helford Archives - Explore Cornwall https://explorecornwall.org/tag/helford/ & The Cornish Abroad Sat, 06 May 2023 06:30:03 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://explorecornwall.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/cropped-Explore-Cornwall-Colourless-32x32.png helford Archives - Explore Cornwall https://explorecornwall.org/tag/helford/ 32 32 164779662 Trebah Gardens https://explorecornwall.org/trebah/ Sat, 13 Oct 2018 15:19:35 +0000 http://explorecornwall.org/?p=905 Trebah Gardens is by far one of my favourite spots in the county. It’s a beautiful secluded garden perched on the Helford, with the most […]

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Trebah Gardens is by far one of my favourite spots in the county. It’s a beautiful secluded garden perched on the Helford, with the most amazing views.

Trebah is famous for the ridiculous number of hydrangea plants, as well as palms, magnolias, camellias and rhododendrons.

The land was first mentioned as part of the Doomsday book in 1085 and passed through several hands between then and 1709 when it was bought by Richard Williams. It stayed in his family until the 1760’s, when John Nicholls who was responsible for the building the main house bought it. In 1803 the house fell to Peter Harris who mortgaged it sometime between 1813-34 selling some of the land to Alfred Fox next door at Glendurgan. The rest of the land was sold to Charles Fox in 1838 who in 1856-7 built a new red brick house next to the original.

Mr Fox died in 1878 and the house went to Julia Backhouse, Charles’ daughter, and her family who spent a great deal of time developing the gardens; rare trees, conifers, tree ferns and rhododendrons were planted. In 1906, Julia’s husband died and the house soon went to the Hext family who put in two ponds in 1914.

Trebah Trebah

From 1939, the property was bought by Misses MacCraw and Preston. In 1944, the US army requisitioned the land, using it to store ammunition’s and the beach was used by 7,500 men of the 29th Infantry Division on their way to Omaha beach. The land was sold again in 1946 to Hedley Williams, then again in 1947 to Mr and Mrs Martyn; during their ownership the red brick house caught fire and was demolished. Freddie Ford bought the place in 1952. In 1961, the land was sold to Donald Healey, who developed the first Rolls Royce engine prototypes in his shed in the gardens as well as developments for the Jenson-Healey.

Trebah

Between 1971 and 1981 the house changed hands another two times before finally being sold to Major Hibbert. His family opened the gardens to the public in 1987 to help raise funds for its upkeep and in 1990 the house, garden and cottages were placed under the Trebah Garden Trust.

During WWII, the US army concreted most of Polgwidden beach; Mr Healey had the majority of it dug up again, although some still remains.

Trebah Trebah

The garden has 9 UK Champion trees, 10 Country Champions and 19 County Champions. There are 2 acres of Hydrangea macrophylla which bloom during the summer. March and April are the perfect time to come and see all of the rhododendrons in flower.

Trebah

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]]> 905 Maenporth Walk https://explorecornwall.org/maenporth-walk/ Sun, 16 Sep 2018 11:55:39 +0000 http://explorecornwall.org/?p=204 A walk from Maenporth to the Helford river, coming back past St Mawnan church.

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Today, in view of the ‘heatwave’ I abandoned my school work and drove to Maenporth, a quaint little beach just down the line from Falmouth.

Maenporth

This is a really stunning stretch of Cornwall’s south coast, complete with views across to Falmouth and The Roseland, down the Helford and of tiny beaches. The coast path towards the Helford river is on the right side of the beach, just above the Life Guard building, crossing the bottom of some private fields.

Maenporth

All around the path was littered with spring flowers, with whole sways of snowdrops under the trees.

Snowdrops

Path down to Bream Cove. This is a small sheltered beach just off the footpath; while privately owned there are no visiting restrictions and the waters are typically flat and calm. 

Maenporth

Soon the path reached Rosemullion Head which gives fabulous views of the whole coastline and across Falmouth Bay. 

Eventually the path winds its way to the mouth of the Helford river. This has over 47kms of coastline, seven creeks and several houses/estates along its edges, Trevose house being the closest at this point. 

Helford

Across the river are the beaches at the bottom of Trebah and Glendurgan gardens, with the hamlet of Durgan hidden amongst the trees.

Gate

At the first beach you’ll reach a boathouse, take the path right just before this and follow the path across the field towards St Mawnan church. 

St Mawnan and St Stephen’s church was built in 1231 and has undergone several renovations since then.

Church

From here, take the path running alongside the graveyard which joins back up with the main coastpath back towards Maenporth.

Maenporth

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