The start of our week in Cornwall
Today was the start of our holiday week in Cornwall with Hayley, Andrew and Izobelle. They invited us to share a week with them based in the Cornish town of Lostwithiel, and we were looking forward to our week away with them.
We started our journey on the Friday, and decided to go clockwise around the M25, onto the M3 and then follow the A303 - stopping at Wincanton for the night. Andrew and Hayley were later starting and they went on to Honiton. We made contact on saturday morning and decided to meet on the Cornish coast at lunchtime, at Charlestown, as we could not get into our accommodation in Lostwithiel until 4pm.
Located about a mile outside the town of St Austell, Charlestown, is an amazingly pristine, unspoiled example of a late Georgian working port. It was constructed between 1791 and 1801 by Charles Rashleigh, entrepreneur and member of the local landowning family, in response to the growth of the growth of the local mining industry. Originally built to export copper and import coal, it was soon being used for the export of China Clay. It is from its creator that the the port gets its name.
Charlestown was formerly known as West Polmear with a population of 9 and a small fishing fleet that used the beach as a harbour. The project began with the construction of the pier to provide shelter for the fishing fleet and then the creation of a basin, cut out of the bedrock to allow the sailing ships in. The roads were widened and paved to allow for the wagons, which carried the cargo to and from the harbour.
The Matthew, a replica of John Cabot's boat, built for the Bristol '96 sea festival, was in Charlestown in July 1996 where filming was taking place for a BBC programme about his epic voyage 500 years ago.
Many films have used Charlestown as a set. These include Poldark Series 1 & 2, Swept From The Sea (1996), Mansfield Park (1998), Man to Man (2004), Treasure Island (2007), Alice in Wonderland, Dr Who (2011), The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box (2012) This is a really pretty place and a great way to spend an hour or two.
Having had lunch we then set off to Lostwithiel to see where we were to spend our week - Impressive!
A couple of views of our holiday let. To quote a local agent "Boseglos house is a grade II listed landmark property in the heart of Lostwithiel adjacent to St Bartholomew’s church - Bos Eglos (Cornish for 'Home by the Church') This landmark property was originally a mid eighteenth century cottage which was enlarged and altered then with a later nineteenth century Gothic addition The property boasts many original features including Gothic windows and various magnificent open fireplaces"
It was a great place overall, although there were one or two niggles which should have been sorted prior to our stay.
Sunday A walking morning around the town to get our bearings. I love these narrow streets, although they are not so good to drive on I would imagine. Soon a park was spotted and became the next destination.
The Medieval Bridge stands at the site of the original crossing of the River Fowey. The river was first bridged by the Normans. The bridge was rebuilt in the 13th-14th centuries and has been repaired and kept in use ever since.
It has been the scene of many notable and emotional occasions, including the arrival of the Black Prince and his retinue to hold Court at Restormel Castle in 1354, and the dispatch of the defeated Parliamentary army by the angry citizens in 1644.
The foundations of four western arches are buried under North Street. The eastern arches were added as the river changed course.
The Duchy Palace originally reached along the quay as far as the cobbled archway at the end of South Street. All Cornish affairs and the tin industry were controlled from here, including the Courts, Treasury, Maritime offices, the Stannary Parliament, smelting, coinage and assaying of tin and the stannary prison.
The complex was badly damaged by Parliamentary soldiers during the Siege of Lostwithiel in 1644. The Convocation Hall at the corner of Quay Street is the best preserved part of the complex and carries the emblem of the Black Prince (the first Duke of Cornwall) at the apex of the northern gable.
Today the Duchy Palace is owned by the Prince's Regeneration Trust who undertook significant conservation and renovation to the building. To quote the Prince: "We bought Old Duchy Palace, a Grade I listed 700-year-old building, in 2009 to save it from dereliction. We have worked with the Cornwall Buildings Preservation Trust (CBPT) to restore and regenerate it, and CBPT is now running the building, having taken it on a long lease.
The Palace was built by Edmund Earl of Cornwall in 1292. In 1337, the Black Prince became the first Duke of Cornwall and made this Palace his administrative centre. From here the Duchy was managed and developed a strong association with the tin mining industry."
In the afternoon we decided to visit Fowey, where the River Fowey meets the sea. Another pretty Cornish town with beautiful views of the estuary from many parts of the town. The downside being the very steep hill between the carparks and the sea front - this taxed us all on the way back!
What peaceful views - we were to return here later in the week.
Cannot remember where in Fowey I took this but I love it!
The `Rook With The Book` on Fowey river front
This sculpture is the first piece of public artwork to celebrate the works of Daphne du Maurier, (one of my favourite authors) and was inspired by du Maurier's 1952 short story 'The Birds'. The sculpture marked the launch of the Fowey Festival of Arts and Literature 2018 programme. The sculpture was the idea of Fowey business Mike Redmond and it was made by father and son team, the sculptors Gary and Thomas Thrussell.
In a county built on history and legends, it is hardly surprising that Daphne du Maurier fell in love with it. The landscape is woven throughout her novels and rich descriptions of the sea and Cornish places add depth to her prose.
The du Maurier family took holidays in Fowey at Ferryside, Boddinick and Daphne would stay at a little cottage opposite called ‘The Nook’ to continue her writing once the rest of the family returned to London. On remote walks she would discover Menabilly, at Gribben Head, and fell in love with the dilapidated house. Owned by the Rashleigh family, it would be 17 years until she could call it home.
Now set amongst National Trust land, Menabilly was remote and gave du Maurier the solace she craved. It became her family home for 25 years and she would write from a little hut in the garden. Menabilly doubles as Rebecca’s ‘Manderley’.
Although born and raised in London in privileged circumstances and to a family of actors and artists, Daphne du Maurier will forever be associated with Cornwall. Cornwall fed her soul and gave her the freedom to follow her passion for writing which in turn gave her the independence she held dear.
At the peak of her fame, when ‘My Cousin Rachel’ was published, du Maurier was Britain’s highest paid woman writer. However, she also valued her independence and quiet time, preferring a reclusive lifestyle in order to produce her writing - What better place than Cornwall?
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