A Few Days in Cornwall

[Ejaydee]

You'll recognise this then!

Oh yes, I know it well!

Although I moved from Mevagissey to Mousehole in 1992 (I now live just outside Penzance), I still visited the village on a regular basis up until I retired. 'Meva' is a lovely village, but during the summer, like many other tourist hotspots, it can be very overcrowded and every Tom, Dick and Harry descends onto the place to try and separate the visitors from their hard earned cash. Winter time is very quiet, but the soul comes back into the community (and you can get to the bar without fighting your way through lots of bodies ).

 

[meanders]

Oh yes, I know it well!

Although I moved from Mevagissey to Mousehole in 1992 (I now live just outside Penzance), I still visited the village on a regular basis up until I retired. 'Meva' is a lovely village, but during the summer, like many other tourist hotspots, it can be very overcrowded and every Tom, Dick and Harry descends onto the place to try and separate the visitors from their hard earned cash. Winter time is very quiet, but the soul comes back into the community (and you can get to the bar without fighting your way through lots of bodies ).

Ye. I have some great memories of visiting you and Dad plus families in the off season.

Hire a little cottage, sack of coal for the Aga, loads of fun with all the children. Weather sometimes tried to spoil things, but without the crowds, it was a different place.

 

[Dart]

DBK, Have you been to Lydford Gorge? If so that may be where you previously saw coins hammered into a big log. I understand that in the past some people believed they could get rid of an illness by hammering a coin into a tree but anyone removing a coin risked taking on the illness.

 

[DBK]

DBK, Have you been to Lydford Gorge? If so that may be where you previously saw coins hammered into a big log. I understand that in the past some people believed they could get rid of an illness by hammering a coin into a tree but anyone removing a coin risked taking on the illness.

No, I don't think I've been to Lydford but after a bit of research* it seems the idea behind the coins may be similar to the practice of throwing coins into a well or pool. It may date back to when spirits were thought to dwell in water and trees and this was a way of appeasing them by giving them an offering.

*. Spelt: Googling.

 

[Janine]

No, I don't think I've been to Lydford but after a bit of research* it seems the idea behind the coins may be similar to the practice of throwing coins into a well or pool. It may date back to when spirits were thought to dwell in water and trees and this was a way of appeasing them by giving them an offering.

*. Spelt: Googling.

I can’t believe that you haven’t walked Lydford gorge!

You are totally immersed in flora and the sound of water and birdsong - and there is a NT cafe for tea and cake

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[Dart]

I can’t believe that you haven’t walked Lydford gorge!

You are totally immersed in flora and the sound of water and birdsong - and there is a NT cafe for tea and cake

I agree, it's a lovely spot but unfortunately much of the path has been closed now following recent landslips. Access to the waterfalls remains open.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c03r0l69556o

 

[DBK]

We returned to Heligan Gardens this morning to plug the gaps we didn't see on our first visit.

There's an area of the garden called "The Jungle" and it is well named.

Mrs DBK deep in the shrubbery.

There is a rope walk in this area which we decided to cross. It has a one-way system as passing someone on it would be tricky.

This was taken just as I set off across the bridge.

After a slightly wobbly crossing I turned back to see if Mrs DBK was still with me.

After The Jungle we visited the Witch's hat sculpture.

Another pond!

This is the Italian Garden, Heligan's own Alhambra.

The Thunderbox Room is worth visiting. And it really does have a Thunderbox!

But the reason for coming here is to see this.

On a wall were found the names of gardeners who had written their names in 1914. A number of the names are now found on the local war memorial. In total 9 outdoor workers from the estate lost their lives in the Great War.

The bit of wall is now protected by a sheet of Perspex but the writing is now so faded it wasn't possible to take a usable photo.

The greenhouse on the right is full of peach trees trained against the roof.

Coldframes with the Thunderbox room on the left.

We heard American voices on our first visit and wondered if they had come from the massive cruise ship we had seen in Falmouth. Unfortunately, by the time we worked this out it was too late to check the Marine Traffic app as the ship had sailed.

It was easier today as this bus was a bit of a giveaway.

And here she is in Falmouth! She's the long blue pencil shape to the right of where Falmouth appears on the chart.

 

[Spriddler]

We heard American voices on our first visit and wondered if they had come from the massive cruise ship we had seen in Falmouth.

When I worked at Famouth Docks the hoards of Americans and Chinese flooded off the cruise ships and swarmed down the main street (Arwenack St) like locusts clearing out the Chinese traditional Cornish craftwork from the Trendy Tat shops. A week before expected arrivals I had to phone around to the shops, cafes and pubs so that they could stock up but later I brought it into the 20th century by sending out an 'Arrivals' email to them.
Not far away are Trebah Gardens which are similar to Heligan, but I expect you are aware of that.

 

[CWH]

massive cruise ship we had seen in Falmouth

.....

When I worked at Famouth Docks the hoards of Americans and Chinese flooded off the cruise ships and swarmed down the main street (Arwenack St) like locusts

Falmouth : population approx 25,000
Portree : population approx 2,000
Cruise ships coming into Portree now with 2,500 berths - on top of the road visitors, THAT feels like locusts!

 

[Figaro]

Great photographs, brought back memories.
My mother remarried and moved to St Ewe nr Mevagissey in the '80's so were frequent visitors.
I well remember the story of the gardens being rediscovered and brought back to their former glory.

. . . . . and the moving stories of the former gardeners who never returned

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