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Holywell Bay
Holywell Bay photos
Displaying the first of 108 old photos of Holywell Bay. View all Holywell Bay photos
Holywell Bay maps
Historic maps of Holywell Bay and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Holywell Bay maps
Holywell Bay area books
Displaying 1 of 16 books about Holywell Bay and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Holywell Bay
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Holywell Bay.
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MRI International Weekend Away
Since the early 1960s my parents began taking the family to stay at the home of John and Sheila Penna, and they eventually created the Pennasville holiday homes. When at Taunton School in circa 1965 I stayed at the camp with the school's CCF brigade! I got bitten by some bug one night in the ear, and was confined back to Penhale and missed all the agony of marches and camping. But it was in 2002 that I had the chance to return in more style, staying up at Ligger House at the top of the hill.
I was organising an away weekend for the employees of a company I worked for. It was one of the most memorable weeks in my life, organising the mass catering with my girlfriend and girls from the company. With the help of Penhale's now retired camp Commander, Barry, we organised surfing, clay pigeon shooting, rifle shooting, abseilling and a disco on the headland with Diddy David Hamilton.
If anyone would like... Read more
Yo Terriers
Used to ride our ponies from Perranporth to Newquay, the only obstacle in our way was the Army camp at Penhale. We solved the problem by jumping the fence riding past numeroous tents and exiting by the Holywell gate. Wonder if any of those camped there remember us.
Annual Camp With 39th Signal Regiment at Penhale
Penhale Camp is situated towards the northern end of Penhale Sands and the Ministry of Defence owns this which is used as an army training area.
In the summer of 1969 I had just transferrred to 39th Signal Regiment and was billeted at this camp which I remember as really great! Excellent summer weather helped of course. Off duty hours allowed time for sand, sea and surfing!! Our training activities included firing with the old 762 self-loading rifles and familiarisation with helicopter flights over water.
After a couple of weeks here I had sunburn from the exposure to Cornwall sun and ringing ears from the rifles.
Military Training With 39th Signal Regiment at Penhale
Penhale Camp is situated towards the northern end of Penhale Sands and the Ministry of Defence owns this which is used as an army training area.
In Summer 1969 I had recently been posted to 39th Signal Regiment and was billeted at this camp which I remember as as really great! Excellent summer weather helped of course. Our training activities included firing with the old 762 self loading rifles and familiarisation with helicopter flights over water.
After a couple of weeks here I had sunburn from the exposure to Cornwall sun and ringing ears from the rifles.
Cornwall memories
I Used to Work There
I started work at the Fistral Bay Hotel as receptionist. It was such a lovely place, even with the GHOST. I left work there in 2006. I miss the people and the place. It is such a sad sight now. I still wish it was going as a hotel. It is a amazing building and could be made good again, yes I know with a lot of money. Thank you for the photo. There have been people entered the place and have taken photos, it's still amazing and could be again.
Childhood Days 1954 on
Is the pile of sand the remains or the beginning of the Toc-H altar we used to, as children, help build on the beach for sunday service with Toc-H? When the beach huts blew down and we skipped school to help clear up, collecting empty bottles to take back to Mr James at the cafe. Digging holes and covering them with a towel and dry sand waiting for folk to fall in. Helping Jack Polkinghorne with the beach ponies. Catching moorhens by the stream. Picking up glass fishing floats and taking them to St Agnes for the seal man to put in nets and sell to the visitors. Riding our ponies at a flat out gallop from one end of the beach to the other, no retrictions in those days. Those were the days when the winter swim was done without wetsuits. Saturday pasties sitting on flat rock. Our primitive surf boards. Good days, great childhood.
Motor Magazine 1940
I have found this same photo in the January 17 1940 edition of The Motor magazine, here it is described as "Building built to protect building" and I quote thus:
There is a quaint building - which must be the only one of its kind in the world - situated by the main road on Perranporth Golf course and making an interesting object for a run for motorists visiting Cornwall this year.
Locked away inside is the oldest church in the world. When a fresh-water stream was diverted for domestic purposes, nearby sands completely submerged the church for several hundred years. When it was reclaimed last century so many people tried to get souvenirs that this building was constructed over it - to prevent people walking off with the church. Now a guard keeps daily watch, fresh flowers decorate the altar and candles are kept burning."
I don't live near here, but thought it would be of interest to those who do, does this building still... Read more
