Predannack, Gew Graze(Soapy Cove), Ogo Dour

NO VISIT TO PREDANNACK CAN BE MADE WITHOUT INQUISITIVE COWS KNOWING... SO ALWAYS KEEP THE GATE CLOSED.

ADDER-BEST LEFT ALONE, BUT A COMMON SIGHT. APPEAR USUALLY FROM MARCH AND FREQUENTLY LAY ON PATHS SOAKING UP THE SUN.

BELOW; CLIFF MANAGEMENT BY NATIONAL TRUST ON PREDANNACK CLIFFS IN 2008- THE CURRENT APPROACH TO CLIFF MANAGEMENT OF "FURZE" OR GORSE ON THE LIZARD. THE VEGETATION IS LEFT TO REGROW AFTER A CONTROLLED BURN, AND TODAY GRAZED BY CATTLE AND PONIES.

FURZE WAS TRADITIONAL FUEL USED BY COTTAGE DWELLERS ON THE LIZARD FOR CENTURIES. COAL BEGAN TO BE INTRODUCED SLOWLY AS A DOMESTIC FUEL IN THE 18TH CENTURY WITH ITS INTRODUCTION IN CORNISH ORE SMELTING. THE COAL, WAS DELIVERED BY COASTAL SHIPPING FROM SOUTH WALES AND OFTEN DEPOSITED ON BEACHES SUCH AS CHURCH COVE AND POLDHU, TO BE COLLECTED BY CUSTOMERS IN A CART.

AFTER 1900 MARCONI HAD THE COAL FOR HIS RADIO ESTABLISHMENT AT POLDHU DELIVERED TO MULLION HARBOUR, THEN HAULED BY TRACTOR AND TRAILER THROUGH THE VILLAGE OF MULLION TO POLDHU.

GEW GRAZE (SOAPY COVE) THE STREAM RUNNING DOWN THE SMALL V SHAPED VALLEY INTO THE SEA CUTS THROUGH THE FIRST OF THE GEW GRAZE SOAPROCK QUARRIES (Below Left). THIS WAS THE FIRST SITE OF EXTRACTION ON THIS SITE IN 1748. (THE FIRST QUARRY FOR SOAPROCK WAS IN KYNANCE COVE IN THE 1720s AND 1730s) ON THE NORTH SIDE IS THE ONLY REMAINING DEPOSIT OF SOAPROCK.THIS WAS POOR QUALITY AND NOT WORKED. ON THE SOUTH SIDE IS A FAULT LINE IN THE SERPENTINE. (Below Centre)FROM THE BEACH LOOKING BACK TO THE EAST CAN BE SEEN AN OLD MINING DRIFT REPUTED TO BE THE ENTRANCE TO A MUCH DEEPER SHAFT, NOW BLOCKED. QUARRIES(Below Right) CAN STILL BE SEEN CUT INTO THE SERPENTINE ON THE SOUTH FACING SLOPES OF THE VALLEY.

Inland about a mile east of Gew Graze is an old Windmill which once belonged to the ancient manor of Trethevas. The building was round and about 30 feet high. A Map of 1696 shows that it had a pointed roof and prior to that it had sails. It was a seamark which was visible for miles. Historians suggested that it would once have been made of wood and revolved so that Millers could set the sails.

In the early 1800s it was a hide away and resort for the gangs of robbers which terrorised farmers and plundered the district. Many stolen sheep and cattle were butchered and shared out there amongst the thieves.

On August 12th 1820 a farmer of Kynance called William Hancock was attacked on the way home from Helston Market, later dying from his injuries. Story to be continued...

IN THE LATE 1700s ENGLAND WAS AT WAR WITH FRANCE. NAPOLEON BONAPARTE HAD DESIGNS ON SENDING AN INVASION ARMY ACROSS THE ENGLISH CHANNEL. HE INVADED SOUTHERN IRELAND IN 1796 AND HIS FIRST ATTEMPT TO INVADE ENGLAND WAS PLANNED FOR IN 1798.

AS A RESULT THE COAST TO BE REINFORCED AGAINST ATTACK AND AN EARLY WARNING SYSTEM PUT IN PLACE. IN S.E. ENGLAND MARTELLO TOWERS WERE CONSTRUCTED BUT FURTHER WEST A SERIES OF ARMED AND SEMI FORTIFIED SIGNAL STATIONS WERE CONSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE INTELLIGENCE ABOUT FRENCH SHIPPING AND EARLY WARNING OF ATTACK.

IT WAS NECESSARY THAT EACH TOWER SHOULD BE IN DIRECT VIEW OF, AND IN CONTACT WITH, THE NEXT TOWER AND IT WAS UP TO THE "SEAFENCIBLES" TO PROVIDE NECESSARY SUPPORT AND DEFENCE. MANY WERE RECRUITED FISHERMEN. SOME HAD DIRECT CONTACT WITH FRANCE THROUGH SMUGGLING ACTIVITIES. REMUNERATED EMPLOYMENT IN THE SEAFENCIBLES, HOWEVER, EXCLUDED THEM FROM ENLISTMENT AND PRESS GANGS.

PREDANNACK HEAD COMMANDS UNRESTRICTED VIEWS FROM THE LIZARD ACROSS TO TATER DHU, AND FROM PENZANCE TO TREGONNING HILL COVERING THE WHOLE OF MOUNTS BAY AND IT WAS AT THIS LOCATION THAT ONE OF THESE SIGNAL STATIONS WAS SITUATED. IT COULD BE SEEN FROM PARC BRAWES, THE NEXT STATION SOUTH AND TREGONNING HILL TO THE NORTH AND WAS THEREFORE AN IDEAL LOCATION. IT WAS FULLY MANNED AND UNLESS SIGNALS AND MESSAGES COULD NOT BE PASSED BY FLAGS AND BALLS ON A POLE, THEY WERE PASSED BY RIDERS ON HORSEBACK.

THE SITE OF THIS STATION IS ON THE HIGHEST POINT OF PREDANNACK HEAD, CLOSE TO A TRIANGULATION POINT THERE AND ALTHOUGH NOTHING IS NOW VISIBLE OF THE OUTLINE OF THE BUILDING, FIELD WALLS CAN PINPOINT ITS ORIGINAL LOCATION.

IT WAS FROM THE "SEAFENCIBLES" THAT THE PREVENTATIVE WATER GUARD WAS FORMED IN 1809 AND THE COASTGUARD IN 1829

See "A history of Mullion Cove Cornwall" by Robert Felce Publ. 2012

PREDANNACK CROSS

2012-"CUCKOO"