Leisure and shopping in St Austell The perfect place to unwind with family and friends Popular high street brands A four screen cinema Great places to eat & drink 24 hour gym | Free Wifi ... and the best value car parking in St Austell SAT NAV: PL25 5AZ
www.whiteriverplace.co.uk visit shop enjoy visit shop enjoy visit shop enjoy
WHICH
ST AUSTELL
WILL YOU DISCOVER? Hello and welcome to St Austell. Situated just a few miles from the glorious Cornish Coast, we are one of Cornwall’s biggest towns and home to the famous St Austell Brewery and Eden Project. We are easily accessible by train, coach or car and Newquay airport is also nearby. Our town boasts many shops, restaurants and a cinema too - and you will never be short of places to explore and visit on your stay. We are also famous for our China clay industry, which has a rich history and arguably is what has put St Austell on the map for centuries. You can find out more about the fascinating history of the clay mining industry on page 26. Don’t forget to visit the old fishing ports of Fowey & Mevagissey during your stay, as well as St Austell’s Georgian port, Charlestown, which has been the setting for many films and TV series such as the popular Poldark. We hope this guide will help you to get the most out of your visit, and we look forward to welcoming you as you begin to Discover St Austell.
Just a sample of what’s on throughout the year JUNE - SEPTEMBER Beautiful floral displays can be seen all around the town centre.
AUGUST Terrific Tuesdays free family fun and entertainment.
SEPTEMBER Whitegold Festival celebrating clay art, crafts and design.
OCTOBER Zombie Walk - frightful fun starting at the Market House.
NOVEMBER Torchlight Carnival entertainment and the evening carnival parade.
DECEMBER Christmas Lights, late night shopping, and family fun.
For more information about these or other events happening in and around St Austell visit www.staustellbid.co.uk
Download the free St Austell town app by scanning the above! Published for St Austell BID by Event Partnership Publishing Limited 01209 808118 - www.eventpp.co.uk - hello@eventpp.co.uk
CONTENTS 05 Five of our favourite things to do 07 Do not miss: The Eden Project 09 St Austell facts you may not have known 14 Map of St Austell 17 Mennacuddle Well: A place for contemplation 21 Get active 22 The Jewel in St Austell’s crown - The Market House 25 Brewing up a storm at St Austell Brewery 26 Spotlight on China Clay
St Austell Business Improvement District Burton House, Trinity Street, St. Austell PL25 5LS 01726 63595 staustellbid@gmail.com www.staustellbid.co.uk
St Austell Town
The Elephant Bar and Brasserie
The Clearing Spa
• Heated indoor infinity pool with panoramic walled garden views • Sauna and Steam room • Fully equipped modern fitness suite • Rejuvenating coffee and juice bar • Outdoor sun terrace
A relaxing countryside brasserie serving a variety of fresh and locally sourced • Cornish cuisine • Bar snacks • Afternoon teas • Wide range of fine spirit • Wines • Local brews • Cocktails • Sun Terrace for Alfresco Dining
The Cornwall Hotel & Estate Pentewan Road, Tregorrick, St Austell, PL26 7AB
www.thecornwall.com 01726 874050 enquiries@thecornwall.com
4
FIVE OF OUR FAVOURITE
THINGS TO DO Make your visit a memorable one with these great ideas of where to visit in and around St Austell.
What will you start with first?
