The Francis Frith Collection.
You are here:

St Merryn memories

Here are memories of St Merryn and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of St Merryn or a St Merryn photo.

Summer of 1990

Treyarnon Bay Hotel c1955
Enlarge photo |  More about this photo

I was lucky enough to go abroad for our family holiday every year. Towards the end of the 1980s my second holiday around August time would be to go to Treyarnon Bay with my best friend Becci and her parents, and I fell in love with the place and the surrounding areas. I'm sure the pub/hotel was named the Beachcomer back then. The owners of Treyarnon Bay Hotel were Anne and Clive, along with Anne's brother Chris and his wife Lorraine. Becci and I begged them to let us come and work a summer season for them. 1990 soon came around. Me and Becci were at the grand old age of 17, and our parents unwillingly let us go! Off we went to Treyarnon for the summer. I'm sure to this day Clive and Anne regret taking us on. We were pretty rubbish chambermaids and our waitressing skills weren't that great either! But we quickly became experts at enjoying ourselves. I remember waking up and looking out of our window to see... Read more

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 farm with auntie and uncle visiting their friends and relatives with them and going to market with them in the school holidays. I went St Merryn School and three years later my brother joined me but I will never forget his first day, because he thought he was going... Read more

Evacuation to St Merryn

My sister and I were evacuated to St Merryn in 1940. I was aged 6 and my sister aged 11. We lived in Bermondsey, London. I shall always remember our first night in St Merryn. We were sitting in the School Hall,and were the last to be allocated. This was because my sister had been told by my mother, that we were not to be parted. Eventually a woman with two children approached us, and said we were to go with her. We didn't go very far, and were escorted up some steps and into a very dark house. The lady then lit a paraffin lamp, and I can remember asking her if it was a farm, and they all laughed. We were billeted at 2 Towan Cottages, or Villas, with a Mr and Mrs Ellery, who had two children slightly older than us, a boy whose name was Alan, and a girl called Peggy.
The house was something of a surprise to us as there was no electricity,... Read more

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 most impressed "I've never had a lord to boil me water" she said - or so I'm told. My mother stayed for about a month and then took me to my grandmother in Saltdean, Sussex ... by the sea again. Is that why I love water and... Read more

Memories of Cornwall

Summer of ''67

I won the Cornish longboard championships at Constantine Bay in 1967. I was the profesional lifeguard at Treyarnon Bay in 1967 and 1968. Friendships established then and still true include Anhtony Richards, Robert Ede, David Powell, Peter Andrews, Rick Stein, Steve Bond, Andrew Blight, Rip Kirby, John Ball, John Jewell, Mike Hannaford and others. Brilliant years never to be experienced again

Two Sisters

Yes I remember the two sisters from my childhood - my sister and I thought they were really scary - when our father drove the car up to Trevose lighthouse we would hide in the back seats of the car when we went past the toll gate! Reading the memory above brought this memory back - I think they were always dressed in black - my memory is that they had knarled faces and my sister and I were convinced they were REAL witches - not what you would expect to find at the seaside!

Wonderful Trevone

This is one of the most beautiful places in England, the rock beach is my favourite, good for walking, swimming & looking in rock pools. I started visiting when my mother took me 62 years ago (my father was born in Padstow ) & it hasn't changed. I look forward to visiting each year.

Paradise

Trevone is one of the most beautiful places in England. It has two beaches one sandy & one rocky, I prefer the rocky. My mother first took me to Trevone 62 years ago & it hasn't changed, my father was born in Padstow. What a place to live, you lucky people.

My Favourite Place in The World!

I was fortunate enough to live at Trevone and then Padstow from 1951 - 1964, living at Craig-y-Mor which is the white house with the big balcony right down on the bay. I have very happy memories of my childhood there, looking in the rock pools at Rocky Beach and walking to Harlyn Bay with a picnic ... Watching the visitors on the beach all run for cover if there was a shower of rain ... Collecting car numbers from the car park during the summer holidays ...

Having spent my adult life in Hampshire I retired (early) back to Cornwall with my partner and am now living in St Columb Major.  
Trevone still has the same attraction for me as it did all those years ago ... sadly Padstow does not!!

Memorybank total

We're very pleased and excited by your response so far to our "Share your Memories" community.

You've shared 26,184 memories of 5,732 towns & villages across the UK - keep them coming!

Browse memories button

Find Memories

Simply search for your favourite places to read others' memories and share your own.

Start by searching for your favourite places

Tips & Ideas

Not sure what to write?
It's easy - just think of an important place in your life and ask yourself:

How does it feature in your personal history?

What are your best memories of this place?

How has it changed over the years?

How does it feel, seeing these old photos of your favourite place?

Do you remember stories about the local community, its history and people?

Start now!

It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the orange "Add your Memory" icon to begin.

Your memories

To jump straight to the memories you have added already to the Community, click here

I Remember When...

I Remember When

This stunning compilation highlights some of the best stories selected from the thousands contributed here on the Frith website. The result is an absorbing chronicle of British life from the Second World War to the mid 1960s.

A colourful treasure trove of memories, "I Remember When" is an irresistible mix of personal stories and recollections that affectionately reveal the detail of everyday life in Britain.

Learn more button Save 25% on I Remember When when you order now!
Home > Explore your past > St Merryn > Memories of St Merryn

© Copyright 1998-2012 Frith Content Inc. All rights reserved.