Cornwall - Around Trebarvah, Perranuthnoe Village & St.Michael's Mount

As well as visiting the special places of family history interest,  several walks around the village and country footpaths were special treats.  The sea was never far from sight and fresh air and sunshine made for unforgettable experiences.

I also had the opportunity to visit the gardens on St. Michael's Mount.  The island is reached by walking via a causeway, or when the tide is in and the sea covers the stone pathway, there are boats to transport visitors across and back. 

The first time I visited St.Michael's Mount six years ago,  the tour of the castle took several hours, leaving insufficient time to walk around the lovely gardens.   Exotic and unusual plants grow in a micro climate here, clinging to the rocky and sheltered east side of the Mount. 

The gardens are cared for by skilled staff.  This link will give you a overall picture.

Returning to London by train for an overnight stay, the next day I flew to Belfast to begin a guided coach tour - 'Gardens of Ireland', both Northern and Southern.

My Favourite Season - Spring, is in The Air . . . .

Two lovely sunny days have brought bulbs into bloom and green buds beginning to appear on branches which have been dormant for so long.

I planted these beautiful ruffled tulips just before I left for overseas in late April.  During the cold winter months, I've been watching them grow and looking forward to seeing them in bloom.

I hope you enjoy these photos. I took yesterday around the garden.

 

.  .  .  .    and a few daffodils and grape hyacinths which I brought inside.

I hope my friends in Northern countries are enjoying sunny Autumn days.
Which is your favourite season?

 

Godolphin House, Cornwall

My blog friend Sue and husband Jim who live close by,  had offered to take me out to visit a place of my choice.  I was hoping to visit Godolphin House a very old National Trust property and where some of my relatives had worked in the tin mine on the property.  

Another beautiful day as we set off on a Sunday morning.  Many visitors were walking around the lovely gardens.  The house was open, so I took the opportunity to visit while my friends sat in the sun and enjoyed a cup of tea/coffee.

The interior   -

 Jim and Sue with their well behaved companions Wooster and Maisie.

We strolled around the the gardens and walked part of the way up Godolphin Hill from where we could see the ruins of the old mine buildings. 

On our way back to the car park,  I was able to video bluebells in the woods, among soft green ferns.  A delightful experience.

 

Paddington to Penzance - A week in Cornwall

What a beautiful day to arrive in the County where half of my ancestors lived before emigrating to a land far away, and so different from the one they knew.
After checking in to 'The Longboat Inn' for one night,  I walked down to beautiful Mount's Bay in brilliant sunshine and found the office of Europcar nearby, where I was to collect a hire car the next day.


Saturday . . .  the changeover day of my accommodation in a beautifully converted barn at Trebarvah.  The last time I was here with my friend Barbara, we stayed next door.  A scenic spot with picturesque views of Mount's Bay and St. Michael's Mount.  As I had several hours to fill in until the barn was available, I had planned to visit some places nearby where ancestors were born, and were married.

 Sancreed, the birth place in 1791, of John Parsons, my great-great-grandfather was not easy to find.  A small village, with a church, Memorial Hall and a few homes in a beautiful, peaceful setting.  Birds were singing and bees buzzing as I climbed the entrance steps into the churchyard, with ancient celtic crosses and headstones on either side of the pathway.   Bluebells and giant rhododendrons enhanced the scene.  I began to unwind and felt at peace.

I found some headstones with John's future wife's family name, but none for Parsons.  It was wonderful to be here and it seemed as though nothing had changed much over the years since my ancestor had lived in this beautiful corner of south-west Cornwall.

*  The Churchyard Crosses
 
There are two large Celtic crosses in the churchyard. The first is directly east of the entrance porch, sheltered by the porch and the south wall of the nave. This is carved on all four sides, with the figure of Christ in the centre of the cross head. The cross stands 5 feet 9 inches high. 

The second and largest cross stands immediately beside the path that angles from the porch to the southeast gate to the churchyard. This striking cross about 9 feet high, though some of that length is buried in the ground. The shaft and head are carved on all sides, and the quality of the carving is outstanding; it is reckoned to be one of the finest incised Celtic crosses in Cornwall.

How Old is the Cross?
No one is really sure. Opinions vary from the 8th to the 11th century. The varying estimates show how little the traditional style of carving changed during the late Celtic period.
There are three small cross heads in the churchyards, very worn, and of the traditional wheelhead design.

*  See this page

Leaving Sancreed, I drove to Madron and the Parish Church, where John married Jane Tonkin 1815.