St Austell Brewery Tour What could be better than an afternoon sampling some award-winning beers? St Austell Brewery’s visitor centre offers you the opportunity to find out more about the history of the Brewery and the brewing process, which is over 160 years old! ٠ More information can be found on page 25 or by visiting www.staustellbreweryvisitorcentre.co.uk
Wheal Martyn Museum Visit Cornwall’s only China clay museum and experience a day you won’t forget. From waterwheels to vintage trucks, there is so much to learn about Cornwall’s mining history at Wheal Martyn. Suitable for all the family in all weather, and if you buy a full price ticket you can return for free for the rest of the year! ٠ Visit www.wheal-martyn.com for further details
The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan were discovered by chance a quarter of a century ago, and since then have been restored into 200 acres of awardwinning grounds. There are a range of events hosted throughout the year - including various theatrical performances and garden tours. ٠ Visit the website at www.heligan.com to see what’s coming up
Spa day at The Cornwall Hotel SPA & ESTATE Give yourself a real treat and spend a day at The Clearing Spa at the Cornwall Hotel. Set in natural parkland with a view of the estate’s beautiful walled garden, it boasts an infinity pool, whirlpool, steam room and sauna. Don’t forget to refresh with a visit to their very own juice bar. ٠ Visit www.thecornwall.com for details
MENNACUDDLE WELL Set in a lovely wooded valley just a short walk from St Austell town lies Menacuddle Well. Dedicated to the memory of a lost only son in WW1, you’ll find a grade II listed Baptistery, Victorian garden and ornamental pond. It is a tranquil place to explore and enjoy for adults and children alike.
5
INSTANT PHOTO PRINTS, PASSPORT PHOTOS SIGNAGE, LEAFLETS, BUSINESS CARDS, PERSONALISED GIFTS CANVAS PRINTING, LARGE FORMAT PRINTING SCHOOL UNIFORM, WORK WEAR, PERSONALISED T-SHIRTS
An established and reputable taxi firm based in St Austell, Star Cars is the taxi service of choice for all of your travel requirements.
For a friendly & value for money service phone 01726 70767 or visit us at 10 Fore Street, St Austell
With over 18 years’ of experience you can expect to receive a friendly, reliable and prompt service. Private Hire
Air & SeaPort Transfers
Advanced Booking Only
County Tours
EMBROIDERED CUBBIES TEDDIES
01726 66636
Try our online designer
www.speranzaclothing.co.uk
www.starcarscornwall.com
T H E
P E R F E C T A N D
P L A C E
E N J O Y
T O
E X P E R I E N C E
C O R N W A L L
• Stunning coastal views from the hotel • Beautiful sun terrace serving cream teas and snacks • Situated on the South West Coast Path
Tel: +44 (0)1726 843453 | info@mevagisseybayhotel.co.uk | www.mevagisseybayhotel.co.uk
6
DO NOT MISS
THE EDEN PROJECT Built within a large crater, experiencing Cornwall’s truly unique Eden Project is a must for your visit to St Austell. Explore the tropical biomes where you will be surrounded by exotic plants, birds and a wealth of information about plant life and its relevance in both the past and the present. Sustainability is a passion for the Eden Project and it has become a place of learning and a great resource for understanding how we can build towards a more sustainable future. Outside of the biomes, you can find various plants growing all year round in the outdoor garden, WEEE man - who was made from electrical waste material, an ice rink in the winter months, and much more! A great day out for all the family and with a host of events taking place throughout the year, including the popular Eden Sessions, the unforgettable Eden Project will leave you in awe of the world around us. THE EDEN PROJECT Bodelva, Cornwall PL24 2SG www.edenproject.com - 01726 811911
7
5’s er ee d r Un
Go
Cornwall’s China Clay mining industry has shaped the identity of St. Austell and its people
f
Discover more at
Wheal Martyn 26 acres of fun, discovery and adventure for everyone • Victorian clay works and waterwheels • Interactive Discovery Centre • Clay trails and woodland walks • Children’s play • Dogs welcome throughout • Café serving homemade specials for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea
01726 850362 www.wheal-martyn.com
Just 6 miles from the A30 on the B3274, 2 miles north of St. Austell sat nav: PL26 8XG
nce Pay Osit vi ar e all y
Support one of Cornwall’s best loved charities knowing every penny raised in Cornwall stays in Cornwall
Support one of Cornwall’s best loved charities knowing every penny raised in Cornwall stays in Cornwall
Visit our Perranporth shop, 14 St Pirans Road Visit one of our St Austell stores
We cater for all the seasons and offer a wide variety of goods. Well worth a visit every time you are in Perranporth.
