Monday, 28 January 2019

The Mysterious Roche Rock, Cornwall

Roche Rock, Cornwall
As the evening shadows fall on Roche Rock, and it's tiny chapel, the wind howls heartily over the heath-land. It is definitely not a place for the faint-hearted. The ghost of an old tin miner casts his shadow with no earthly presence to be seen ... gulp ...
The mysterious Roche Rock, Cornwall
But luckily, while I visited Roche Rock, there was a blue winter's sky and the dangers had dissolved in the sunshine.
Showing detail of the chapel onRoche Rock, Cornwall
Okay what we know about Roche Rock is that a small chapel, or maybe a hermitage, has been built on natural rocks. Many say that these rocks are granite, but they are wrong. They are a mixture of grey quartz and black tourmaline. They are very strong and have supported the chapel since the 1400s - the chapel was dedicated to St.Michael in 1409. The rocks themselves are a little bit older - they were created some 270 million years ago!
Around the Rock is one of the last areas of heath-land locally. It probably looks much as it did a thousand or more years ago.
Heathland looking from Roche Rock, Cornwall
I'll mention some of the stories and myths about Roche Rock another day. But below is an old picture of Roche Rock together with a description (in old English) by John Norden in 1584:

A verie high, steepe and craggie rocke, upon the top whereof is placed a cell or hermitage, the walls whereof are partly wrowghte, and that with great labour, out of obdurate rock. It standeth upon the wylde Moares, farr from common societie"

Old picture showing the hermitage on Roche Rock, Cornwall

Also see Roche Rock Stories
at

18 comments:

  1. Ann B. Kennedy28 January 2019 at 15:40

    Fascinating! It looks as if it has held its own over the years. I can't tell by the angle but can you actually climb up close enough to touch the structure? I'm looking forward to more posts on this one! Very interesting!

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    Replies
    1. Mike Perry28 January 2019 at 16:15

      Thanks Ann. There used to be a metal ladder up to the chapel, and from there I managed to get to the very top of the chapel. I snapped a photo from there. Not really something I should have done!

      Delete
  2. Christine Taylor Ednovean Farm28 January 2019 at 18:38

    Wonderful story Mike of an extraordinary place - Thanks for pointing it out - so much to discover in Cornwall!

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    Replies
    1. Mike Perry29 January 2019 at 10:10

      Thank you Christine, it was a perfect day for photos with the blue sky. I don't think that many people visit Roche Rock.

      Delete
    2. Simon English12 August 2021 at 19:18

      The ladder is still there and sturdy as of August 2021, as is the 2nd ladder leading out to the top of the rocks. I went up but wasn't brave enough to leave the safety of the doorway on to the top of the rocks themselves. A beautiful site. Glad I visited.

      Delete
    3. Mike Perry15 August 2021 at 12:17

      Thanks Simon, I haven't been to the top of the ladders for a couple of years. I remember looking across to the Roche church when at the top.

      Delete
  3. David Bennett28 January 2019 at 21:02

    Fascinating story backed up by your usual high quality images.

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    Replies
    1. Mike Perry29 January 2019 at 10:12

      Thank you David, I find these sort of places very interesting to visit. There seems to always be legends and stories to go with them.

      Delete
  4. Unknown28 January 2019 at 23:16

    So fascinating

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  5. Mike Perry29 January 2019 at 10:13

    Thank you for your visit. Have a good day.

    ReplyDelete
  6. P R Ford29 January 2019 at 12:03

    What a fascinating topic, Mike and wonderful photos accompanying it.

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    Replies
    1. Mike Perry30 January 2019 at 09:40

      Thank you Prue. There are several legends and stories about Roche Rock, always interesting to read them.

      Delete
  7. Unknown8 September 2019 at 04:18

    My ancestors lived in and around Roche.I visited Roche Rock a few years back and climbed the ladder spotting the word "BEST" on one of the rungs. Is there any history on when the ladder was erected and by whom?
    Are there any Best's still living around Roche?
    Murray Best Launceston Tasmania Australia.
    Great story Mike. keep up the good work

    ReplyDelete
  8. Caro15 August 2020 at 22:14

    Hi, my great great grandfather erected the ladders at Roche rock. He was born in Roche in 1853 and died there in 1938. He was a builder/stone mason called William Roberts.

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    Replies
    1. Mike Perry16 August 2020 at 12:21

      Thank you Caro, very interesting and answers Unknown's question above. Thanks so much for the information. Best wishes.

      Delete
  9. Jeff 4 November 2021 at 19:16

    I came over from your twitter post. What a lovely ancient chapel and a beautiful day. I've never been the Cornwall, but your cover shot kind of reminds me of Skye.

    https://fromarockyhillside.com

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    Replies
    1. Mike Perry5 November 2021 at 14:44

      Hello Jeff Cornwall is full of mystery and traditions that stretch back a long way. Thanks for your visit, all good wishes.

      Delete

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