Poltesco mills, fishing and serpentine
1.
Start in the car park at Poltesco.
2.
Walk out of the yard and up the lane for 50 metres. Turn left at the junction
and walk over the bridge. Beside the stream stands the 200 year old Poltesco
Mill which is on the site of an older mediaeval mill. This manorial corn mill is
one of very few mills left in Cornwall that have survived intact. The water
wheel was cast in 1901 in Helston.
3.
Return to the car park and walk through the gate at the far end, up the track
and through the woods. The slopes here were orchards in previous centuries
and until the 1980s were dominated by huge elm trees. The larger elm trees
were killed by Dutch elm disease but there are some small surviving elms
here today.
4.
At the South West Coast Path turn right. Briefly stop to climb the rocky knoll
known as the Todden, from where there are good views across Kennack Bay
to Black Head.
5.
Keep going down the coast path, bearing left to arrive in Carleon Cove. The
round roofless building housed a capstan, a man powered winch used for
hauling boats up the beach. Pilchard cellars were based here until the 1800s.
6.
Walk down onto the pebbly beach, and take the path inland beside the
stream. The ruined buildings here are the remains of the Victorian serpentine
factory, which made ornate polished stoneware, including mantelpieces and
vases. This was once a bustling and noisy place, employing 20 men, with
workshops, showrooms, a forge, boiler house and water wheel. Flat bottomed
barges ferried goods out from the quay to waiting ships. Look out for a slab of
serpentine scored by massive stone cutting saws more than a century ago.
7.
Walk inland through the ruins and cross the footbridge, walking up steps of
serpentine that were cut in the factory. Turn right at the top and pass Carleon
House. From there follow the drive to return to the car park.
Features
Changing Industries
Originally Poltesco was a known for the series of pilchard cellars which dated back
to the early 1700s. Today the only remains of this industry is the large round, dry
stone tower which formerly contained a capstan for hauling fishing boats up the
beach. The serpentine factory dates from the 1830s and was expanded in the
1860s. Although only the warehouse survives, the foundations of the larger factory
complex are still visible including a wheel pit. The wheel would have powered
machinery for sawing up the serpentine. Near the stream is a large slab of stone
scored by saw marks.
Lizard Serpentine Company
The Lizard Serpentine Company (notice the initials LSC on the warehouse
building) was founded in 1853 and closed forty years later. In 1883 there were
twenty men and three boys working here. For many years Jabez Druitt, owner of
the company, lived at Caerleon House overlooking the works. All sorts of
ornamental items from mantelpieces to vases were made from this unusual local
stone. Queen Victoria ordered some items for her new house at Osborne, and
many pieces were shown at the Great Exhibition of 1851.
Poltesco and Pilchards
Poltesco was one of many small Cornish coves and harbours where, from the 16th
to the 19th centuries, the fishermen caught the abundant pilchards as they came
close to shore in the late summer. The huge shoals could be seen from the cliffs by
‘huers’ who raised the hue and cry and directed the fishermen to the fish. The fish
were normally pressed and preserved for export. Sometimes they were used to
make Star Gazy Pie, a west Cornwall speciality where the fishes’ heads poke
through the topping, looking towards the stars.