The Waterwheel Inn was built in the 1700s and was originally a Blowing House where tin was smelted. At that time it was called Higher Blowing House and was the last working Blowing House in Cornwall. In the 1800s John Martin and his wife Rebecca changed the use of the site from tin to clay drying. Remnants of the clay driers can be seen in the top carpark and the chimney behind the mobile home.