The museum is set in 26 acres (11 ha) of ground, and is based around two former china clay works.

[4] The grounds include a Site of Special Scientific Interest, because of the geological features of the locality.

[3] John Lovering took on the lease of Wheal Martyn in the 1880s, and made many modifications to the works.

[3] Wheal Martyn pit reopened in 1971 and is now worked by Imerys Minerals Ltd.[3] In order to pump clay slurry from the pit, which is some distance from a source of water, a system of iron rods transmits power, by a reciprocating motion, from a waterwheel of diameter 35 feet (11 m), made at Charlestown Foundry in the 1880s.

[6] Examples are exhibited of transport used in the clay industry: a Pecketts railway locomotive of 1899, used at Lee Moor Pit in Devon; a 19th-century clay wagon (to be pulled by a team of three horses); a 1934 ERF lorry; and a First World War Peerless lorry.