Author Archives: AH

Who was St Sampson?


Recently our church received a beautiful quilted banner from South Hill Piece Makers of St Sampson, the patron Saint of our Church, but who was he? Why is this church dedicated to him? We know a few things basis in historical fact.

Of all the so-called ‘Cornish’ saints, Sampson is the only one for whom there appears to be documentary evidence written at the time he was alive: there is a reference to a bishop, probably our St Sampson signing his name with other bishops who attended a church council in Paris in 562. Sampson also has the distinction of being the only ‘Cornish’ saint whose biography, was written less than 200 years after his death.

Sampson was the son of a noble family from South Wales, born in the early 500s. He was regarded as a miraculous child because he was born when his parents had long given up hope of having a child and was named after the Biblical Samson in the book of Judges.  He was educated in a monastery at Llantwit Major where he eventually became ordained. Continue reading →

Rilla Mill 7 miler


From Golberdon crossroads, walk through the recreation field, past the hall and the play park, out through the pedestrian gate, be careful crossing the road, into “The Square” and walk down “back lane”. Keep right, passing the houses at Moorland View, and along the path to Trewoodloe lane. Turn left and follow the lane, pass Trewoodloe Castle, Trewoodloe Farm House, Trewoodloe Cottage and turn right into the driveway of Trewoodloe House. Look for the path markers ahead, by the wood pile, keep right then left up the steps and around to the pedestrian gate.

Turn left, the path goes straight ahead, through the gate, keep the hedge on your right to the next gate, and straight on, down across the steep grass field to a metal gate. Through here you go straight ahead towards the farm house and left down the driveway, coming out at Berrio Mill.

Turn Right, see the old well on the right, and follow the old leat along the quiet road to Wagmuggle. (A great name, the origin is not known but is shown on a 1748 map) Turn left by the house and down to the stream, cross on the granite footbridge and enter the grass field. Keep the wire fence on your left. The river Lynher can be heard a few hundred yards away. Go over the stile and keep straight ahead. The reeds on your left are a good indication that this land is a flood meadow and attracts wild geese and heron can be spotted on the river bank. Spot the path on the left as it goes over 2 granite footbridges and through a wooden gate. This route was walked by miners from Golberdon and Kerney Bridge to Cheesewring Quarry and other mines.

Follow the track, (can be wet after heavy rain) and go through a total of 5 waymarked wood gates, eventually emerging onto the road (near Browda, the house was built in 1602).

Turn left, follow the road pass Wales Cottage, Beneathwood Farm (listed building) and an avenue of ancient trees, bringing you to the granite “entrance” posts. Cross the road, continuing on the footpath, used by fishermen. Over a stile into a grass field, (2 horses were here when walked in July) continue straight ahead, brings you to another stile, partially hidden by nettles, this time of year.

Keep straight again, you’re aiming for the house in the distance and the far corner of the top hedge, where you’ll find a gate in gate, replacing the rotting ladder stile. New fencing keeps you to the left over a wooden bridge with stiles either end.

Out into the meadow with great views of Caradon, Cheesewring and Sharptor. Keep the hedge on your right, as you walk up the slope, make use of the bench if you want to enjoy the scenery. Navigate past the dog agility equipment to a pedestrian gate and driveway (at Liverscombe) to the main Rilla Mill road.

Turn Left, down the hill, past the village hall and The Manor Inn is on your left. Be silly not to stop and enjoy their hospitality…….  Your ½ way point. About 3 ½ miles.

Beyond the pub, just before the bridge is Parsons Meadow and play park, another great spot to enjoy a break, (no dogs allowed). You can see and hear the leat water rushing under the bridge, once used to drive the mill here. (The building on the right, was once the home and HQ of Truscotts Omnibus Company.)

Continue over the bridge and turn left, following the road past Addicroft to Plushabridge about a mile.

The bridge on the left was widened and parapet rebuilt in 1913 by Cornwall County Council. (Built to provide access for the miners of Caradon, to the parish church in Linkinhorne.) These ducklings were seen on July 15th.

Option 1, if you want to stay on the roads, back track off the bridge and continue straight on up the hill, bringing you to the telephone exchange, turn left and follow the road all the way down to Kerney Bridge and on up into Golberdon and back to the crossroads. Not quite 7 miles.

