Balwest lies 6 miles west of Helston and 9 miles east of Penzance, just north of the A394 road at Germoe. Little more than a hamlet now. Balwest was important in the nineteenth century due to its proximity to Great Work Mine.
The hamlet is on the southern edge of a former mining area, part of a geological formation known as the Tregonning-Godolphin Granite (one of five granite batholiths in Cornwall) which was formerly an important source of tin and copper ore . A Wesleyan Methodist chapel was opened at Balwest in 1829 for miners. The building is Grade II listed All are most welcome, £2 entry fee for non members on the door, includes tea and biscuits. Society meetings are held in the Sunday school room at Balwest at 7.00pm , usually the last Friday of the month
Program for 2024
July 26th BBQ Steve's
August 30th John Passmore Edwards, the Great Cornish Philanthropist... Paul Phillips
September 27th Informal
October 25th Penzance Station Part 2...........................................................Sid Geak
November 29th AGM
December 27th No Meeting