St Austell town centre, 16 Fore Street, PL25 5EP T 01726 69066 Tel. 01872 571917 Holmbush shop, 88 Daniels Lane, PL25 3HT T 01726 61289 www.cornwallhospicecare.co.uk St Austell Homestyle, Unit 10, Daniels Lane, PL25 3HS T 01726 879202
#HelpFundTheCare
www.cornwallhospicecare.co.uk 8
ST AUSTELL FACTS A collection of facts about St Austell you may not have known … ٠ St Austell gets its name from Saint Austol or Austolus, a sixth century Breton Christian who settled in the area to sow the seeds of the Christian faith. ٠ Bergerac and Midsomer Murders star, John Nettles, was born in St Austell. ٠ St Austell’s Globe Yard was named after the Globe Commercial Hotel that had its stables there. ٠ The 30 acres of woodland and landscaping at Pinetum Park and Pine Lodge Gardens are a peaceful little gem, set back along the edge of the A390 at Holmbush.
٠ At 35m high and 220m long, the stone viaduct which links St Austell by rail to the rest of Cornwall was opened in 1899. The construction, which was first made of wood, is built on a curve. It’s one of 42 viaducts built in Cornwall during the 1800s. ٠ When Truro Road Park was opened on August 12th 1915, the benches underneath the bandstand were made of timber from a ship once commanded by Lord Nelson. ٠ St Austell’s Grade II listed Market House, which opened in 1844, has been home to a market hall, fire station, police cells and picture house. When it was built, the Market House was believed to have the largest unsupported span of any roof in Britain! ٠ Duke Street used to be called Ducking Street named after the ducking posts placed there. ٠ During the 1930s Edward, Prince of Wales was a regular visitor to the area with his lover Mrs Simpson.
٠ The Station Pub (1908) was the former head office of the main China Clay Company. ٠ The White Hart Hotel once contained panoramic wallpaper of the Bay of Naples by Dufour which is now in the Victoria and Albert Museum. ٠ It was also once the town house of Charles Rashleigh, the visionary builder of Charlestown. ٠ Queens Head Hotel dates back to the 17th century and is the oldest ale house in town. It is said to be haunted by Betsy who hanged herself after becoming pregnant with the landlord’s child. ٠ Many of St Austell’s historic buildings have QR codes placed on them allowing visitors instant access to its history. ٠ Holy Trinity church was originally built in the 13th and 14th centuries.The baptisimal font dates from the late 1200s, when Bishop Bronescombe dedicated the site. The early church building remains today in the chancel; the round pier and low pointed arches of the south arcade are 13th century. ٠ October 18th 1940 was St Austell’s Great Fire when eight shops and a café were destroyed, and five others including Woolworths and an inn were badly damaged.
٠ Outside the Red Bank and the Churchyard is the Bull Ring, so called because of the bullbaitings formerly held on this spot. ٠ Captain Percival Phillips, the famous Cornish aviator who was the founder of Cornwall Aviation Company was born in St Austell. 9
٠ The 26 acres of woodland and walks at Wheal Martyn, Ruddlemoor, will take you on a journey through the history of china clay.
٠ The Red Bank was built in 1898 and designed by famous architect Silvanus Trevail. The bricks were especially imported from Ruabon in North Wales. ٠ Walter Hicks started out as a maltster supplying malt to inns and ale houses within the St Austell area. In 1863 he bought the Seven Stars. The pub is believed to be the place where he brewed and pulled his first pint of beer. ٠ By the 1950s beach huts and caravan parks had appeared at Par and Pentewan. ٠ The first large scale tourist hotel to be built along what’s become known as the Cornish Riviera, was the St Austell Bay Hotel now the Carlyon Bay Hotel, which opened in 1925. ٠ The largest use of china clay is in the production of paper; it is also used as a coating to create the glossy look on magazine covers. ٠ Bodelva Pit produced a pinkishred clay, which was famous for giving the Financial Times its pink colour. ٠ Priory car park used to be the site of the St. Austell Workhouse (1838); in 1948 it became a hospital for geriatric patients. ٠ In 1988, the china clay industry celebrated its highest-ever annual tonnage having produced a staggering 3,277,000 tons of china clay that year!
