Short trip to Cornwall

[Propagator]

As some of you will know I had to go down to Cornwall a few days ago. I had intended to take me camera, but managed to forget it but was able to borrow my brothers. I go down to Cornwall about twice a year, but never remember to take the camera, so for this first time in about ten years have now got some piccies of the place.

The place that I headed to was St Day. Accordingly St Day is a town and I am led to believe by the locals at one time a city (I cannot find any reference to that) in the Kerrier District of Cornwall, but is now really only a rural village. During the 19th century, due to its proximity to the former mining area of Poldice and the hamlets of Todpool, Creegbrawse and Crofthandy it was quite a prosperous town. At that time shops, merchants and markets dominated the town, some of the shop fronts still remain but are now part of houses.



Just along the road from here is the old church. This church was built in 1828, and is of stone in the Gothic style. When the mining industry in Cornwall collapsed the need for such a big chuch was questioned. Refurbishment of the church in 1931, which included the removal of a mezzanine gallery caused weaknesses in the structure and the church was closed in 1956. In 1985 vandals caused tthe fall of a small section of the roof, and the rest of the roof section had to be dynamited. Since then in 1999 work has started to stabilise the ruin so that it could be used for open air concerts.

It is quite an imposing church



The inside of the church



Again from the inside looking toward the bell tower (The bell got nicked)



Final view of the church from the road

[Ivor Biggun]

Originally Posted by Propagator

Again from the inside looking toward the bell tower (The bell got nicked)

Must have been them Scoucers on holiday ?

[Propagator]

This next picture is looking in a direction towards Poole (I think)




whilst these two are looking towards where Falmouth should be







You will notice in the above picture the chimmneys of the old mine workings and there are many in this part of Cornwall, more about them later.

This is the focal point of St Day, the next nearest pub is about another mile away and then none for about four miles in any direction.



and the High Steet, real quaint houses.




and finally for this session I thought that Blackgang had left Thailand with this picture, will have to post it on the appropriate forum and find out what it is.




Got a load more pictures to add but some need 'tweaking' plus gotta do some web browsing to get me facts correct about them

[melvbot]

Great pics Prop. Ive driven all round Cornwall but I was always working, its one of my fave places when the suns out. I like the "Ye Olde A Reg Ford Sierra" classy

[Marmite the Dog]

Devon and Cornwall are the best parts of the UK. Looking forward to more, Props.

[flash]

I have a wedding to go to in Woolacomb next year, its meant to be beautiful around there. if anyone knows the area and can recommend somewhere to stay it would be a help, its on a bank holiday weekend so i have to book something pretty soon.

[Propagator]

Thanks Marmite, and to answer your question Wayne K, Cornwall had loads of tin and copper mines.


Not far from St Day, less than a couple of miles is a place called Gwennap Pit. I had seen the signs for this on many occassions and in my ignorance had presumed it to be another one of the tin or copper workings.

WRONG - badly wrong.


It is a natural open air amphitheatre in which the methodist founder John Wesley preached numerous times. The pit was formed naturally by mining subsistence. During that time in the 1780's Gwennap was the greatest copper mining area in Cornwall, and was once described as being 'the richest square mile to be found anywhere on earth'. In 1806 in the memory of John Wesley the local people excavated the pit and formed rows of terraces into a regular oval 37metres across and 8 metres deep. A small chapel was built in 1836 at the approach to the pit and in 1991 a visitors centre was built alongside the chapel.

Approaching the pit, you will see this



To the right of the picture below you can see the side of the small chapel



and this is the pit, the two large stones being the pulpit




another view



and lastly a view from the bottom of the pit towards the pulpit




This last picture I got off the net, which shows a meeting in progress. I have no idea when it was taken but would hazard a guess as the early 1900s




More to follow tomorrow

[peterpan]

Great Photos Prop My favorite part of the Country, spent many happy hours driving around those parts.

[slimboyfat]

Nice pics.

How many pasties did you eat on your visit?

[dirtydog]

I really thought the next travel forum we done would be an Aussie one, you know, something exotic, helicopter rides across country, drives in the wilds and living off lizards and earthworms, the odds are its gonna be a bloody UK one

[rubbajohnny]

I used to work at Pool (without an e) about 3 miles from St Dayonce home to religeous fervour and tin mines now scrapyards and yobbos

[Propagator]

Originally Posted by slimboyfat

Nice pics. How many pasties did you eat on your visit?

