The Village of Polgooth, Cornwall

Our feet led us to Polgooth, once a Cornish mining village. To do so we followed a public footpath but found it was nearly blocked by corn - sweet corn - which was as high as an elephant's eye.

We fought our way through the corn, okay a slight exageration, and was soon walking down one of the country lanes.

We reached Polgooth village and some of the old cottages.

But not all of the village houses are old, look at the one below for example. I wonder what the old 18th century tin miners would have made of such a design.

We followed the churns!

The antiques shop was closed but some bits and pieces were in the window.

We noticed the teapot with the motto: Be like a sundial. Count only sunny hours.

We then followed the route to the Polgooth Inn. We've had a few pleasant meals here over the years. Polgooth, by the way, means Goose Pond in the Cornish language.

Some old agricultural machinary languishing  on the grassy bank ...

... and cattle trotting up the green hill.

Pleasant to see poppies and other flowers still on the roadside banks.

The sign post could do with a clean but it details a few nearby places.

There are some interesting trees in the village.

Most of the roads haven't any pavements. So just as well there aren't too many cars about.

A typical road. It can be a bit sticky if two cars approach each other from different directions.

Look out, horses about!

A few horses enjoying the freedom of the green fields.

We are now approaching the main A390 road and the end of Polgooth. In the far distance are buildings used by the china clay industry.

Another corn field alongside the A390.

As we walked along the grass we spotted this lonely little toy dog. Perhaps lost by a child from the school on the opposite side of the road. I placed him somewhere he might be seen. 

This is the old St. Mewan school, there are newer buildings behind.

Next to the Old School is, of course, the Old School House, but no longer used by the school.

And finally a Post Box tucked away at the side of the road. Our car was parked nearby, so it was homeward bound for a pot of tea.

Many thanks for visiting my blog, all good wishes for the weekend and week ahead~ Mike.

Significant Levels of Lithium In Cornwall

Cornwall has been known for it's tin and copper mines for many years. It is said, for example, that the mine at Polgooth supplied Phoenician traders with tin 3000 years ago.

There are tales of Joseph of Arimathea, a metal trader, visiting Cornwall with a young Jesus.

The small harbour at Charlestown, often mentioned on this blog, was initially built to export copper. Over 40,000 tons of copper ore were exported from here between 1810 and 1813.

Dolcoath mine, Camborne, Cornwall 1893

Cornwall had some of the richest copper reserves on earth during the 18th and 19th centuries.

And so the stories go on, but all has been quiet on the mining front for many years, the mines have all closed.

There is, however, promising news that the mining industry could once more spring to life. Not with tin or copper but with lithium. The mining firm, Cornish Lithium, are quoted as saying that Cornwall holds some of the world's best quality reserves of the metal.

Lithium is in  huge demand for use in mobile phones, laptops and also for the batteries of electric cars - essential as the UK plans to phase out petrol and diesel car sales by 2035.

It is said that along with hydrogen and helium, lithium was one of the three elements produced in bulk by the Big Bang that created the universe.

Other Posts:

Who or What are Cornish Knockers?

Did Jesus Visit Cornwall?

Public Footpath to Polgooth

A Previously Unexplored Puplic Footpath, Cornwall

We spotted a Public Footpath sign on the A390, something that had never registered with me previously. So the only thing to do was to explore and see where it would lead - though I did have a rough idea as I know the area quite well.

The path wasn't that appealing but we did arrive at a farmer's field with a green view. We had to walk carefully as the field had recently been seeded.

As we expected the path led us to lanes which in turn led to Polgooth, a small former mining village. It has changed a bit though, since those days and is now quite a pretty area.

Not a place to be speeding in a car as the sign warns of horses often on the roads.

And sure enough a horse and rider came clip clopping along the road,

Another warning sign: no footway.

Across the fields there are signs of the old mining industry in the area. It is claimed that mines in this area supplied Phoenician traders with tin 3000 years ago.

Times move on and today this is a pleasant residential area with holiday parks and chalets for tourists and holiday makers - (subject, of course, to the coronavirus restrictions currently in force.)

All very attractive and with a 16th century Polgooth Inn nearby.

Hawthorn flowers as we make our way back to where we came from.

Fields and stables and then we are back on the A390. All very pleasant but not what I'd call a 'proper walk'.

Other similar posts:

33 Photos: A Circular Walk Based On Gover Valley, St.Austell, Cornwall 

The Magical Hall Walk at Fowey Cornwall - With Lots of Photos