our wider vision for the area and we are excited to work with local people to tell the story of this extraordinary landscape, its mining heritage and the communities that shaped it."

The engine house, which was built in 1910 at a mine that was abandoned in 1914, was used to pump water from the mine and lift mined materials and miners.

It is also home to rare wildlife, including one of only two known locations in the world where Cornish path moss grows.

Other nationally rare mosses and liverworts can also be found there.

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