Embedded Files
Mining at in and around Polzeath peaked in the 1850's and provided fortunes for a few adventurers and employment for many. There is still much to learn about the operations over the ages but some evidence suggests that the Romans mined here too more than we previously thought.
I've run a Facebook page for many years now on the mining sites around Polzeath. If you have access to Facebook you can join the conversations and search the site there:
As one of only three known major tin deposits in Europe during Roman times, Mulberry Downs Quarry's significance cannot be overstated. This colossal open-cast mine, a chasm in the landscape, was a bustling hub of activity for centuries, a vital link in the supply chain that fueled the Roman Empire's bronze production. Understandibly you'll not meet many people here now as it is approached only by long single-tracked roads. I visited one evening last week to take some drone photos and you can see how overgrown it is.
The quarry's connection to other historical sites in the region is undeniable. The Roman forts at Nanstallon (literally down the road) and Restormel, strategic outposts guarding the tin trade, form a compelling triangle with Mulberry Downs. Tin extracted from this quarry likely found its way to these forts before being shipped out via the north and the Camel Estuary or Fowey and the south. The Roman road network, though its exact routes remain somewhat mysterious, undoubtedly connected these key points with Tintagel and perhaps via places like Plain Street near Polzeath, underscoring the region's economic importance.
Unveiling the Secrets of St Minver's Hidden Roman Settlement: A Clearer Look adapted from papers written 1876
Sir John Maclean, a keen observer of Cornwall's past, paints a picture of a vanished Roman village, nestled south of Pentire Point. This hidden settlement wasn't accessible directly from the main road. Instead, a smaller branch road branched off near Plain Street, leading travellers through Mesmer, Moyles and Treglines, across a stream by Roserrow, and up a hill towards their destination. Sadly, the final stretch has been swallowed by shifting sands, but its path can still be traced on the slopes near Trenain.
This Roman village, hidden behind Bray Hill and its ancient burial mounds, was strategically positioned. From Padstow, it lay between what is now St. Enodoc, Brea Hill, and Rock. Interestingly, a ferry has connected Rock and Padstow since ancient times, suggesting a vital link between the settlement and the wider world.
Legends swirl around this lost village, claiming that sandstorms once buried it entirely, preserving its secrets within. Some tales speak of furniture-filled houses hidden beneath the dunes, much like Pompeii. Others whisper of a chapel and cemetery swallowed by the sands near St. Enodoc's Chapel – the very location Maclean pinpoints as the Roman settlement.
Archaeological discoveries add weight to these whispers. In St. Minver, between St. Michael's and St. Enodoc, excavations in 1778 unearthed a buried chapel and cemetery, revealing slate coffins, bones, and even everyday objects like spoons and rings. Coins from various reigns, especially from Henry I to Elizabeth, further hint at the area's occupation until later periods.
The sands near the hidden village have yielded a treasure trove of Roman relics, solidifying its existence. Coins of emperors like Gallienus and Constantine, bronze ornaments and tools, pottery fragments, and even a pink coral necklace all point to a Roman presence.
Beyond the Romans, Brea Hill itself reveals layers of history. This ancient burial ground likely hosted British inhabitants, Anglo-Saxons, and perhaps even the unfortunate survivors of shipwrecks.
While much remains lost to the sands, the evidence paints a fascinating picture of this hidden Roman village. It was a bustling community, strategically located and connected to the wider Roman world. Future investigations may yet uncover more of its secrets, whispering their tales from beneath the Cornish soil.
Title: Parochial History of the Parish of St. Menefreda (alias St. Mikfre, alias St. Minver), County of Cornwall
Author: Sir John Maclean, F.S.A. (Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries)
Published: 1876, printed by William Pollard, North Street, Exeter
Quote: "If there be any who desire to be strangers in their own country, foreigners in their own cities, and always children in knowledge, let them please themselves. I write not for such humors." - Camden
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