٠ After oil, china clay is the United Kingdom’s second largest mineral export. In Cornwall it’s the largest (apart from the pasty that is). China clay is one of the purest forms of clay on the planet and comes from the decomposition of moorland granite. Before its commercial extraction, china clay was known as Moorstone, Growan or Growan clay and used as a local building material. The clay bearing ground in midCornwall covers a total area of 25 square miles. It’s estimated that there are enough reserves of kaolin here for at least another century. ٠ Between the late 1500s and 1800s most of St Austell’s local population were involved in tin mining. The demand for tin was so high that in 1580, Queen Elizabeth invited German miners to the area. Today’s local family names of Lobb, Kessell, Sleeman, Stark and Waldron came from these settlers. ٠ St Austell railway station opened on 4th May 1859 on the hillside above the town centre.
٠ Historically, St Austell had its own week of feasten activities surrounding the celebration of the Feast of Saint Austol (traditionally celebrated in St Austell on the Thursday of Whitsun) the last of which took place in 1946. ٠ In 2012, the then Mayor Cllr. John Keast OBE, along with the town council, members of local businesses, schools, churches and community groups decided to rekindle this lost tradition in the town.
٠ Penrice, the home of the Sawle family from 1596 to 1971 is now part of Penrice Community College, the first college in Cornwall to specialise in languages. ٠ During the great storm of 1794 the church steeple fell down onto the new market house. ٠ Hundreds of thousands of visitors come to Cornwall to enjoy the Eden Project and many of its other traditional gardens. The St Austell area is not without a few of them. ٠ At the time, the scaffolding used to build Eden’s biomes held the Guinness World Record of being ‘The World’s Largest FreeStanding Scaffold Structure’. It needed 46,000 poles and would have stretched end-to-end for 230 miles (that’s almost the distance between St Austell and London). ٠ 160-year-old St Austell Brewery is one of the oldest, still family run breweries in Great Britain. It’s been brewing beer since 1851 when the business was begun by Walter Hicks. ٠ 12th century Holy Trinity church, was dedicated in 1259 by the Bishop of Exeter. The building was built from Elvan stone, a fine building rock quarried from Pentewan.
٠ The main by-products of the china clay extraction process are sand and mica. The famous turquoise lakes and pools of Cornwall’s clay area are given their bluey-green hue by the mica-particles, left over from washing the clay. ٠ St Austell began to emerge as a holiday destination after the arrival of the passenger railway in 1859. ٠ Crushed rock and sand from the clay pits of Cornwall helped to build the Olympic Village for London 2012. ٠ The overall water and energy bill for china clay production in Cornwall is somewhere in the region of £23 million a year! 10
٠ Wheal Martyn is the only museum in the world where you get to view a working china clay pit and can see the largest working water wheel in Cornwall. ٠ Pull up next to the China Café at the junction of Trinity Street and Truro Road, St Austell and you’ll see a very special mural celebrating some of the most notable real life characters in the area. It was designed and painted by Janet Shearer, a world renowned trompe l’oeil artist, who has lived locally since 1976. ٠ The Victorian footbridge at the St Austell railway station opened in 1882. ٠ If you take the clay trail above Carclaze you’ll get a great view of Baal Pit, famous for being used in the 1971 BBC Doctor Who series with John Pertwee. The lunar landscape was filmed as the backdrop for the planet Uxarieus. ٠ Embedded in the ground at the foot of Holy Trinity Church, the Mengu Stone (the Meeting Stone) was used as a site where witches were burnt, important news was relayed and proclamations and announcements made. Straying livestock, impounded in the area near the church, would be sold from the Mengu Stone if not claimed after a certain number of market days. John Wesley was said to have preached from this spot. ٠ The Imerys-owned Karslake Complex is believed to be the biggest china clay pit in the world, deep enough in parts to hide the London eye. ٠ Tregonissey House was the site of St Austell Brewery’s first steam brewery, built in 1870. ٠ Although the area is mostly associated with clay, the wealth that built St Austell came from mining. St Austell was in the stannary of Blackmore and during the 1830s the area’s mines were the largest sources of tin in Cornwall. At one time it was possible to walk from Boscoppa Farm to Crinnis without coming to the surface!
