Officer of the Council and Responsible Finance Officer
Keith Charman, 22 Meadow Close, Polruan by Fowey, Cornwall PL23 1QS - Tel:01726870719
e-mail: kcharman@aol.com
Council Minutes Councillors Details Meeting Dates Lanteglos Parish Plan
Finance Summary 2007/08 Other Links
Response Letter to Post Office
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Lanteglos Parish Boundary (Click to enlarge)
Polruan Village (Click to enlarge)
Polruan Conservation Area (Click to enlarge)
A very old fishing village and where most of the fishing boat building took place (and today there is still an active boat yard, building and repairing boats of all types). It is said that St Ruan was the first to occupy the top of Polruan Hill, which is where St Saviours ruin stands today. Polruan is very steep and well protected from the prevailing winds and Polruan Pool is a haven for small boats. Polruan is part of the parish of Lanteglos-by-Fowey and many of the residents are artists and writers who are attracted to the quiet nature of the village. The Polruan Ferry crosses the river to Fowey every 15 minutes every day of the year and is still the best way in and out of the village, as the alternative is either a drive to the Bodinnic Ferry or via Lostwithiel, a 40 minute journey.
Blockhouse
This blockhouse is comparatively well preserved due to the efforts of various
enthusiastic councillors and conservationists on the Polruan side of the river.
There were two (the Fowey side being ruined beyond hope) which were built end of
the 14th century to protect the harbour from pirates and the French. A chain was
pulled up across the river between the two blockhouses to stop vessels entering
the harbour and conversely, to stop them leaving if they had the temerity to
"cross the line".
 Polruan, the Tower c1965 (ref. P69069) |
This predates Henry’s defences by almost one hundred years. In 1457 the French launched a raid against Fowey Harbour, and as a result a boom defence was added. There were two towers, one at Fowey, and this one at Polruan, and it was between these that the chain was stretched. The towers mounted small calibre guns, and were designed so that the staircase to the battlements was separate from that between the ground and first floor. |
 Polruan, From Fowey 1908 (ref. 60925) |
Polruan was once a major shipbuilding port; in the 19th century it launched over 6,000 tons of shipping. The blockhouse on the shore to the right was the castle from where a chain was stretched across the river for protection in times of war. Not that it always worked - in 1457 a Breton fleet broke through and sacked Fowey. |
St Saviours Ruin
Standing
high on the hill overlooking Polruan, St Saviours chapel was built long before
any of the surrounding churches and dates from the 8th century. The remaining
buttress indicates that the chapel was solidly built and was a prominent
landmark for ships. It would have been a good lookout point for checking on
approaching enemy vessels and the first monks would have been effective
coastguards providing a warning by ringing the chapel's bells. St Saviours was
enlarged by Sir Richard Edgcumbe in 1488.
Punche's Cross (or
Paunches. Pontius. Ponts. or the French Ponce' Cross)
Lying at the eastern tip of the Fowey River below the cliffs to the south-west
of St Saviours Point, this cross is said to be associated with Pontious Pilate
as well as Jesus' uncle, Joseph of Arimethea, who it is said passed this way
with the young Jesus to inspect his tin mines. It is marked on very early charts
and if the cross was damaged by storms, it was reinstated by monks from
Tywardreath. It is today under the responsibility of the Fowey Harbour
Commissioners. The true origin of the name is unknown but it may be a corruption
of Pontius. Whatever its real history, it is an important warning, as when the
tide is high, only the top of the cross is visible, indicating that there are
some very dangerous rocks below!
Brazen Island
Originally an isolated rock (hence the name) which is now incorporated into the
main building, which was a sardine factory in 1883 but liquidated shortly after
in 1887 (presumably through the lack of sardines). The Freehold of the factory
was purchased by the Fowey Harbour Commissioners in 1926. The transition from
sail to steam and later, diesel engines, created the need for an engineering
works and from this time, the present complex, slipway and works was gradually
built. The Lantic Bay Dredger was built here in 1953 and is still working full
time.
Ferryside
This is the du Mauriers ' family home bought in 1927 and where Daphne du Maurier
wrote her first book 'The Loving .Spirit in l928/9, (published in 1931). It is
also where she met her future husband Boy Browning whom she married in 1932 and
who was then a Major in the Grenadier Guards and later became Lieutenant General
Sir Frederick Browning. Daphne du Maurier was created a Dame of the British
Empire in 1969. The house has, until recently, been lived in by Angela du
Maurier and is now occupied by Daphne du Maurier's son and his family. It was a
boat-builders yard and had water running right through what is now an impressive
sitting room, with magnificent views across the harbour out to the sea. The back
wall of the house is the rock cliff face and has been incorporated marvellously
into the house.
Bodinnick
A unique and pleasant way to enter or leave Fowey, is to take the Bodinnick
vehicle ferry and cross the river. Bodinnick is on the east side of the river,
and, a short steep climb up through the village beyond 'The Ferry Inn', on the
right-hand side, can be found the start of the Hall Walk, which takes you over
Pont Creek and ends in Polruan, where a passenger ferry returns you to Fowey.
Along this pathway will be found the 'Q' memorial and at Pont, the old wharf is
still there and is part of a delightful cottage which is now a National Trust
property which can be rented for holidays.