Cornwall's Hidden History Blog
In the past writers have described the Goonhilly Downs on the Lizard peninsula as a bleak, remote and wild. Said to be the haunt of notorious highway men, travellers often complained of disorientating drifts of fog. But the day I visited the downs were beautiful. The only drifts were of pink and white heather. There […]
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Terence Coventry’s farm lies on an isolated clifftop not far from the picturesque village of Coverack. Terence lived here for more than 30 years and late in his life he converted three small meadows into a free sculpture park. This beautiful park, in its secluded and unexpected setting, has been surprising walkers ever since. In […]
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Mysterious and unique to Cornwall, fogous have had archaeologists scratching their heads for hundreds of years and they are no closer to solving the mystery. These underground passages are only found the far west of Cornwall, usually close to an ancient settlement. Their name, pronounced foo-goo, means cave in Cornish but they are also known […]
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The Helford River and it’s surrounds is one of the most beautiful regions of the county. But it remains one of the least visited. These slow moving waterways, sunken lanes and quiet creekside villages are hard to reach by car. For me by far the best way is to cross the river by passenger ferry […]
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I have lived close to Falmouth all my life but up until a few days ago I had never taken the ferry across the Helford River. The aptly named Ferry Boat Inn was buzzing with people enjoying a drink in the late afternoon sun. And on the small beach children played in the shallows, while […]
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If there is one thing that Cornwall does well, it is hide it’s industrial past. The desolate mining landscapes of 200 years ago have been largely reclaimed by nature. Many have become unlikely havens for wildlife and recreation. Hidden History One of my favourite short walks takes in such a landscape. Although these days you […]
Read MoreThis is my recording of my interview with Bart O’Farrell, the wizard on the Lizard. This recording was never meant for anyone but me to listen to. I recorded for the piece I was writing about Bart. So apologies for my silly interjections. I know you would much rather be listening to Bart!!
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In the back of Joseph Thomas’ book of poems entitled “Randigal Rhymes” you will find, along with a list of Cornish proverbs and charm for toothache, a glossary of Cornish words. The first one that you should look up of course is randigal. And you will find that it means “a rigmarole, a nonsensical story”. […]
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An interview with Bartholomew Patrick O’Farrell Driving down towards St Keverne on Cornwall’s isolated Lizard peninsula feels like drifting back in time. With the Autumnal fog rolling in from the sea and covering the Goonhilly Downs the whole scene can suddenly become rather otherworldly. Quite an appropriate place to meet a wizard. Bartholomew Patrick O’Farrell, […]
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One of the most iconic and memorable sites in Cornwall is a man-made one. What the locals call the Cornish Alps. The huge, bright-white spoil heaps left by the China Clay industry dominate the centre of the county and can be seen for literally miles and miles highlighted against a blue sky. China Clay is […]
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