You are here:
Lerryn
Lerryn maps
Historic maps of Lerryn and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Lerryn maps
Lerryn area books
Displaying 1 of 16 books about Lerryn and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Lerryn
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Lerryn.
Add your memory of Lerryn
or of a photo of Lerryn.
Holiday Memory
In the previous two years we'd had our holiday in South Devon, but in 1958, for some reason, my father decided we would stay in Lerryn, & booked himself, mother & I into a B&B (possibly The Old Forge?) by the river. I was 11 at the time, & it was decided that my older brother would stay at home in London & look after the dog & two cats, so I was going to be on holiday for the first time without him to keep me out of trouble!
We had a motorbike & sidecar, and when the long journey was nearly over, (no motorways then!) something went wrong with the bike's electrics, & the lights became very dim. I remember us peering at the old-type fingerboard road-signs in the gloom to see where we ought to be going. Eventually, we arrived in Lerryn at the dead of night, to find that the proprietors of the B&B had assumed we weren't coming, & had locked up & gone... Read more
Happy Days at Lerryn & St. Veep
As a 10 year old and London evacuee Lerryn became home for a while. First being billeted at a retired naval captain's house by the river near the bridge. His name I believe was Capt. Pippit or similar. He owned a small motor launch moored up the river which was great fun to play on. One day it disappeared which later in life realised it was taken for Dunkirk. Sad to say it never returned. I can recall whilst playing in the woods nearby meeting two girls and being taken to a large house in the middle and having a drink and biscuits. One girl was Tessa Onslow, the Earl of Onslow's daughter, the other her companion.
Later on I was transferred to another billet in St. Veep with Mr & Mrs Hawkins (Uncle Tom & Aunty Netta) and their son Michael, it was here that my love of Lerryn & St. Veep was established for the whole of my life. Going to school meant a one & threequarter mile... Read more
Living in Lerryn
I have such fond memories of growing up in Lerryn during the 1960s, the school was such a pleasure to attend, Mr Sillitoe was headmaster. I can also remeber the regatta every year, it was such a treat to have the fair assembled along the riverbank with mud races in the river. I can even remember a dancing horse and other entertainment in the Ethy house gardens. The two shops were owned by Mr Mansell and most of my time was spent working on my freinds(Derek Collins) farm or making go carts from bits we had managed to reclaim from the tip, we were a big family I had 5 sisters and 3 brothers I can remeber 3 of my sisters entering a beauty contest in the village hall. Happy Days
Unchanged Lerryn
Lerryn is a place that one almost wants to keep secret so that it does not become a popular destination. It has barely changed in a hundred years.
A beautiful and unspoilt village in a steep sided valley, Lerryn lies at the tidal head of a tributary to the River Fowey.
A place to take gentle strolls through the National Trust's Ethy Wood, said to be the inspiration for Kenneth Grahame's "Tales of the Riverbank" and "Wind in the Willows". One almost expects to come across Mr Toad, Ratty and Mole lounging on the riverbank as we stop to watch a heron pick his leisurely way along the water's edge.
Returning the way we came we can cross to the village on the opposite bank, either by the narrow road bridge dating back to the sixteenth century or have fun crossing the shallow creek by way of the stepping stones. One false step and one could fall to an untimely... well, get wet and muddy... Read more
Cornwall memories
Diana Luck
Many years of happy days at Bodriggan as Diana Luck's nephew, one of many! Sadly she died early this year but will never be forgotten.
Great memories of Barbara and Gerry at The Fisherman's Arms, beer straight from the barrel, roaring fire and darts.
Also great times had with George Luck (her husband, my uncle) on Ruda out of Fowey.
Happy to be contacted
Mark David
Richard Talling's "Fancy Repository"
This photo shows (just) the shop unit (on the right behind the post boy on the pavement, currently the Londis store) which I believe formerly housed famous Cornish mineral dealer Richard Talling's "Fancy Repository" (Mineral shop) from around 1844 until his death in 1883. I would very much like to track down any photos which may exist of either Richard Talling or his shop (exterior and interior) on the corner of Queen St and Fore Street for a biography that I am working on.
An Evacuee During WW11
Packed off to Lostwithiel in the train from Paddington and found myself living in the Black Prince's Castle - Restormal. Well not quite, the farm on the Estate. I was baptised in St Winnow C.of E Church as part of our peregrinations and ended up living on Bodmin Hill in one of the terraced houses near the top on the east side. Went to Bodmin Hill Infants, as time went on, with my brother Nicholas. I recall the poor Postman, afflicted by a gas attack he was subjected to during WW1 'twas said, though he never spoke about it. My first love/crush on another evacuee damsel from "Middlesex" etc etc. Alas back to London in time for VE Day. Memories of the "Moor" and flitting round with the other evacuees are vivid. I have had every sympathy for DPP's (displaced persons) since. MORE FOLLOWS. jlt
