Polurrian

The Secret History of the Mullion Roads

There have been many notable Shipwrecks at Polurrian over the centuries past. The beach and the surrounding rocky cliffs hold many maritime secrets which have recently been researched, and referenced in a book called "Dodging about in the Mullion Roads", a History of Shipwrecks and other Maritime incidents in and near to Mullion Parish, Cornwall from 1807 to 1933. Mullion Island, has for many millennia provided shelter to ships which have been unable to sail from west to east past the Lizard Point bound for Falmouth, and all ports and countries beyond it. Storms and strong winds, often combined with weather changes, and sea currents prevented ships, in particular sailing ships, which included schooners, brigs and barques, of all countries from making this journey.

With strong winds from the E and SE in particular their passage would frequently be obstructed and require them to take shelter in the lee of the land, from Mullion Island, north towards Pedngwynian, taking in Polurrian, Mullion Cliffs, Poldhu and Gunwalloe Church Cove. It was called the Mullion Roads. During stormy weather there could often be as many as 200-300 ships at anchor here all waiting for the wind to change to a more favourable direction which allowed them to continue their journey. Most were fully laden with cargo. Unfortunately, when the change occurred the wind would become South-South West- or West in a short period of time (as can be seen today) and if they failed to raise their anchors and chains quickly and safely, accidents and wrecks would frequently occur. (just as traffic jams on the car parks and roads occur today).

PEDN-Y-KE (CLIFFS ON SOUTH SIDE OF POLURRIAN MAIN BEACH)

A SOURCE OF IRON ORE AND LOCATION OF A SHORT LIVED 1850s COPPER MINE CALLED WHEAL FENWICK. CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF AN ENGINE HOUSE WAS IN FACT BUILT HERE FOR THE UNSUCCESSFUL WHEAL FENWICK BUT BY THE 1870s WAS IN A RUINOUS STATE, THE REMAINING STONE REPORTEDLY USED IN BUILDING PART OF THE POLURRIAN HOUSE HOTEL IN 1889.

POLURRIAN HOTEL -opened in 1887 for 20 visitors at a time (Corn. 4.5.1911), 40 bedrooms were added in 1896 .* IN OCTOBER 1901 THE ENGINE HOUSE, LAUNDRY ROOMS AND BEDROOMS ABOVE SUFFERED FROM A DISASTROUS FIRE. FORTUNATELY A STRONG SW GALE BLEW THE FIRE AWAY FROM THE HOTEL REDUCING DAMAGE. BECAUSE OF THE GALE THE MULLION FISHERMEN WERE NOT AT SEA AND WITH THE COASTGUARDS, THEIR QUICK RESPONSE PROVIDED ASSISTANCE WHICH PREVENTED MUCH DAMAGE. A NUMBER OF VISITORS ALSO LENT THEIR SUPPORT. THE HELSTON FIRE ENGINE WAS TELEGRAPHED FOR FROM THE VILLAGE, AND AFTER A DELAY IN FINDING AND FETCHING THE HORSES SEVERAL FIREMEN ARRIVED, BUT BY THIS TIME THE FIRE HAD BEEN EXTINGUISHED. (CORNISHMAN 1901)

IN MAY 1909 THE HOTEL SUFFERED ANOTHER FIRE WHICH TOTALLY DESTROYED IT, THE PREMISES WERE GUTTED 30 MINUTES AFTER THE FIRE WAS REPORTED BY STAFF SLEEPING ABOVE THE KITCHEN WHERE IT WAS REPORTED TO HAVE STARTED, ABOUT 2.45AM ON SUNDAY MORNING. A NUMBER OF PEOPLE SUFFERED INJURIES. MEDICAL STAFF WERE SENT FOR AND DOCTORS ARRIVED FROM REDRUTH AND HELSTON TO ATTEND TO THOSE INJURED. THE COST OF THE DAMAGE TOTALLED OVER £12,000. HAD FIREMEN BEEN ON THE SPOT THEY COULD HAVE DONE NOTHING. MANY VISITORS AND STAFF LOST PROPERTY AND A LARGE NUMBER OF PAINTINGS BY LOCAL ARTISTS (W.CASLEY AND J.C. UREN) WERE DESTROYED IN THE BLAZE. LUCKILY,THE BUILDING WAS INSURED.(THE CORNUBIAN & REDRUTH TIMES MAY 1909)

POLURRIAN BOXING DAY CHARITY SWIM -2009

POLURRIAN BEACH-BOXING DAY CHARITY SWIM-2010 ALL IN BRRRR ... AND ALL OUT!

ODD FACTS OF HISTORY. ON THE CLIFFSIDE ABOVE MERES LEDGES, HALF WAY BETWEEN POLURRIAN AND POLDHU, IS A SMALL SOUTH FACING WALLED ENCLOSURE WHICH IS REPUTED TO BE A SMALLHOLDING. THE LOCATION IS OF INTEREST BECAUSE A WATERCOURSE FALLS AWAY FROM THE FIELDS AND TOPPLES OVER THE CLIFFS CREATING ONE OF THE LARGEST WATERFALLS ON THE LIZARD PENINSULA. AFTER HEAVY RAIN THE STREAM OF WATER FALLS INTO A DEEP VALLEY ADJACENT TO MERES LEDGES.

ALSO OF INTEREST IS THAT THERE IS AN OLD PATH, NOW BARELY RECOGNISABLE WHICH REPUTEDLY WAS ONE OF THE MANY LOCATIONS USED BY SMUGGLERS TO BRING IN BRANDY FROM BOATS ON THE LEDGES BELOW.

THE FIELDS ON THE ROUTE FROM POLDHU TO POLURRIAN, PART OF THE ANGROUSE ESTATE, WERE THE SITE OF ANCIENT EARTH BARROWS WHICH WERE FOUND TO CONTAIN URNS, BONES & METALWORK. AT THE LANDWARD BOUNDARY OF POLURRIAN BEACH CAN STILL OCCASIONALLY BE FOUND THE GRAVES OF SAILORS, DROWNED, UNIDENTIFIED AND BURIED IN UNCONSECRATED GROUND BEFORE 1808.

AFTER 1808 BODIES WERE BURIED IN THE CONSECRATED CHURCHYARDS.

2010 A WALK TO POLURRIAN. A FOOTPATH LEADS FROM MULLION VILLAGE, THROUGH THE MERES, ALONG CORONERS LANE TO POLURRIAN BEACH.

MARCH 2nd 2016 STORM -PICS POLURRIAN - MERES LEDGES- towards MARCONI MONUMENT. ITS NOT ALL SUNSHINE AND GLORIOUS BEACHES. CLIFFS WHICH HAVE SEEN MANY A SHIPWRECK.