Soon it was time to drive to my holiday accommodation,  Oamaru Barn in Trebarvah.

Interior, and views from *Oamaru Barn . . . . 

 The barn is one of the converted buildings of a farm.  The farmhouse is still used by the owners and their family have lived here many years.  A few years ago the out-buildings were sold and have been mostly converted into holiday accommodation.

Mount's Bay, St. Michael's Mount and the village of Perranuthnoe are overlooked from the barn.  A stunning panorama! 

Continuing . . . . .

* Oamaru, named after a town in New Zealand.



 

Remembering the First Moon Landing

 "Lunar Generations" 

Did you see a telecast of the landing of the lunar module of Apollo 11?  It doesn't seem like fifty years since Neil Armstrong first stepped on to the surface of the moon on that momentous occasion.

I remember being among the crowd clustered around the window of a shop in Melbourne during my lunchtime break.  I felt so fortunate to be able to see this amazing event.

My son, also Neil, has been fascinated with Space since his very young days.  Encouraged by his Dad, he built a telescope while in High School and joined the Astronomical Society of Victoria in his early teens.

Over the years, he has become an accomplished astrophotographer and has sophisticated cameras, telescope and equipment suitable for this absorbing hobby.  He has won several awards for his photography.

Last night he was chosen winner for the award of best photograph in the category "Memories of Apollo" at the annual David Malin Awards.


David's comments -
"It is the simplicity and sincerity in this image that shines out, appearing to pass the message of Apollo 11 from the generation that went to the Moon to a representative of the generation that may yet return there. This is both beautifully lit and perfectly composed”

You can see more about the event and the wonderful entries which won each of the categories.

In Search of Ancestors and Gardens - London

                                                     
 Londoners on their way to work.


Returning to London after an interval of six years was a little daunting.  Mainly because this time, I was coming back on my own.  After my 80th birthday, I was more conscious of time going by at a fast rate and that I should get moving, if my plans to return to England and look further, for the places my ancestors lived was to be realized.  Maybe one of my friends would come with me.  I made the decision that I would go whether or not a friend accompanied me.

On arriving in the UK with bookings for four nights in London, a week in Cornwall and a 8 day coach tour of Gardens of Ireland, my first priority was to go to bed early in the evening and try to make up for sleep missed during the long flight from Melbourne. 

First on the list for next day was a visit to Hanover Terrace,  Marylebone to find number four where great-great-grandmother Martha Guy was a servant.  What a beautiful address opposite Regent's Park.  Martha married John Eyres, butler, of Montagu Square, Marylebone in St.Marylebone Parish Church.  Four of their children were born at Hanover Terrace.

I had asked the taxi driver to stop for a short time while I took photos, and from there to take me to Selfridges.  While chatting with him, I mentioned that my Grandfather was born in Hackney.  He told me that he also was born in Hackney, the next street to where Grandpa was born!    

Next a visit to Selfridges, Department Store.  Beautiful and expensive, where I met a lovely salesgirl who allowed me to photograph her.  It was a reminder of my first job when I worked in a large department store and the required attire was smart black.   I was attracted to the cakes counter here, as well as the perfumes.

 


Leaving the store and walking several blocks, I found the stop for the 'Hop on, hop off ' buses.  After a short while, my bus arrived to take me on the 'blue' circuit, which would eventually bring me back close to my hotel.  I was able to sit in the front seat upstairs. What a great view from this vantage point of all the activity along the way, as well as many interesting buildings.     

                             

                                                       

Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens were lovely in their Spring dress.  I enjoyed taking some leisurely walks among the lawns and garden beds.

The lovely streets close to Hyde Park

Visiting the Alexander Fleming Museum at St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington was humbling.   A tiny laboratory, with much of his equipment on display, belied the significance of the discovery which took place there.  What a life saving event the discovery of penicillin has made to millions, including one of my family who received it in the late 1940's soon after it's first release to the public.

The Museum is situated in the tower on the right. 

Next, a train journey from Paddington to Penzance.  I was happy to leave the city and travel to the West country to spend a week in Cornwall - a five hour journey.  

Statue of Isambard Kingdom Brunel the engineer who designed the Great Western Railway and this impressive station.   He was also responsible for many of England's other great engineering works.

It has taken a while to post about my holiday.  Since arriving home, jet lag and a persistent cold, plus a second cold took their toll.    I'm feeling very well now and will continue with my travel story over the next few weeks.