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Bedruthan Steps

Bedruthan Steps photos (95 available)

Old photo of Bedruthan Steps

Bedruthan Steps maps (2 available)

Old map of Bedruthan Steps

Bedruthan Steps books (12 available)

Bedruthan Steps memories

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You can also read memories of nearby places in Cornwall below.

Cornwall memories

Coastguard Cottages Mawgan Porth

Mawgan Porth, c1955

The old coastguard cottages at Mawgan Porth were leased by Mrs Kate Knight and her youngest daughter Winifred in about 1920 from Col Williams of Carnanton at St Mawgan. They ran a tearoom and let two of the cottages whilst living in the third one. When Win married Norman Carthew in 1938 they also lived in the cottages. As children we had a wonderful life with the whole beach as our playground. We climbed cliffs, dammed the river and made rafts to ride on the river. As children the war did not affect us as it did children further up the country, we were very fortunate. Mrs Knight died in 1969. Win died in 1992 in Australia where three of her ...read more here
A memory of Mawgan Porth contributed by Anne Martin

Birth

I was born on 8 October 1939 in a house called Trewalder, at Treyarnon Bay. The house belonged to Nan and Sam Odhams and they persuaded my mother to leave London - everyone was rushing anywhere and every place once war was declared on 3 September. My father was in the TA and had already been called up. So I announced my intentions on the eve of the 7th. The others were all out at the time - but by the time they returned the midwife had arrived. I'm told that every time my mother groaned they all had another gin and shouted "cheers". Sir Peter Horlick boiled the water and the midwife was ...read more here
A memory of St Merryn contributed by First name Last name

my years in st merryn at towan farm house

My father was in the Fleet Air Arm during the war and in about 1949 he was stationed at the camp in St Merryn, my parents lived at Towan Farm House where I was brought back to from the hospital after I was born at Redruth hospital. My maiden name was Wells. The couple that owned the farm was called Mr and Mrs Old, they did not have any children of their own.  I was calling them auntie and uncle as we had become very close, so much so that when my dad left the Navy and got a job on British Rail at Padstow and then a council house up at  Trevithick, I stayed most of my time at the ...read more here
A memory of St Merryn contributed by Linda Neary

Our Picnic While Boscastle Flooded

On the day of the Boscastle flood I went with my wife Carmela, and our kids Molly, Libby and George for a walk up to the lighthouse on Trevose head above mother Iveys Bay. The sun was shining beautifully though the wind was strong (as it always is on the cliffs). We stopped halfway above the lifeboat station to eat our picnic lunch and looked along the coast towards Tintagel and Boscastle. The sky was black in that direction and as we sat in the sun on the grass around the high mounted bench at the top of the hill we remaked that someone was getting wet over there. It was only when we got back to our tent where we ...read more here
A memory of Mother Iveys Bay contributed by Robin Greaves

Extracts From Bedruthan Steps & Cornwall books

Bedruthan Steps, 1887

This stretch of coast is one of Cornwall’s famous beauty spots, with dramatic cliffs and islands all accessible by road from Newquay and Padstow alike. A difficult descent can be made to the golden sand (see the footprints, centre), but this is a very easy place to get cut off by the tide.
An extract from from"Cornwall County Memories".

Bedruthan Steps, Queen Bess Rock 1887

Many of the sea stacks and islands at Bedruthan have names, and Queen Bess is the best known of them. It may be said that the upper part shows a remarkable likeness to the profile of Queen Victoria.
An extract from from"Cornwall County Memories".

Perranporth, Boscawen Park 1938

The palm trees add an exotic touch to the park in this view, which looks in a similar direction to the 1890 view (No 23967 on page 43). By this date the open spaces have been infilled with housing, and the Perranporth Hotel can be recognised on the far side of the pond immediately behind the right-hand tree.
An extract from from"Newquay to St Ives Photographic Memories".

St Ives, Draycott Terrace 1901

It is just three years after No 41609, above, and the Porthminster Hotel has been given an extension in the form of a smaller version of the original building. This is a steep site, and the road along the front of Draycott Terrace is supported by a substantial stone wall. The terraced cottages in Primrose Valley below are still intact.
An extract from from"Newquay to St Ives Photographic Memories".

St Ives, the Harbour 1895

The church could hardly be closer to the sea. Many of the buildings can be recognised today, but they are now separated from the water in the harbour by walls supporting a road and a walkway. The St Ives lifeboat is on its carriage outside the lifeboat house on West Pier near the church. The present lifeboat house is on the near side of the pier.
An extract from from"Newquay to St Ives Photographic Memories".