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St Agnes HistoryOne of the nicest things about the history of St Agnes and Portreath is that it’s still visible in and around our St Agnes and Portreath holiday cottages, making it all the more real to those who visit them. From ancient myths marked with special celebrations, to once-bustling tin mines in the surrounding hills, history is all around. |
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Tin MiningTin mining is a huge part of Portreath and St Agnes’ history, and tin streaming has been known to take place in the area from as early as the 1600s. The hills surrounding St Agnes are dotted with the remains of ancient copper and tin mines, and the St Agnes Parish Museum is crammed full with relics and artefacts from the harsh days of mining. The Wheal Coates tin mine is one of the area’s most famous, and there are also former workings at Polberro, Wheal Kitty, and Blue Hills – which is still working today.
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The Basset FamilyThe Portreath we know and love today was shaped and built in the main by one wealthy local family, the Bassets. The Portreath history books include reference after reference to the Basset family, who even built the harbour we see today in 1760. The noble family arrived in the Portreath area in 1617, and it was from here that their influence started. The family recognised the value of a working port to an area with so many mines, and over the next century they continued to help the town develop and prosper. |
The TramwayWith the large amounts of mineral ore and coal being transported between the area’s mines, the need for a proper system soon became huge. The Portreath to Police Tramway opened in 1809, and was the first horse-drawn railway in the county. This wasn’t the only railway in the history of Portreath, its own branch of the Hayle Railway was erected in 1838 and was another mineral line. These days, both former railways are used as scenic walks, and the wooded route makes for a lovely way to get to know the area.
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St Agnes Bolster PageantYou may have heard of the St Agnes Bolster Pageant, but do you know where the tradition came from? The pageant celebrates the legend of the mythical giant Bolster, who once wreaked terror on the residents of the village, eating children and murdering adults. When the giant fell in love with a beautiful young woman from the village named Agnes, she tricked him to his demise – freeing the village from his terrifying reign. It’s said that the village was named after its heroine, and the tale is re-enacted every year to celebrate her triumph. Bolster was one of many legendary giants in Cornwall, who spent their days wandering the hills and throwing stones at one another to pass the time.
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The links below provide further info for St Agnes holidays... St Agnes and Portreath beach holidays |
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