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Welcome to the ancient
fishing village of Polruan, famous for its boat building heritage. The Fowey
river estuary is a thriving centre for fishing, seafaring, shipbuilding and
agriculture. Polruan is part of the parish of Lanteglos-by-Fowey which is
bounded by water on three sides - Penpoll Creek to the north, the Fowey River to
the west and the sea to the south. The natural defences of sea and river, made
the area an attractive dwelling place for the earliest inhabitants. This
remoteness gives the area its unspoilt charm with its narrow streets and
narrower alleyways where flights of slate steps twist between the houses. 
Polruan is based on the south coast of Cornwall on the river Fowey. If you are looking at a map you will find this wonderful village opposite Fowey. It is a small village with
only one road in or out. The road goes through the middle of the village and ends up on the village quay, where you will find the Lugger Inn,
which like most houses in the village has its own interesting history. There are, however, two pubs in the village, the second being the Russell Inn, which is literally just up the steps from the Lugger Inn. Both pubs offer an excellent range of food at very reasonable prices. From the quay you will find a passenger ferry that will take you across to Fowey. The journey taking about 5 - 10 minutes. At
the top of the village itself
there is a camp site should you feel hardy, but they have mobile homes available to rent.
The beauty of either visiting or coming to stay in Polruan is that it is
unspoilt. Being built on the side of a hill it has, thankfully not allowed too much expansion and commercialisation and as a result has retained much of its charm. In the main street itself (Fore Street - as you will find in most Cornish villages) you will find
the Polruan Stores and the Harbour Cafe, on the Quay is The WinklePicker Shop
(which is also the Post Office) .
Polruan has something to offer everybody. August bank holiday is a must if you enjoy a carnival. Fowey starts the festivities off with their carnival usually
a week before bank holiday, with activities every night ending with the candle lit processesion down the river which is followed by a firework display. This has to be seen to be believed. The following week Polruan has its carnival with
a band and fancy dress for all ages. On the quay itself you will find a wide variety of stalls with lots of goodies to purchase. One stall will allow you to buy a ball for the ball rolling competition. They have over a thousand numbered balls that they roll down the main street, which is a rather steep hill. What you do, is to pay to put your name against a particular number ball, and if that ball is the first to reach the bottom of the hill then the prize is yours. The carnival procession starts
on the quay and goes to the school field at the top of the village and then parades all the way round the village, collecting money
for charity on the way.
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.
Hall Walk: Polruan to Bodinnick
Tracey Tucker sets out to retrace Daphne du Maurier's footsteps through a historic part of Cornwall on the Hall Walk from Polruan to Bodinnick.
Polruan, in Cornwall, is imbued with a lingering, romantic atmosphere, for the history round these waters is truly ancient and whispers as you pass by.
One of the most interesting walks in this area is the Hall Walk, a three-mile excursion for which, if you are to enjoy it to the full, you should set aside a day.
The original walk was designed as the promenade for Hall Manor, which was built just above Bodinnick for an influential Cornish family in the 13th century. It is probable that the walk would then have included only the stretch of land round Penleath Point, but it was extended in later years to its present length.
1. Start off at Polruan, where the seagulls create a cacophony of cries. From the blockhouse - a dramatic starting-point - walk along West Street, across Fore Street and up East Street. You can only walk so far along East Street, before coming to a gate, beyond which you cannot go. Turn right here and you will see a sign that reads - in the manner of all good adventure stories - 'To the hills'.
2. Follow the steps up, past a big, pink house, until turning left onto a woodland path. Soon, there are fine views, over shingled roofs and seagull nests, out across the harbour and its swaying, clinking boats. It is no wonder that Mabel Lucie Attwell, doyenne of the English postcard, painted fairies and elves for children's books here.
3. If you keep to the main track you will eventually come to a small, clear brook, full of coppery stones. As you leave the woodland, you will see the estuary, Pont Pill, to your left. This is most definitely a place to stop and contemplate the wildlife. With the roots of trees clawing at the mud in the basin, you could almost be in Africa or some far-off swamp land.
