A bit of a dull day but we thought we'd have a look around Polkerris, a cove on Cornwall's south coast, as we hadn't visited there this year.
It was once known as Pollkerys, which may have been from the old Cornish word Porth meaning a harbour of haven. The kerris bit is from another Cornish word meaning to fortify or enclose - so it's a fortified harbour - well, was once upon a time.
To reach the harbour and beach you pass the Rashleigh Inn.
Many years back we often came here, with friends, for a meal or a drink. On a Friday night there would be singing of some of the old traditional Cornish songs, always enjoyable - but life moves on, children and other things.
That's the harbour wall in the photo below.
The harbour was created in the 18th century. I love old walls, rocks and stones - that's why there are a couple of photos of the harbour wall. Imagine all those who have walked along them in the 1700s. What stories they could tell us.
Oh, and a third photo of part of the wall with a canon embedded . There are several of these, they are thought to be from the Napoleonic era. So, once upon a time, this was truly a fortified harbour as described previously.
A section of the cliffs behind the harbour wall.
Moving on, just a few boats in the harbour - the tide was retreating while on our visit.
Looking across to the Rashleigh Inn and other food outlets
A few boats, perhaps waiting for the tide to turn.
Some people like to hide away on the small beach whereas ...
… others seem to congregate at the front of the Inn.
The Rashleigh Inn has an outside terrace with seats, perfect on a summer's evening.
Also see:
Photos of the Magical Polkerris Harbour, Cornwall on a Perfect Sunshine Day
I used to live in St Austell and I am sure I remember reading that the walled area over to the right of the harbour was a pilchard palace in its day, used to pack pilchards in barrels in the days when the fish were plentiful.
ReplyDeleteYes, in the 1800s Polkerris was a fishing port - over 200 people where employed to pack and cure the pilchards. Thanks.
DeleteWas just looking in to visit the old place where spent most of my youth, noticed you mentioned "many moons back on a Friday night with traditional old songs". I believe that would have been when my family run the pub, my grandmother Carol and her late husband Bernard. The songs were often played by Fred on the spoons.
ReplyDeleteSeeing you post that has brought so many memories flooding back.