Trago Mills – a Cornish institution?
I was talking to a neighbour last year some time and when she said she’d been to Trago Mills, I asked what that was. “Oh, you must go – it’s a Cornish institution!” It’s been a long time, but as we were driving between Liskeard and Bodmin to pick up our van with its replacementContinue reading “Trago Mills – a Cornish institution?”
Three months of lockdown
We left Norfolk where we had seen our family on 17th March to return to our home in Cornwall, but we started self-isolating on the following day. Today, therefore, marks three calendar months of lockdown. Those of us lucky enough to live in beautiful surroundings have had a wonderful opportunity to see spring and summerContinue reading “Three months of lockdown”
Cornish stone stiles
As we gradually walk more bits of the South West coast path, we make new discoveries. Not just extraordinary saints’ names – Lansallos church is dedicated to St Ildierna, about whom nothing is known. The name may or may not be a female name, despite the ending; it may or may not be the sameContinue reading “Cornish stone stiles”
The first official day of summer
You might have thought that it’s been summer for weeks, but yesterday was the first day of meteorological summer. I thought that as we continued our walking habit, which has been so welcome these last ten weeks, I would document the wildflowers which are in huge numbers along our coastal path. But I begin withContinue reading “The first official day of summer”
Invisible chapels, invisible saints
We try to set a purpose for some of our walks, and the other day we set out for Millbrook with the aim of finding the chapel shown on the map. Insworke is the least visually appealing part of Millbrook, so we were intrigued by the idea of a ruined medieval chapel. The map isContinue reading “Invisible chapels, invisible saints”
Balcony gardening
My excuses over the last couple of years for doing no more gardening than failing to keep a supermarket pot of parsley alive have been of two main varieties. First, “we’re really not here reliably enough…”. Second, “we haven’t really got the space.” Lockdown has sadly seen to the first; we have a rented flatContinue reading “Balcony gardening”
Rhododendrons
It’s a pity that when one says rhododendrons most people immediately think of that acid shade of magenta that is by far the commonest colour found on rhododendrons in woods and even gardens. However, a short stroll around the Mount Edgcumbe gardens will show that they can be found in many shades of red andContinue reading “Rhododendrons”
Wacker Quay
The other day we decided to take the van out for a run so that when the lock down is finally over it will start. Our plan was simply to drive to the A38 roundabout from where you can go to Liskeard, Plymouth or Catchfrench, of which a little more later, turn round and comeContinue reading “Wacker Quay”
Fallow deer
In 1515 Henry VIII gave Sir Piers Edgcumbe a licence to create a deer park near Cremyll. Sir Piers had made a very profitable marriage to an heiress whose dowry included the Rame peninsula as well as the ultimately much more valuable Stonehouse across the water. The deer park was established before even the houseContinue reading “Fallow deer”
Follies and Fountains
The Mount Edgcumbe gardens have several follies and former fountains. To start with the biggest folly of all – the house. In spring 1941 Plymouth suffered several days of bombing and the destruction was widespread. On 22 March, incendiary bombs set the building on fire. I’ve heard that the house was lit up to saveContinue reading “Follies and Fountains”
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