View Cornwall

The Smugglers of Polperro

admin — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:32:41 +0000

Since the 12th Century there has been a port at Polperro. It’s location on the South Cornwall coast meant that its proximity to France and Spain was perfect for smugglers. The high cliffs around the entrance to the harbour with the town sitting in a bay provided a favourite landing place for the lace, tea and brandy being brought into England.

The Reign of Zephaniah Job

Zephaniah Job lived in Polperro in the late 18th and early 19th Centuries. He worked to make the town the perfect location for Smugglers and provided them with a great amount of help. He was given the name the “Smugglers’ Banker” as he provided help with moving the goods, moving money and even employing a lawyer if the smugglers were caught. Zephaniah Job made so much money from the smugglers that when Polperro Harbour was destroyed in 1817 by a storm, he personally paid for it to be rebuilt. Without Job it is almost certain the Polperro Smugglers would have been caught much more easily.

Full article from Polperro Guide: “The Smugglers of Polperro“.

Padstow, North Cornwall

admin — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:33:31 +0000

Padstow is a small harbourside town situated mid way up the north cornish coast near to the mouth of the River Camel. Famous for it’s ancient annual Obby Oss festival and a whole lot more too! The town of Padstow is superbly placed for the perfect holiday, whether this be the traditional two week stay or for a short get away weekend. Boasting many local attractions and activities you are sure to find this little town a delight to the senses whatever your age - there really is something here for everyone, young and old alike.

Perhaps the allure of the south west coast path attracts you? If so, along the rugged and majestic coastline here, you are sure to find many cliff top walks that will quite literally take your breath away, in more ways than one! Famous for it’s fine fish restaurants, not to mention the two most famous restaurants of all, Rick Stein and Fifteen owed by the legendary TV presenter and chef Jamie Oliver, the dishes here are sure to set your fishy taste buds alight in delectably delicious anticipation, satisfying the most hungry of rumbling tummy’s. Of couse, there are many other excellent local eateries to choose from either on the harbourside itself or in the higgledy piggledy back streets just off the harbour of this fine cornish coast town.

Read the full article about Padstow on the PadstowOnline.com website.

The legend of Dorcas

admin — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 08:20:25 +0000

Dorcas was an elderly lady who lived in a cottage near Polbreen Mine in St. Agnes, Cornwall.

One night, unexpectedly she committed suicide by throwing herself down a deep mine shaft.

Her body was recovered and buried but her spirit is believed to live on in the mine.

Dorcas usually causes mischief by distracting the men from their work. One man was once called away by an unrecognised voice and no sooner had he left his work station than a huge rock feel and landed on the very place where he had been standing.

In the garden of The Railway Inn Hotel in St. Agnes a shaft from the mine can be found. It is reported that sometimes the spirit of a witch is seen emerging from the shaft, entering the inn and moving pictures on the wall.

Perhaps this is Dorcas herself, and perhaps the reason she committed suicide had something to do with witchcraft.

Article source: http://www.ghostdatabase.co.uk/articles/dorcas/