Free Parking Behind Shop (After 17:30) Cooked to Order Always Fresh & Crispy! Credit/Debit Cards Accepted 5* Food Hygiene Certification Visit whiteriverfishbar.co.uk to see the full menu & opening times.
‘Quality Fish & Chips’ ‘Cornwalls FavouriTe Chippy’* *as voted for by Cornwall live readers.
01726 871444 Telephone orders welcome
27 Trinity Street St Austell PL25 5LS @whiteriverfishbar
Check out our beautiful range of Sterling Silver Jewellery’
11 Trinity Street | St Austell | PL25 5LS
01726 64956
Discover the finest luxury hotel in Cornwall, set back in its own 250 acres of cliff top setting overlooking the Bay. The Carlyon Bay Hotel offers sumptuous dining across 4 different dining venues, a heavenly spa with both indoor and outdoor heated pools, a 18 hole championship golf course, 9 hole approach course, putting green, tennis courts, double snooker room and its own secluded beach. Join us for lunch, a full afternoon Carlyon Tea or a cocktail in the glorious sunshine on our brand new Terrace. Visit us for Sunday Lunch in our award winning Bay View Restaurant. Stay in one of our luxury bedrooms, all of which have been recently refurbished to the highest standard, with most boasting the sea views that will take your breath away. Escape in exceptional luxury to the spectacular setting of the Carlyon Bay Hotel.
01726 812304 - www.carlyonbay.com
The Tanya’s Courage Trust is a charity that was formed in 2006 to support Young People with Cancer. We have 2 shops, one being in Penryn and the other being here in St Austell. We offer a wide range of affordable items that have kindly been donated to us by the public, for us to sell to raise much needed funds for us to meet our objectives. Our shop is located in Old Vicarage Place and we have varied items from kids clothes (priced from just 50p) to large items of furniture. Our Shop Ethos is to help our local community source good value items at affordable prices whilst raising funds for young people with cancer. We look forward to you visiting our shop!
4 Old Vicarage Place, St Austell, Cornwall, PL25 5YY 01726 71224 | www.tanyascourage.org.uk 12
EvEryonE wElcomE Overlooking St.Austell Bay, we invite both golfers and non-golfers to visit this warm and friendly club. • Membership and pay and play fees available • Bar meals available all day Porthpean, St Austell PL26 6AY 01726 64613 - porthpeangolfclub@hotmail.co.uk www.porthpeangolfclub.co.uk
13
Map courtesy of SR Studio - www.srstudio.co.uk
62x90adPRINT.pdf 1 4/27/2018 12:30:46 PM
OPEN TUESSUNDAY 10AM - 7 PM
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK DURING ALL SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
CLIMBING FRAMES
Indoor and Outdoor Family Fun For all ages
C
M
Y
BALL POOLS
TRAMPOLINES
British Horse Society Approved Training Centre
SLIDES
T.M. INTERNATIONAL
CM
School of Horsemanship
MY
CY
SKY TRAIL
Cooling off in a pool on beautiful Bodmin Moor To book please ring 01579 362895 at least 24 hours beforehand, with the heights and weights of the riders Authorised to train students to the International Level 1 Instructor’s Qualification (BHSAI)
DODGEMS
CMY
K
T.M. International School of Horsemanship Sunrising Riding Centre, Henwood, Liskeard PL14 5BP www.tminternational.co.uk enquiries@tminternational.co.uk
TEL : 01726 815553
KIDZWORLDCORNWALL.CO.UK
Breakfasts Coffee Cream Teas Cakes and more...
CUPCAKES MAKE YOU
HAPPY 01726 76067
1 Fore Street, St Austell PL25 5PX
FRESHLY BAKED IN PORTHLEVEN USING SOME OF THE FINEST CORNISH INGREDIENTS
Fresh Cornish cream teas, all day breakfasts, aromatic Pure Earth coffee, the best hot choc ever & much more, available at this family run cafe in the heart of St Austell. Under new ownership from September 2017, come and say hello and see what’s new!
