Masonic Hall, St Agnes

The Masonic Hall in St Agnes is a small, local museum that tells the story of the town's mining heritage through the eyes of the Freemasons who shaped it. Inside you'll find artifacts, photographs and documents relating to St Agnes' tin and copper mining past - a crucial part of Cornwall's industrial story that most visitors completely overlook. The hall itself is modest, nothing fancy, but that's rather the point. This is genuine local history, not a polished attraction designed for coachloads of tourists.

It's worth an hour if you're genuinely interested in mining history or the social structures that defined 19th-century Cornish communities. Kids will find it dull unless they're already keen on industrial archaeology. The real draw here is understanding how integral the Freemasons were to St Agnes' economic and social fabric - they weren't just a secretive bunch meeting in the back room, they were investors, employers, and community figures.

Since I can't confirm current opening hours or admission prices, ring ahead before you visit. St Agnes itself is compact and easy to walk around, so combine this with a wander through the town centre and maybe a clifftop walk down to Trevaunance Cove. If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Perran View is barely a mile away - it's an easy wet-weather option. On a sunny day though, you'd be mad not to head to the coast instead.