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Bodmin photos (159 available)

Old photo of Bodmin

Bodmin maps (2 available)

Old map of Bodmin

Bodmin books (5 available)

Bodmin memories

Fore Street in 1931

This picture shows the street as I remember it aged four. The building on the right was the office of my father's legal practice (Pomery and Gill) and opposite was the market. As a child I loved the Saturday market, when the boiled sweets of all descriptions were on sale. I also loved the stone cows' heads across the facade. My family lived at "Bosvenna" in Priory Road until the late sixties. My father Ernest Gill was Town Clerk for 26 years, and was made Mayor on his retirement from that position. Since moving to Australia in 1963 I have been closely involved in the South Australian Cornish Association, being a past President.
Contributed by David Gill

Staff at the Asylum

Bodmin, the Asylum 1901

I found when researching the 1901 census that members of my husband's family worked at the Asylum. My husband's grandfather, Alfred Charles (Charlie) Southern worked there until his death in 1944. Charles' sister Glen Dora also worked there as did his mother Anne and other relatives. Some were described as laundresses. I wondered whether they actually worked in a laundry at the asylum or whether they did laundry for the asylum at home.
Contributed by First name Last name

HALLOWEEN 2007

Bodmin, the Prison c1955

Ok, on Halloween night 2007 some friends and myself wanted to do something different for our Halloween night, so where better to do it than at the old Bodmin prison.

So off we set at 9 o'clock taking track to the prison. It was a great evening. We spent some hours in the darkest depths of the prison and we are convinced we did see a ghost of a man in the Naval Wing, and we did some filming and we got some pictures of what looked like 'orbs', it was a very interesting evening.

We would like to point out that this is not the place to visit if you are shocked easily, as the prison has an ...read more here
Contributed by trisha may

Cornwall memories

HALLOWEEN 2007

Bodmin, the Prison c1955

Ok, on Halloween night 2007 some friends and myself wanted to do something different for our Halloween night, so where better to do it than at the old Bodmin prison.

So off we set at 9 o'clock taking track to the prison. It was a great evening. We spent some hours in the darkest depths of the prison and we are convinced we did see a ghost of a man in the Naval Wing, and we did some filming and we got some pictures of what looked like 'orbs', it was a very interesting evening.

We would like to point out that this is not the place to visit if you are shocked easily, as the prison has an ...read more here
A memory of Bodmin contributed by trisha may

Extracts From Bodmin & Cornwall books

Bodmin, Ruins in the Churchyard 1890

This was the chantry chapel of St Thomas Becket, licensed 18 March 1377 in the reign of Edward III. It was in use as a grammar school from about 1566 to 1853, and since became ruinous. The arch below the porch on the left leads to a vaulted crypt. The ruin stands just to the east of Bodmin church; it is still in a poor state and the window has lost its tracery.
An extract from from"Churches of East Cornwall Photographic Memories".

Bodmin, St Petroc's Church 1931

The church stands at the entry to Bodmin and was passed by everyone travelling through the county before the town was by- passed by the A30. The old road is quiet in this view; the volume of traffic seems unlikely to challenge the skills of the officer on point duty! The tower is almost hiding behind the body of the church. The embattled south porch has two upper floors for priest’s chambers. A little stone roofed house close to the west door is St Guron’s Well.
An extract from from"Churches of East Cornwall Photographic Memories".

Bodmin, the Church 1938

A similar view to the one above, but this follows work carried out to the chancel by Sir Charles Nicholson in 1932. Note also the new screen on the right for the Lady Chapel. Military flags hang on the wall of the north aisle (left), for the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry has close associations with the town and church. The south aisle now displays the 12th-century reliquary casket of St Petroc, although it is empty. Two other notable fittings in the church are the carved Norman font and the Catacleuse stone tomb of Thomas Vyvian, the penultimate prior of Bodmin who died in 1533.
An extract from from"Churches of East Cornwall Photographic Memories".

Polkerris, Polridmouth Beach near Gribbin Head c1960

This scene has hardly changed for many years; the beach at Polridmouth is still only accessible on foot. Although we are just around the corner from St Austell Bay, this photograph gives us a good view of the prominent day mark erected in 1832 on the Gribbin Head as an aid for shipping entering the bay.
An extract from from"St Austell Bay Photographic Memories".

Polkerris, 1888

The old pilchard-curing cellar, or ‘palace’, beside the shore in the foreground was one of the largest in Cornwall. However, by the time of this early photograph the harbour seems already deserted by the fishing fleet, perhaps in favour of Mevagissey on the far side of the bay.
An extract from from"St Austell Bay Photographic Memories".