ST. AUSTELL TOWN PHOTOS & THE EARTH GODDESS

There's been a rumbling of sorts, in St.Austell and all because of a new piece of artwork, as above. It's big!  It is the UK's largest ceramic sculpture and is said to have cost £80,000. Oh, and in the photo above I missed off the very top of the sculpture. The title of the artwork is 'The Earth Goddess'.

The controversy rumbles on because some Church leaders are urging the town council to significantly change or remove the goddess. They claim that the local authority has likely, unknowingly, chosen to reject God by allowing the artwork to be erected.

Anyway let's move on, I'll come back to the Goddess later in the post. For now though, lets take a look at some of the much older parts of St. Austell town. Below is the Coral Moss shop and ...

... then a local Estate Agent. Property prices are rising in Cornwall.

Next we have the lovely Holy Trinity Church. There has been a church building on this site  since 1169. Part of the current building dates back to 1290.

The church stands on high ground and overlooks the White Hart hotel and pub. The hotel was previously the town house of Charles Rashleigh the Charlestown founder. See my previous post Photos and a Brief History of Charlestown, Cornwall

Another view of the church.

Looking from the opposite side of the church is the old Market House. There is also a free, but small, museum.

A touch of street art on the side of a building next to the Market House.

If we look outwards from the front of the church there is Fore Street, one of the main shopping areas. It has to be said, though, that, as with many towns, there are a few empty shops.

A view of the church looking back from Fore Street.

We have now slipped out of the Fore Street and into Biddicks Court where there is the Wetherspoon outlet called Rann Wartha.

A couple of photos from the back street.

Moving on to the newer part of St. Austell - a butcher and a greengrocer but no candlestick maker. There are bakers though, so a ready supply of pasties is available.

There are lots of flowers in this new(er) section of St. Austell.

Below is looking outward from the shops.

Four photos now of some of the flowers by the newer shops. As you can see I managed  to click the pics when there wern't too many people about.

So here we are again back at the controversial earth goddess - including the top part.

I guess when the goddess is in the right position, with the cinema and flowers in the background, she doesn't look too bad at all.

A close up of a section of the goddess.

Nearby there is a pleasant odour of fish and chips - even though I'm vegetarian!

I wonder what some of  St.Austell's well known people, from the past, would have made of the goddess?

That's all for today. I have, though, written a previous St. Austell post: A Flavour of St. Austell, Cornwall - 26 Photos if interested.

All good wishes ~ Mike.

Walking Through Fowey, Cornwall.

The weather wasn't great but we poodled down to Fowey for a short walk, always an interesting town to visit.

We parked the car in Gallant's Drive - safe to do so this time of year - and wandered down the Esplanade.

The first view is across the Fowey River to Polruan. 

The river gently splashes the rocks below.

Now looking inland as the river meanders through the hills.

Another view across the river to Polruan. There is a ferry from Fowey to Polruan and vice versa.

We continued walking to the quay passing by the Fowey Aquarium.

On the quay the canons are at the ready - just in case they are needed!

We walked on through the town looking at the views when possible.

Another small quay. It appears that Queen Victoria and Prince Albert stopped off here for a cuppa back in 1846.

Next is a building I like: The Georgian Scallop Shell House. It has an interesting history. 

The story goes that there was previously a medieval house here. This was used by pilgrims on their way to the Shrine of St. James of Compostela in Spain. Records reveal that between 1412 and 1456 licences were granted to seven Fowey Shippers, who carried around 350 Pilgrims to Spain.

Going up Customs House Hill and the narrow road beyond.

Fortunately the road has one way traffic only.

Peeking across the river, with the lifeboat in position

Further along the river is the Bodinnick Ferry for cars, vans and foot passengers.

A pleasant house overlooking the river

Further along the river is the industrial sector, lots of china clay etc. have been exported from here over the years - see the 1904 photo at the end of this post.

Wandering back through the town there are various shops and food outlets.

Back to the main Fowey Quay and we succumbed to C0rnish pasties - mine a veggie option, being vegetarian.

We found an empty seat and a young seagull thought he would join us. He took a lot of persuading to go away - it seems he is addicted to pasties!

Lunch over we wandered slowly back to the Esplanade.

A final look across the river to Polruan and our car was waiting. A pleasant way to spend a morning.

That's it for today but there are more photos of Fowey on my blog post A Flavour Of the Old Town of Fowey, Cornwall With 24 Photos or, if you want a longer, proper walk I recommend The Magical Hall Walk at Fowey Cornwall.

P.S. I came across this old photo from 1904 of china clay being delivered to Fowey.

That's definitely the lot for today. All good wishes for the week ahead~ Mike.