Marhamchurch

A couple of miles south-east of Bude, Marhamchurch is a fairly large village of some 700 souls. It stands at the top of a long hill which mirrors the line of the former Bude Canal inclined plane. The broad main street seems to have no name. There is a primary school, a church, a shop, the Bullers Arms pub, and attractive cottages near the church. I was first there when exploring the route of the old Bude Canal, which ran for 10 miles from Lower Tamar Lake to Bude; a very pleasant walk, interrupted here and there where the canal has been lost to private land. On this occasion I went to look at the church. It consists of nave, aisle, transepts and three-stage pinnacled tower. A simple lych gate, with a pyramidal slate roof, leads to the church. Inside are typically Cornish wooden barrel vault ceilings with carved bosses, a wooden pulpit with an unexpected tester, and a large Royal Coat of Arms. The wooden roof of the north aisle is 15th century, the others 19th century. There is a fine 17th century pulpit with tester. The Royal Coat of Arms is large and of plaster work. In the main street, the Bray Institute is in Arts and Crafts style and a former National School incorporates granite doorways from demolished almshouses.. Cottages near the church are attractive.

St. Marwenna's Church

Signed from A39 at Helebridge

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