The Gunpowder Magazine, Robinson's Shaft
THE GUNPOWDER MAGAZINE, ROBINSON'S SHAFT
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1392484
- Date first listed:
- 27-Mar-2008
- List Entry Name:
- The Gunpowder Magazine, Robinson's Shaft
- Statutory Address:
- THE GUNPOWDER MAGAZINE, ROBINSON'S SHAFT
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Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1392484
- Date first listed:
- 27-Mar-2008
- List Entry Name:
- The Gunpowder Magazine, Robinson's Shaft
- Statutory Address 1:
- THE GUNPOWDER MAGAZINE, ROBINSON'S SHAFT
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- THE GUNPOWDER MAGAZINE, ROBINSON'S SHAFT
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Cornwall (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Carn Brea
- National Grid Reference:
- SW 66709 41306
Reasons for Designation
Despite loss of its roof, this gunpowder magazine at Robinson's Shaft survives relatively well. It is unusual both for its large size and in its plan being circular with a circular blast wall rather than taking the more usual rectangular form. Most signifcantly, it sits within an internationally important historic industrial landscape recognised through its designation as a World Heritage Site and is part of the nationally significant Robinson's Shaft mining complex. Given its unusual form and its context within the Cornish mining landscape it merits listing at Grade II.
Details
CARN BREA
1535/0/10039 POOL 27-MAR-08 The Gunpowder Magazine, Robinson's Shaft
II Gunpowder magazine. C19 MATERIALS: Granite rubble
DESCRIPTION: The building comprises a circular powder magazine enclosed within an encircling blast wall. Both walls are constructed of uncoursed granite rubble, originally flush pointed with cement and both have west facing entrances. The blast wall stands up to 2m high and the opening has half-height granite door jambs and fittings for a small gate. The magazine wall stands up to 1.8m high and is unroofed.
HISTORY: The South Crofty gunpowder magazine dates from the 1860s and was constructed to serve Palmer's and Bickford's shafts situated 250m to the east. For safety reasons, the magazine would have ceased being used in 1900 when the adjacent Robinson's shaft was established. The building is likely to have continued as a store for the new working and the roof was not removed until the early 1990s.
SUMMARY OF IMPORTANCE: Despite loss of its roof, this gunpowder magazine at Robinson's Shaft survives relatively well. It is unusual both for its large size and in its plan being circular with a circular blast wall rather than taking the more usual rectangular form. Most significantly, it sits within an internationally important historic industrial landscape recognised through its designation as a World Heritage Site and is part of the nationally significant Robinson's Shaft mining complex.
NGR:- SW6670941306
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 490337
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 17-Jun-2026 at 23:12:25.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.