Gweek and the Helford River- The setting for Mr de Sousa's Legacy A Cornish love story

View towards the mouth of the Helford River



 

The Helford River is a  (flooded river valley) in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is fed by a number of small streams into its many creeks. There are seven creeks on the Helford; from west to east these are Ponsontuel Creek, Mawgan Creek, Polpenwith Creek, Polwheveral Creek, Frenchman's Creek, Port Navas Creek, and Gillan Creek, the best known of which is Frenchman's Creek, made famous by Daphne du Maurier in her novel of the same name. Further up river is Tremayne Quay, perfect for a spot of wild camping, the Quay was built for a visit by Queen Victoria in the 1840s which she then declined to make, because it was raining.

Gweek Bridge

 

 

The main areas of settlements that adjoin the river are Gweek, the setting for my novel Mr de Sousa’s Legacy.  Gweek is larger than the other villages and has a larger permanent population, with more businesses, shops and a pub, The Black Swan Inn. The Black Swan is the home of my female protagonist the young widow Rachel Pendarvas and her unruly step daughter Verity. 

The Black Swan at Gweek

where the love story begins.

A little further down the river, was the fictional hamlet and location for Pond cottage, used in my novel Mr de Sousa’s Legacy, where my characters witness the strange phenomenon which is Phosphorescence.  If you are lucky enough to travel down river by boat from Gweek, the cottage, which is privately owned, can be seen on the north bank. 

Excerpt from Mr de Sousa’s Legacy

They stood at the water's edge and listened to the night sounds of the river.  As the water licked at their feet they both stood back a step and noticed glowing footprints where they had stood.

“Look at that.” Rachel exclaimed pointing to her feet.

“Oh God, it’s phosphorescence, I’ve heard about it but never seen it.” He bent down and selected a smooth flat pebble and skimmed across the still river. It splashed in a brilliant cloud of light, and left a distinct trail lasting for almost a minute, until it gradually faded. Rachel was mesmerised, she had never seen anything like it in her life. It was magical.

“Quick, go and get something warm for us both to wear, we’ll take the boat out. We can’t miss this opportunity. I’ll fetch the rowlocks and oars.”

A couple of minutes later, Adam had pushed the rowing- boat across the pebble beach, and they both climbed aboard pulling their coats about them. As soon as they hit the water they laughed out loud at the beautiful sight around them. Each dip of the paddle caused a swirl of luminescence, and in the wake of the boat, a gleaming trail was visible for at least fifty yards behind them. Every stroke, every motion through the water made it ‘come alive’ with green/blue phosphorescence. Rachel dipped her hand into the cool water and scooped a handful of light; the splashes she made sent thousands of diamond jewel-like droplets.

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Port Navas

 

Port Navas is the next village down and is home to the Duchy Oyster Farm and the ‘Port Navas Sailing club’. Its focal point the Grade II listed Port Navas Quay. The quay, owned by the Duchy of Cornwall, has been allowed to become degraded and damaged. A campaign group has been set up to protect and preserve Port Navas Quay and to reverse associated environmental damage in the Helford River area. This Quay was where granite was loaded on to ships bound eastwards for building some of the country's major buildings and roads. 

Helford Village

Helford village has a shop/Post Office, and pub The Shipwrights and is a truly beautiful tranquil place. It is also the home of Helford River Sailing Club.  Helford Passage on the North bank has a pub, The Ferryboat. Durgan , also on the North bank is a small, picturesque village near the mouth of the Helford River boasting two south-east facing beaches. Both are shingle and pebble beaches, sitting at the foot of the subtropical Glendurgan Gardens, from where beautiful views of the Helford can be enjoyed. I have spent many a peaceful afternoon sleeping off a hearty picnic on Durgan beach. Helford and Helford Passage are linked by a passenger (and pedal cycle) ferry which has existed for over 300 years. My partner and I have spent many a day down at the mouth of the Helford fishing for Mackerel, in the very boat seen on the cover of my novel Mr de Sousa’s Legacy

The river has long been an important industrial and agricultural marine highway serving local mines, farms and quarries as well as the local fishing industry. Most of this industry has now gone, although commercial fishermen still use the river to land their catch and the oyster fishery is being revived. The industries have largely been replaced by tourist activities, in particular those relating to the sea, although at the head of the river the landscape is dominated by the extensive operations of Gweek Boatyard and the base of marine drilling and construction company Fugro Seacore, although the latter has moved its main base to Falmouth. These businesses now dominate the head of the river where once coal and timber were landed. On the opposite bank is the Cornish Seal Sanctuary, where injured seals are nursed back to health before being released to the freedom of the Atlantic Ocean. The traditional 'heavy' industries have been replaced by 'lighter' businesses catering for the many tourists who visit the area.

Thank you for reading my blog, if you would like to read my novel Mr de Sousa's legacy - A Cornish Love Story. You can buy it from the following outlets:-

Amazon Kindle
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00DS6DO6A/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_5hy0sb1ZKN7CB via @AmazonUK
Paperback
Mr de Sousa's Legacy: A Cornish love story by Ann E Brockbank http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1490930760/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_pjy0sb0S4HZHY via @AmazonUK

Also available at Waterstones Truro and all Waterstones by Stock Transfer 

Gweek premier shop, Cornwall
Poldhu Beach Café, Cornwall
The Black Swan at Gweek, Cornwall

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Please come and visit the Helford next time you are in Cornwall, it is truly beautiful.

Ann xx