16
Treveor Farm Campsite 47 spacious well maintained, grass and hard standing pitches, all with electric hook ups. Recently renovated showerblock and childrens play area. Based on a working dairy farm. 1 mile from the nearest beach and 3 others all within walking distance.
Luxury self-catering holidays, property management and exciting opportunities to secure your own corner of Cornish heaven.
01726 842387
naturalretreats.co.uk | 01625 416430
030518_DiscoverStAustell_Quarter.indd 1
info@treveorfarm.co.uk | www.treveorfarm.co.uk
03/05/2018 16:30
‘Proud to be a St Austell Company’ Ocean Housing Group Ltd builds new and affordable homes for local people for Rent for Sale for Shared Ownership.
for all flower occasions Weddings, Funerals, Events & Special Occasions Gift bouquets to celebrate those special moments Biodegradable funeral designs Home or venue visits
01726 874450 help@oceanhousing.com www.ocean-group.co.uk
07450 793657
www.floral-creations-cornwall.co.uk Land View, Carluddon PL26 8TY (Appointment Only)
18
YOUR HOME FROM HOME
on the beautiful South Cornwall Coast
NEW PREMIUM HOLIDAY LODGES AVAIBLE TO BUY, RENT OR BUY-TO-LET • Overlooking the sea in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty • All-year-round holiday season • 5* VisitEngland Graded Park • Free hi-speed WiFi throughout • Heated outdoor swimming pool • Fully managed subletting in partnership with Hoseasons • Dog-friendly • Large, open spaces and stunning views
DISCOVER MORE ABOUT LODGE OWNERSHIP OR HOLIDAYS: CALL:
01726 843 425 CLICK: swholidayparks.co.uk
VISIT: Seaview Gorran Haven, Boswinger, Gorran Haven, PL26 6LL
Sew ‘and’ Fabric Fabric, Haberdashery & Wool
Imagine crazy golf but using a football instead! Open 7 days a week and suitable for all ages from 5 - 80 yrs old. Situated just 5 mins from the Eden Project. Have fun navigating through, under, over and around obstacles set in beautiful surroundings with two 18 hole courses.
01726 75385 1 Biddicks Court, St Austell PL25 5EW sewandfabric@yahoo.co.uk www.sewandfabric.co.uk
Trenowah Road St Austell PL25 3GD
01726 68952
FIND US ON FACEBOOK
01726 64666
www.pennetsofstaustell.co.uk 24 Grants Walk, St Austell Pl25 5AA
Fresh flowers, plants and gifts for all occasions
For ALL your computer needs Repairs & upgrades New systems/laptops Inks, cables, accessories... & much more!
Find us near the Priory Car Park
19 Trinity Street, St Austell PL25 5LS
MEMBERS OF
01726 76999 www.bits-pcs.co.uk
facebook.com/BitsandPCsStAustell
20
GET ACTIVE! If you want to keep active on your stay, the following ideas will ensure your time with us is action packed and full of fun!
Hangloose at Eden If you fancy a day of thrills then make sure you venture to Hangloose Adventure, where you can ride England’s longest and fastest zip-wire, swing from a giant cliff swing, airbag drop, freefall over a cliff edge and try your hand at the climbing wall. Situated just by the Eden Project - experience views not only of the amazing biomes and surrounding grounds but of the coast and Cornish countryside too! ٠ www.hanglooseadventure.com
Walk The St Austell Circular Clay Trail
Football Golf Try something new and exciting on your visit with a trip to Cornwall Football Golf. Instead of a putter and golf ball, you use your feet and a football, with the aim of getting the football into the hole as you would in a game of golf. With obstacles in your path along the way, this makes a great day out for all ages and abilities! ٠ www.cornwallfootballgolf.co.uk
If you are looking for a challenging route that will take you in and around the famous clay pits of St Austell, then the circular clay trails are for you. This 3.2km route will have you walking up into the hills which surround the clay pits and gives magnificent views of St Austell Bay and the old China clay workings. Parking is available nearby and the train station is only a short walk away from the start of the trail. With a few steep inclines to face along the way, why not reward yourself upon completion with a good lunch in St Austell town.
