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Roche

Roche photos (35 available)

Old photo of Roche

Roche maps (2 available)

Old map of Roche

Roche books (5 available)

Roche memories

First visit

I first discovered Roche while on a motoring holiday with my parents when I was 12 years old.  Being young and nimble, I was up those ladders like a monkey, much to the horror of my parents.  
My latest visit was last week, Monday 11th September 2006, and although I was ready to try the ladders again, my fiance would not allow me, because, unfortunately, I am not a teenager any more. I was not really aware of any changes due to the long period in between my visits, and my memory of it has obviously faded.
Contributed by david neville

Cornwall memories

First visit

I first discovered Roche while on a motoring holiday with my parents when I was 12 years old.  Being young and nimble, I was up those ladders like a monkey, much to the horror of my parents.  
My latest visit was last week, Monday 11th September 2006, and although I was ready to try the ladders again, my fiance would not allow me, because, unfortunately, I am not a teenager any more. I was not really aware of any changes due to the long period in between my visits, and my memory of it has obviously faded.
A memory of Roche contributed by david neville

The bones-playing shopkeeper

I was born in Stenalees in 1962. When I was a kid the local shopkeeper (before Mr Kemp) used to entertain us kids by playing the bones. In fact he gave me a set when I was 8, which I still have.  Mark Scott.
A memory of Stenalees contributed by First Name Last Name

Lockengate of the ''40s

I  lived in St Austell as a child but my Uncle Ewart and Aunt Ruby farmed at Trescoll Farm, Lockengate. From a very early age I spent every holiday with them and although only four or five years old at the time, I remember well and fondly those wartime years, the Land Army girls and the two shire horses. (The first Fordson Major tractor didn't arrive here until the early '50's.)   Trescoll was up a long lane from Lockengate and each morning Uncle would harness up one of the horses and after hand milking his twenty or so South Devon breed cows would  load the churns into the cart and take them down to Lockengate where there was a concrete block ...read more here
A memory of Lockengate contributed by Peter Marks

Extracts From Roche & Cornwall books

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".

Polkerris, 1888

A boat sails across the bay, which was known as Polkerris or Par Bay in the late-18th century. The little village of Polkerris is situated at the end of a sheltered valley on the east shore of St Austell Bay. There was an important pilchard fishery here, and the pier (left) was built in about 1735 for sheltering the fishing boats rather than for trade.
An extract from from"St Austell Bay Photographic Memories".

Polkerris, c1950

Polkerris has hardly changed, with virtually no new houses in 70 years. Here we see the village tucked away in its valley, with the great expanse of the bay reaching beyond to Black Head (centre) and the Dodman Point (left). The garden plots of the houses are prominent, sheltered by hedges and mostly on the south-facing slope on the right.
An extract from from"St Austell Bay Photographic Memories".

Polkerris, the Village c1960

The gable end of the lifeboat house is seen in the background, almost at the end of the road through the village. Stone cottages, teas for sale and no unsightly road markings are the delights of this village.
An extract from from"St Austell Bay Photographic Memories".