Halsetown near St. Ives
I had driven past Halsetown many times, on the B3311 road from St. Ives to Penzance, but knew nothing about it except that it has a car park and a pub. Then, in November 2007, I took a walk, with my sisters Mary and Frances, that took in Rosewall Hill, Trink Hill and Halsetown. Fascinated by what seemed to be, unusually for Cornwall, a planned village, I did a little research and came up with the following (which I have re-interpreted somewhat) discovered on Genuki and St. Ives Trust web sites.
James Halse was St. Ives' leading citizen: lawyer, mine owner and peddler of influence. As MP for St. Ives, he was afraid that the Reform Act (passed in 1832), in doing away with 'rotten boroughs', would probably lose him his seat. Determined to continue as an MP, he established Halsetown in the early 1830s as a 'garden village' to house his workers. Each householder had just enough land to qualify to vote. Dependent on Halse for their jobs and homes, they all voted for him and he retained his place in parliament.
I haven't yet had the chance to explore Halsetown properly but it looks like a fascinating place with its series of 'green lanes' lined with attractive cottages. (I returned a couple of weeks later to explore more fully.)
One of the cottages in Halsetown
On B3311 St. Ives to Penzance.
More in Towns & Villages
Hayle
We have a soft spot for run-down places - early industrial sites and shabby towns like Bude and Portreath. Despite proximity to colourful, lively St. Ives, Hayle has something of both. It takes its name from the estuary ('heyl') on which it stands. From prehistoric days of tin and copper trading it was a trans-shipment point, providing safe passage for men and materials across the peninsula to the port at St. Michael's Mount, avoiding the perils of Land's End. In early Christian times missionaries travelled through on their way from Ireland and Wales to Brittany. There was no town until the 18th century when copper smelting and heavy engineering, later explosives manufacture on Upton Towans created a boom town. The Cornish Copper Company is long gone but there are still remnants of Harvey's great foundry that built the massive beam engines for the mines, built Richard Trevithick's steam locomotives and later built ships. Harvey's remained in business well into the 20th century and Hayle continued as a port until the 1970s when the power station closed. The derelict former foundry buildings are now the centrepiece of a vast regeneration project going on in Hayle. In addition to the foundry, financial multi-national ING plans to regenerate the harbour area. King George V Memorial Walk, on the north side of Copperhouse Pool, has been colourfully restored. Walk to the head of North Quay to enjoy views of sweeping beaches, tall dunes, holiday shacks, St. Ives and Godrevy Lighthouse.
Helland and Helland Bridge
It was a dull Saturday at the very end of September. I had been planning to travel down west to Penzance, to find the Cornish Cross in Morrab Gardens, but decided not to take a chance on the forecast rain but to give myself a shorter journey - to Helland, just off the Washaway - Camelford road. It was as well that I did; by the time I left Helland the rain had started. I went first to Helland village, where the church, Old Rectory and cottages stand on a hill. The Old Rectory and Churchtown Cottages were attractive, the latter best seen from inside the churchyard. As so often, the church was closed so I rely on Pevsner but in vain. All he has to say refers to a medievaL font and a 16th century grave slab. I then headed down to Helland Bridge, where a 4-arch, 15th century bridge described by Pevsner as "one of the best in the county", crosses the River Camel. A little way up the hill towards Helland village the Camel Trail crosses the road, on either side of it attractive cottages, Cobblers and Silverstream. A little down the hill is the old forge, now a home with a couple of unusual roof-lights, and across the road a stile into the grounds of Riversmead, home to Studio Potter Paul Jackson. There is little on the other side of the bridge, except the old Mill House and a couple of fairly attractive cottages.
Helston
I had been wanting to get to know Helston better for some time so, when Jane and I revisited Godolphin House in April 2007, we took the opportunity to have a wander around the town. Most people really only know Helston for its Flora Day when in May the whole town takes to the streets to celebrate spring with the ritual Furry Dance. There is a lot more to Helston than that - though, while I enjoyed the town's history and architecture, Jane disliked its shops and steep streets. Helston no longer has its former importance. In medieval times it was a stannary town, exporting tin from its own port. A 12th century castle guarded the crossing of the River Cober. But the port was lost when Loe Bar blocked the river mouth, the castle fell into disuse and was demolished, and the tin industry declined. What remains is a legacy of fine buildings. To enjoy Helston's architecture, call into the Guildhall and pick up the excellent Town Trail guide, hot on history. Best streets are broad, steep Coinagehall Street, winding Church Street and Cross Street with its handsome houses. Important buildings are the classical Guildhall, the Market House (now a folk museum), the Angel Hotel (once the town house of the Godolphins), the Great Office on Cross Street, Godolphin Hall, the Grylls Monument and the former prison. There is a large free car park just down the Porthleven road; opposite, at the top of the boating lake in Coronation Park, is the excellent Lakeside caf�.