Eat, Swim & Play at The Seahorse Centre
Cycling
Relax for the day at The Seahorse, situated between St Austell and Mevagissey. With beautiful sea views, you can enjoy a swim in the lap pool followed by a delicious meal (and maybe even a glass of wine). Great for young children too who can enjoy the soft play area, have a splash in the play pool and a whizz down the water flume! ٠ www.seahorsecornwall.co.uk
There are many routes to explore by bicycle in and around St Austell, including The Cornish Way which is a 180 mile route that runs from Land’s End to Bude. The South Coast route of The Cornish Way runs through St Austell. Why not hop onto the route and head to Truro, where you can visit its magnificent Cathedral, and cycle past the clay pits on the way. 21
THE JEWEL IN
ST AUSTELLS CROWN Facts
Currently host to a range of independent businesses, from cafes to bookshops, The Market House is a Grade II listed building and a must visit during your stay. Dating back to 1844, The Market House carries a great historical and architectural importance to St Austell. In the Middle Ages markets and fairs were held in churchyards. However during the reign of Edward III, a law was passed which banned these activities taking place on Church premises and a growing market town meant that there was a need for a bigger site on which to host public events.
• T he Market Place was designed by Cope and Eales of London and built by Oliver Stone and Sons of Falmouth. • A butchers market used to be held in the centre of the ground floor and the stairways on either side led up to fruit, vegetable, poultry and dairy stalls.
In 1842, an Act of Parliament was passed by Queen Victoria and St Austell was granted permission to build on the site. In 1844 The Market Place officially opened and has been at the heart of the community ever since. Various events have been held at The Market Place over the years, including flower and fatstock shows, market days and even a Grand Indian Palace Bazaar!
22
• T he vaulted timber ceiling is made from yellow pine, with the main beams over 50ft long. • T he large room on the first floor has been a town hall, cinema and dance hall and a hardware store. • T here are two police cells on the ground floor and a fire bell was once hung above the entrance.
The St Austell Market House is a magnificent Grade 2* listed building opposite the The Holy Trinity Church. Housing a range of independent niche shops and services including displays of the history of the town and the St Austell Town Museum run by the Old Cornwall Society. You can also stop by at Oak Cottage cafĂŠ and takeaway or browse the selection of outlets including Gaming Miniatures, Trading Cards, Comics, Vinyl records, Art and Cross Stitch and much more. Go to www.staustellmarkethouse.co.uk or follow us on Facebook @MarketHouseStAustell
STUDY IN
ST AUSTELL EXCELLENCE ON YOUR DOORSTEP 0330 123 2523 www.cornwall.ac.uk
BREWING UP A STORM Come and see what’s been brewing at the home of the South West’s favourite beers St Austell Brewery celebrated its 165th birthday last year in rich style, voted Publican’s Choice Regional Brewer of the Year for the fourth time, British Beer and Pub Association’s Beer Champion 2016, as well as Business of the Year at the annual Western Morning News Awards. The Brewery’s quality, awardwinning beers grow from strength to strength, picking up quadruple gold at the World Beer Awards last year, while its flagship Tribute Cornish Pale Ale was picked as the tipple of choice on all British Airways business and long haul flights leaving Britain. Why not come up and see what all the fuss is about at the new and interactive Brewing Experience at the Visitor Centre in Trevarthian Road? At the core of the new Experience is St Austell’s state of the art Small