Thanks SBF only a couple of pasties this time and they weren't as good as the ones I got from across the road on a previous trip.

Originally Posted by dirtydog

the odds are its gonna be a bloody UK one

Hmmm sorry about that

[Propagator]

Took these couple of photos while going down the A30 towards Hayle. In the distance you can see a monument which I shall mention later



and this one is looking towards Hayle



This one should have been a photo looking along the river estuary but I mucked it up. The shop to the right of the picture is one of the 3 pasty bakeries in Hayle, me sister-in-law (local lass) reckons they are the best around, but I don't reckon so, to my mind another shop about 100 yards down the road makes em much better. Anyway the name of the bakery pictured is Phillips Pasty Bakery




Here is Hells Mouth between Hayle and Portreath. It is a sheer drop down of some 290 feet (88 Metres) and is one of the highest points along the cliffs. I have searched the net to find the origin of the name but at present with no success. It is one of Cornwalls infamous suicide spots, local lore says there are hauntings at the cove. Accordingly it was a landing place for smugglers in the 1800s.



Its a long way down



looking out toward the Atlantic




Both of the next two photos are looking towards Navax point but taken looking into the sun. Thus I have tweaked them both a little but in differant ways








The last photo for tonight is looking back from Hells Mouth towards where St Day is, over the hills.




I love the contrast in colour of the fields

[knortyboy]

The only trouble with Cornwall is that it's full of cunts. I should know, I'm one of them!!!

[Propagator]

A little further South is Godrevy Beach, Godrevy Island with the lighthouse. It is in St Ives bay and this first view is looking across the bay towards St Ives. Again some of these photos have been enhanced and others left alone, as the photos were taken looking into the sun.




this is looking the opposite way towards the island and lighthouse



This is looking toawrds the beaches of Godrevy and Gwithian




Godrevy beach is considered to be one of the best beaches in Cornwall for surfing. The beach is owned by the National Trust and thus for free parking here you have to be a member of the NT. There were quite a few people surfing on this day.



The lighthouse was built because of a dangerous reef stretching towards St Ives called 'The Stones', after a ship the SS Nile was wrecked with the loss of all lives in 1854 and the lighthouse approved. It was not until 1858 that it was built.
It comprises of a 26 metre high tower and was of rubble stone in mortar. It was built on the island of Godrevy and the light has a mean high water height of 37 metres. The two beams can be seen at a distance of 12 to 15 miles. It was originally built at a cost of £7082 15s 7d including the adjoining keepers cottages. Two keepers were originally appointed to tend the light, but it was altered in 1939 and the keepers withdrawn and the light was made fully automated. It was modernised again in1995 when it was converted to solar power operation.



Not quite the same picture but this one much enhanced. Thought the seagull was coming in on a bombing raid



Couple of more pics here on zoom



This ones a bit wonky though



and this one

[Propagator]

Ooops had forgotten about this.

Probably about a half hours drive from Godrevy, through loads of narrow windy and twisting road we come to Carn Brea. Some 800 feet up on Carn Brea hill we come to Carn Brea castle, more of a folly really. Built on an ancient settlement this can be traced back to 1379. It was rebuilt by the Bassett family of Tehidy and the 18th century possibly as a hunting lodge or as a chapel to St Michael.

Various local rumours that I have heard is that the giant John of Gault was buried beneath it, and also that a couple of tunnels have been found close by, one leading to Redruth and the hint to smugglers.








After falling into disrepair it was extensively modernised in the late 1980s. It is now a restuarant and possibly one of the most remote in the UK. I know that I would not like to drive up there on a dark and windswept evening, it is bad enough doing it in the daylight sober. Just imagine leaving there with a few to many wines under the belt.

Very much doubt if it gets very much 'passing' trade. The views though from here are great however and well worth the bumpy ride as will be shown in the next post.

[jandajoy]

Terrific. Thanks Prop. Brings back lots of memories and places I've missed being Devonian. I must check out that last place, Carn Brea castle. Stunning.

Cheers

[Smeg]

Great memories.

I spend part of my childhood living in Carbis Bay. I had a view of that lighthouse from my bedroom window, much like this

[ItsRobsLife]

Excellent thread and some real nice pics, got a few saved to my 'puter, like the one of 'the pit'.