Great Western Railway has provided a grant to Cornwall Heritage Trust to enable the local community at Luxulyan, near St Austell to connect with its unique industrial heritage.

Last May, Great Western Railway launched a Community Fund to support local communities and address areas of social need. Cornwall Heritage Trust successfully applied for a grant from the fund and received a £10,105 grant.

The project will focus on the history and heritage of Treffry Viaduct and the Luxulyan Valley, near St Austell. It will involve local people in a number of ways, including collating their views and connections to the viaduct and the valley. The grant will also help fund a film about the viaduct’s history with local expert John Smith, clearing paths to improve the area, guided walks around the site, and a special talk to offer people the chance to celebrate their heritage together.

The Cornwall Heritage Trust protects 12 historic sites, one of which is Treffry Viaduct and the Luxulyan Valley, near St Austell, and will benefit from the grant. The viaduct is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and is part of the UNESCO- designated Cornish Mining World Heritage Site. Luxulyan Valley is the nearest railway station to the site on the branch line between Par and Newquay.

For further information about the project go to https://www.cornwallheritagetrust.org/

Cornwall Heritage Trust CEO Cathy Woolcock said: “We’re extremely grateful for this funding from Great Western Railway. Connecting local communities with Cornwall’s unique cultural heritage is at the heart of everything we do, so it’s incredibly exciting to be able to deliver this exciting programme of interpretive and access works to bring this nationally significant site to life for the people of Luxulyan.”

South East Cornwall MP Sheryll Murray said: “It is good to see Great Western working with our local communities to promote the wonderful heritage of South East Cornwall.

“The Treffry Viaduct and Luxulyan Valley are very important sites, and I am really pleased that Cornwall Heritage Trust was successful in its bid for community funding.

“I very much look forward to seeing the film when it is finished and hope all goes well with the project.”

GWR Business Development Director Tom Pierpoint said: “The Community Fund is a fantastic opportunity for us to invest in our communities in projects that really make a difference at a local level.

“We’re delighted this funding will help to support the production of a film about the valley and the viaduct’s history and we look forward to seeing the end results.”