Batch Brewery, crafting new brews featuring innovative tastes and styles, while the Experience itself focuses on the beer story, from the individual ingredients and the brewing process right through to the final product in the form of some of the UK’s best-selling brands like Tribute, Proper Job and Korev. Entry to the Brewing Experience costs just £12, including tutored beer sampling plus a pint of St Austell beer to enjoy at the Hicks bar or a bottle to take home* (*over 18s only). Children under 14 enter for free accompanied by adults, 14-17 year olds get a free soft drink on entry for just £5 and other concessions are available including for OAPs and CAMRA members. The Brewing Experience is disability friendly and virtual tours allow wheelchair users and others who could not previously book onto 25
the traditional brewery tour to see the inner workings of the St Austell brewhouse for the first time. Tickets allow visitors to stay as long as they choose on the day and a visit to the new Brewing Experience is just the start of the overall St Austell Brewery offering, with the free-to-enter Hicks Bar open from 9am for breakfasts until last food orders at 5pm. The Experience itself will be open 9am to 6.00pm Monday to Saturday with last ticket sales at 4.30pm each day. For more information, visit staustellbreweryvisitorcentre.co.uk
SPOTLIGHT ON
CHINA CLAY China clay was also used to make paper, paint and cotton. At first, the production of China clay was less than 2000 tonnes per year in Cornwall, but as the industry grew so did the efficiency of production and by 1913 over 838,000 tonnes of china clay had been produced. Today’s visitors will look in awe at the large clay peaks, (sometimes referred to as the Cornish alps!) that tower above, and no doubt will pay a visit to the Eden Project which was actually built within an old clay pit. The output of China clay is now less than 1 million tonnes but the uses of Cornish China clay are still as wide as ever and have adapted over the past few centuries to a changing industrial environment.
Cornwall is renowned for its granite engine houses, farms and tin mining heritage, but China clay is the largest industry the county has ever known and it is the clay pits of St Austell that have arguably been the pinnacle of the clay mining industry and that have caught the attention of visitors for years. China clay, or kaolin, was first discovered in Cornwall by William Cookworthy in the mid 1700s. At this time China clay was in high demand and was used by the Chinese to make pure white porcelain. No deposits of note were found in Europe until Cookworthy set out to find a source of it in Cornwall. After his discovery, he spent years experimenting until he finally patented a formula in 1768 and found a way of processing the clay found in Cornwall into porcelain pieces which he produced from his Porcelain Factory in Plymouth. The
٠ Don’t forget to visit the Wheal Martyn China Clay Museum, where you can find out more about this fascinating industry. Visit www.wheal-martyn.com
26
The Rann Wartha BIDDICKS COURT, ST AUSTELL, PL25 5EW
OPEN FROM 8AM; BREAKFAST SERVED UNTIL 12 NOON; FOOD SERVED UNTIL 11PM
Proudly serving local produce in our pubs across Cornwall
Visit our 10 other Cornish pubs: THE PACKET STATION, FALMOUTH THE TREMENHEERE, PENZANCE THE TOWAN BLYSTRA, NEWQUAY TRY DOWR, TRURO CHAPEL AN GANSBLYDHEN, BODMIN
THE HAIN LINE, ST IVES THE JOHN FRANCIS BASSET, CAMBORNE THE GREEN PARROT, PERRANPORTH THE COINAGE HALL, HELSTON THE KING DONIERT, LISKEARD OPENING 19 JUNE
FREE REFILLS ON ANY TEA OR COFFEE, ALL DAY EVERY DAY
Subject to local licensing restrictions and availability at participating free houses. Photography is for guidance only. J D Wetherspoon PLC reserves the right to withdraw/change offers (without notice), at any time. See main menu for additional details of our terms and conditions. Hot drinks offer (excluding take-away drinks, speciality hot drinks, hot chocolate and teapigs) available 7 days a week; applies on day of purchase, during one visit; is non-transferable. Exclusions apply.
5441ADVERT18
Available on iOS and Android
ST AUSTELL BREWERY - ONLY A 10 MINUTE WALK FROM THE TRAIN STATION
COME AND SEE WHAT HAS BEEN BREWING AT THE HOME OF CORNWALL’S FAVOURITE BEERS & PUBS
SUMMER OPENING HOURS
Monday to Saturday 9am - 6pm. Last entry into Brewing Experience 4.30pm. Full disability access - Free parking.