4. Follow the signs and the main track to Pont, where you will be taken in by the beauty of the tiny harbour. A number of writers lived and wrote at Pont Creek - Kenneth Grahame for one was inspired by its unique peace.
5. Cross the Pont footbridge and walk to the edge of the woods, veer to your right to find the path again and then take a sharp left to walk on the other side of the creek. Follow the woodland path until you come to a gate and a field.
6. Walk along the bottom of the field and you will soon discover breathtaking vistas. You are approaching Penleath Point, which is marked by the 'Q' memorial, in memory of the writer Sir Arthur QuillerCouch - otherwise known as 'Q'.
7. As you look across the water from here, towards Fowey, there is a fine view of Place, a turreted building which towers like some fantastical castle above the town. Continue along the path, past the war memorial to your left and down towards a tinygateway.
8. This is the entrance to Bodinnick. The village has hardly changed since it was first visited by Daphne du Maurier. The house by the water at the bottom of the hill was her first Cornish home - the Swiss Cottage, which she renamed Ferryside.
9. Take the passenger ferry to return to Polruan.
Updated - 28 December, 2007
Some pictures added
Lantic Bay (near Polruan)
Lansallos Beach
The Dredger 'Lantic Bay' built at Polruan
The Quay as it used to be
Lanteglos Parish Plan 2005
The Lanteglos Parish Council, having previously adopted the Parish Plan, at their Council meeting on 25th April 2005, resolved to have three sections and associated projects of the Parish Plan as priority issues, they are (followed by the persons who will initially be promoting and coordinating the projects) : section 1: housing and development, Helen Swiggs & Alan Toms. Section 3: community services and facilities, Gavin Shakerley & Bill Pittman. Section 4: health and social services, Geoff Hurley, Edwin Teuton & Ray Rigg.
The Parish Council would encourage any members of the community who are interested in these projects and would like to join a committee dealing with any of these items to contact the Parish Clerk.
As well as the three prioritised projects, below is a list of the other projects identified in the Parish Plan, if anyone, or organisation, is interested in taking these projects further, please contact the Parish Clerk for further information.
Keith Charman, Parish Clerk
(22 Meadow Close, Polruan, phone 01726 870719).
Project summary
(a booklet containing this project summary has been delivered to every household in the Parish)
Section 1: housing and development
Project 1: to provide an adequate supply of affordable homes for a range of people within the community such as local residents in housing need, first-time buyers, young people and elderly people.
Section 2: employment
Project 1: to create a thriving economy, while ensuring that new developments within the parish are small-scale and sympathetic to the surrounding area and amenities.
Project 2: to improve and create employment opportunities for people locally.
Section 3: community services and facilities
Project 1: support for Village Hall on the Parish.
Project 2: retain existing Post Office.
Project 3: providing a safe crime free environment for residents the Parish.
Project 4: reducing the current problem of illegal parking by enforcing parking laws.
Section 4: health and social services
Project 1: improve access to a range of health facilities, particularly hospital, doctor, chemist, optician and dentist.
Project 2: adequate residential care facilities for elderly within Parish.
Section 5: traffic and transport
Project 1: tackling the speeding problem and alleviating accidents spots.
Project 2: to reduce impact of HGVs and traffic congestion throughout the Parish.
Project 3: improve and expand current ferry service.
Project 4: to provide concessionary fares on Polruan/Fowey ferry.
Section 6: leisure and recreation
Project 1: play equipment to be made available and maintain for the 6-12 and under 5 age group.
Project 2: an appropriate youth Centre/coffee bar available and accessible Parish residents.
Project 3: for residents to have access to indoor sports activities.
Project 4: skateboards facilities to meet the needs of parish.
Project 5: residents to have access to outdoor sports facilities and activities.
Section 7: retail outlets
Project 1: to encourage a wide range of new services and products that can be accessed locally. This may be by way of new shops or mobile services, or through the expansion of existing shops.
Section 8: tourism
Project 1: to promote sustainable tourism development.
Section 9: environment
Project 1: clean and tidy public areas.
Project 2: household recycling collection/facilities throughout the Parish.
Project 3: an enhanced and well maintained waterfront area.