It is situated in the Tamar Valley approximately ten miles (16 km) north of Plymouth[2] The first woman cabinet minister in the British Empire, Mary Ellen Smith, was born here in 1863.

[citation needed] During this period Gunnislake was held in equal standing amongst the richest mining areas in Europe.

[6] Hingston Down is usually accepted as the place mentioned in an entry in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for 835 (corrected by scholars to 838) which says that Egbert king of the West Saxons defeated an alliance of Cornish Britons and Danish Vikings.

[7] Gunnislake's development was primarily due to the dramatic increase in mining and industrial activity in the nineteenth century.

Most mining activity ceased in the late nineteenth century which has bequeathed interest for archaeologists and students of industrial heritage.

Nearby, locations such as Kit Hill, Morwellham Quay, Cotehele and Calstock were mined and quarried and the Tamar was used for transporting the raw material obtained from the works.

Gunnislake is located in the Tamar Valley designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, though some recent industrial development has been attempted and achieved.

Within early 2006 Hingston Down Quarry installed a new asphalt production tower which is easily noticeable as it is proud of the skyline of Gunnislake.

Their home ground was at Gunnislake pitches, which is on the banks of the River Tamar, until the club moved to Butts Meadow near to Calstock.