Par memories
Here are memories of Par and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Par or a Par photo.
Fifties Par
My parents opened Roselyon School, on the St Blazey road out of Par, in 1953, when I was nine years old, and ran it until they retired in 1970. Hence I knew Par pretty well both as young boy, teenager and young adult. Walking into Par from Roselyon, you passed Leaders, a grocery and sweet shop, on the corner that turned from the St Blazey road towards the Harbour. We used to spend our Saturday sixpences there. Then came a newsagent followed by Mr Harold Tout's hardware store. He also opened in 1953 and struggled on for years, swearing that if he had his life over again he'd never go self-employed. Around from him was Philips, a clothing store, and as you approached the level-crossing Des Matthews for fresh fish, fruit and vegetables. Crossing the railway line and the old bridge took you into Par proper, with the Post Office on the left and Husband's the barber on the right. Further along Par Green was the Welcome Home Inn with Terry... Read more
First Visit to Mr Ley's Caravans
Mr Ley, ex Army Major who along with his family started probably one of the first Holiday Caravan sites at Par Sands. Mr Ley always drove a yellow Rolls Royce when he arrived to clean the vans. On the entrance to the site you entered the road passing on your left the Ship Inn and the little cream and red caravan used as a snack bar. Along the beach stood many Beach Huts well used in those days. Patches of china clay gunge, very slippery, was a feature in those days as was the white powder which covered everything in the harbour region. Even so it still was a very relaxing location then and now, because we continue to visit the rather splendid caravan site developed here 55 years later.
Par village is still much the same except for the loss of Hamleys multiple shop now long gone as is the sign for Hamleys Corner. Also lost is Brewer's grocery shop which is now Cost Cutters. Garth Nertherton's Newsagent... Read more
Memories of Cornwall
After The War Was Over
Just after the war during our summer holidays I was sent from Rochester (where we lived at that time, Dad having been demobbed and then working at Short Bros on the airport), together with my trusty Hercules cycle to spend the full summer school holidays with my Dad's Aunt and Uncle and their little fox terrier here in St Blazey. At that time they lived in Sea View Terrace and seeing Kittows shop brought back memories of my daily morning walk down the steep hill to them armed with an enamel jug to collect the day's milk, and woe betide me if any was spilt on my way back up the hill (only joking, they were two of the kindest people I have ever met). Auntie Beat was almost as round as she was tall and what a marvellous cook she was, cake was on the table at every meal and Cod liver oil and malt was dished out after breakfast, a lovely gooey mess.
Our family, all being of... Read more
Shops in Fore Street
As a native of St Blazey, I would like to write about the businesses there at the time. The first shop on the church side " The International Stores", a fine shop managed by Mr Vincent, who also owned the newsagents in Station Road. Next to "Star" (the name used by locals for the International, because it was originally the Star Tea Company) was Barlow's cycle shop. Next the shop of the Best brothers, plumbers, Harry, Herbert and Arthur. They had a little green Jowett pick-up truck. Next to that a little cake shop run by Mrs Bounsell, "Lovelle", the sister of Mr Couch, the local baker who was to become the creator of the famous "Couch's Saffron Cakes". Next to that "CORNYS", the older generation will remember the business of Leonard Cornelius and how he produced the penny ice lolly. He would be present at the local football matches selling his wares, at that time the crowds were vast. Next to Cornys was the very posh tobacconists "Challacombes" run... Read more
Shops in St Blazey
I will continue with some information on the businesses in St Blazey around 1950. Station Road, starting with no. 1. Grigg's the butchers, the house where I was born and the shop run by Jack Grigg. The next business, no.3 Station Road was the fish and chip shop run by Everett Turner and his wife. I remember the coal fired range and the white tiled top tables for the sit down meals. The next business, no.13, Haberland's, the barbers. Next to him Vage, the jeweller, the next business a little further down, Tamblin's, greengrocers. Then Lloyds bank, the manager Mr Barrett. We then have to go way down next to the boys school to find the Co-op furniture shop. Then way further down to Mr Roberts the mens outfitter, next to him, the doctors surgery. Further down again the large building of the St Blazey & District Co-operative Society with a grocery department and a drapery department. Then to complete that side of the road we have Bennett's shop with... Read more
Families of St Blazey in The 40s/50s.
My father was one of the local butchers, Jack Grigg. He and my mother ran the shop opposite the church. My grandfather was John Charles Grigg who lived at a house called Mount View at the bottom of Rose Hill. When my father was born he was living at no. 9 Station Road. My greatgrandfather, Charles Rogers Grigg lived at Canal Cottages between the canal and Bailey's corn store. My great-great grandfather was John Grigg from up around Antony/St Germans who came to St Blazey to work at either Fowey or Par Consols mine somewhere around 1830. He married Ann Rogers from Par and they had 10 children, my greatgrandfather being the youngest. When I went to St Blazey boys school in the late 50s lots of the boys came from the fairly new Landreath estate. Several large families there, fine people, hardworking, honest folk. In those days in addition to the church, the town had two Methodist chapels, one in Station Road and one at Chapel Terrace. Let me... Read more
Christened
I was christened at St Blazey Church, 24/12/1955, I was 2 months old, my mum is Patricia Nee Renowden, we were visiting my grandparents Hilda and Tom Renowden, after they had me christened, they filled the bottom of my pram with drink from the Cornish Arms next door to the Church,
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