This post features: The Eden Project, Newquay, Truro, Redruth, Penzance and St Austell
The Eden Project
The Eden Project
Newquay
Surf’s Up
Truro
The Cathedral:
Truro Cathedral – the first ‘new’ cathedral to be built in Britain for over 600 years since Salisbury Cathedral was started in 1220. It is built in the Gothic Revival architectural style…Construction began in 1880 on the site of the sixteenth-century parish church (St Mary the Virgin) to a design by John Loughborough Pearson. Pearson was heavily influenced by Gothic architecture, as indicated by the cathedral’s three massive towers and spires. The central tower and spire is 76m tall, while the western towers reach 61m). Foundation stones were laid in 1880 and the first section of the cathedral was consecrated in 1887. The central tower was completed by 1905 and the building was completed with the opening of the two western towers in 1910. St Mary’s church was not completely demolished, and now serves as the cathedral’s Lady Chapel. Its copper spire is still a feature of the cathedral’s south-eastern aisle.The tomb of John Robartes and his wife dated 1614 – John was Mayor of Truro
Victoria Square:
Lemon Quay:
This bronze sculpture, called “The Drummer” and containing Cornish tin and copper, was unveiled in 2011. It depicts a figure standing on a sphere beating a drum…The Market Inn: looks nice doesn’t it? Cosy and old fashioned inside, too – astonishingly dull selection of beers, though – no Cornish beers though they may have had local cider – it had closed at the time of my visit in January 2024The Old Ale House, on the other hand, has a fine selection of beers. It is no longer a Skinner’s pub but it has retained its atmosphere, style and friendly atmosphere – a terrific pubThe Handelsbank building was completed in 1869 and was built on the site of the Fighting Cocks pub where Richard Lander was born in 1804 (although the Richard Lander School website has it as The Dolphin)…
City Centre:
Memorial to Richard Lander, who was born in Truro in 1804 and became famous for exploring the River Niger – he died in 1834 in what is now Burkina Faso. Legend has it that he left home at the age of 9 and walked to London. At the age of 19 he was on a ship bound for the Cape of Good Hope…
England’s First Tea Estate:
The Tregothnan Tea Estate – the first tea plantation in England – in the middle of nowhere, badly signposted and when you do finally get there all you’ll be able to visit is the shop which is in the hut…
Redruth
Kresen Kernow:
I came to visit the brewery in Redruth a couple of times back in 1988/89…The brewery closed in 2004 and was left to decayHappier times ahead and there’s hope that a microbrewery will set up in the redevelopment. Kresen Kernow (‘Cornwall Centre’) opened in September 2019 and is now home to the world’s largest collection of documents, books, maps and photographs related to Cornwall’s history. A good reason to go back…There’s a general lack of pavements on the approach and into the centre – so, it’s not really designed for easy pedestrian access, which is a bit odd…As a museum and exhibition centre it has to be said that there’s not much to see…It seems to focus more on working groups, researchers (there’s a big archive section) – not for the casual tourist…
Penzance
There was a funeral underway at St Mary’s Church, so I didn’t intrude. Early records show a church on this site in 1321. The chapel was repaired and enlarged c. 1662-72, and again in 1782, but by 1824 was too small and was rebuilt between 1832-5.The high streetLooking up CausewayheadThe Egyptian HouseThe Savoy opened in 1912 – the paintwork is a bit garish but it’s still open and tradingSt Michael’s Mount – I could have taken a much better photo from the train…
St Austell
The Holy Trinity Church:
The Holy Trinity Church was founded in 1259 and then enlarged during the late 1400s – the 15th century tower features the intriguing carvings…I’ve seen some references suggesting that the church was dedicated to the Irish saint St Austol (spellings vary) but will have to check when I get home
The Market House and Museum:
The Market House features an indoor market and the museum – which wasn’t open despite the signs indicating otherwise
The Town:
The St Austell Brewery – founded in 1851, what has come to be known as St Austell Brewery originally began life as Walter Hicks Wine & Spirits. It wasn’t until 12 years later, Walter began brewing his own beer, the first of which was created in the Seven Stars Inn – https://staustellbrewery.co.uk/
