Writing Bedrock Cornwall Book II, which covers Penwith, has been a challenge because there is so much to see there. This accounts for the book being over 500 pages long. Not only does Penwith excel in quantity, but it also surpasses itself in quality. Whilst writing the book I have repeatedly found myself using superlatives – the best, the most spectacular, the finest, incredible as it my seem, and so on. To give you a flavour of what these superlatives
can amount to, I will pick some examples which hopefully will wet the appetite.
The Carter brothers of Prussia Cove were the most successful and ruthless smugglers of their time anywhere in the UK.
Porthcurno was in the forefront of oceanic telegraphy and was home to the largest cable station in the world.
You may be surprised to know that alongside St Ives reputation for abstract art, it was also the headquarters of the largest tramp steamship company in Britain in the early 1900s. The whole business, owned by Sir Edward Hain, was run from St Ives.
Penwith is often descried as a prehistoric outdoor museum because of the sheer number and variety of monuments that can be seen.
Hayle is not often on the tourist map. Described in ‘Black’s Guide of Cornwall’ in 1931 as “A dirtier, squalider less interesting town is not to be found in Cornwall,” it may come as a surprise to find the town right at the forefront in establishing the Industrial Revolution in Great Britain in the 18tth century. One statistic: Hayle produced and exported 80% of the world’s land-based steam pump engines during the 1830s to the 1850s.It is a town worth visiting.
Mines with levels that were tunnelled out undersea inspire the greatest respect and admiration for the miners who worked the lodes. Hearing the rocks being moved by the tides overhead it is hard to imagine a more frightening job.
The narrow and wide gauge rail track that went head to head was the most almighty ‘cock-up’ but also fascinating for train spotters.
The Rev. Robert Aitken, the first vicar of Pendeen Church, and Colonel Paynter of Boskenna Manor were two mavericks of exceptional quality and ability.
The outdoor Minack theatre is exceptional and totally unique with a backdrop that will take your breath away.
The 65 miles of coast around Penwith is second to none.