Option 2. Go over the bridge, taking note of the mining cottages on the left, with stones stating CJP 1823. Turn Right and retrace your steps back the way you came. You will have walked close to 7 miles.

Option 3. For a longer walk, 8 ½ miles (14km)go over the bridge, turn right, past the footpath used earlier, keep going for 1 ½ miles, passing Browda, and Roundbury (an Iron Age settlement, imagine 2500 or so years ago a thriving community on this back road), eventually you’ll come to Linkinhorne. (You’ve 2 ½ miles back to Golberdon.) Keep right, at the church, St Melors, the tower rises to 120 ft high making it the second highest tower in Cornwall. You may want to take a look at the stocks in the porch and find the slate memorial stone against the east end church wall, which commemorates Katherine Nicholls, there is an amusing verse carved by Daniel Gumb, the eccentric stonemason, born in Linkinhorne on 14th April 1703, died in 1776, lived in a cave, in the shadow of Cheesewring, carved several of the gravestones in the churchyard. Facing the church is a row of cottages, one of these used to house the Sun Inn, in 1841 this small village supported 2 inns. The other The Church House Inn, recently closed, has been called The Stone Masons and …..

Continue around pass the red phone box, on the road to South Hill. In about 300 yards look for the footpath sign on the right taking you through to Mornick.

At Mornick turn left then right at the footpath sign taking you to Trewassick, Lansugle, Trewoodloe and back to Golberdon.

 

 

3 1/2 miles, Golberdon Down, Penwarden, Bicton, Kerney, Berrio, Trewoodloe loop


From Golberdon crossroads, take the Trevigro Rd, (pass 2 turns on the right) just after FAIRVIEW kennels take the “hidden” path on your right. At the end (Trenavin House) turn right through a picket fence into a 50 acre field and head straight across, this will bring you out, onto the road to Woodcockwell. Turn right and then left signposted to Penwarden. Through the metal gate, keep the hedge on your left to another metal gate, through this one and keep the hedge on your right, around to another metal gate. There are horses here. Keep going straight on and this metal gate leads you into a track, often wet after rain, and through another metal gate into the stable yard and on out through the last metal gate in this serious onto the road at Penwarden cottage.

Keep left, following the road down to Bicton Bridge. Work starts here on strengthening the bridge, so it’ll be interesting to see what happens here. After looking at the river retrace your steps and continue around the corner, you’re on the road to Tregonnet and can continue back to Golberdon, but for this walk, follow the footpath sign to Kerney bridge, over the stile into the grass field and follow alongside the river.

This will bring you into Tregonnet wood, pass the swing tyre, up the granite steps, by the handrail and follow the path coming out to a gate with stile beside, over this and follow the path to the road. Be careful here as this is the main Golberdon to Pensilva road at Kerney Bridge. Cross the road and take the road towards Mornick. Pass 3 properties and spot the footpath sign on your right, leading up a driveway to Berrio Farm House. Enter thru the pedestrian gate and go straight ahead, up the drive, the path goes around to the top right to a metal gate into a grass field. Through this you’ll spot a post directing you left, straight to the top hedge of a steep field. There are direction markers at the metal gate, continue through this gate and keep the hedge on your left. Keep going to the end, where you’ll see a large drinking trough, go through the gate, into a track, keep straight on pass the post and rail fence and see the pedestrian gate on your right.

Follow this path which brings you out into the driveway of Trewoodloe House, and then into the road. Keep straight/left and pass Trewoodloe Cottage, and Trewoodloe Farm House and then Trewoodloe Castle. Stay on the road and you’ll come to a Footpath sign on your right, directing you along a path and then passing houses at Moorland View. At the end, keep left and stay in tight left, avoiding the road, and you’ll pass behind the Old Post Office and walk up “back lane”, into “The Square”. Take care coming out onto the road, and cross over diagonally passing through the pedestrian gate, by the footpath sign, into the recreational field with the popular children’s play area.

There are picnic tables here, and a public toilet on the side of the hall and wonderful views, and beyond the hall, you’re back at the crossroads.

Connection News Updates June 26th


At the Parish Council meeting on Tuesday 20th June the Community Benefit Payment (income from the Trefinnick Solar Farm) was discussed:

3 ideas from SHARE were put forward : £400 to upgrade the Parish hall urn with an on demand energy saving boiler. £1500 towards match funding for energy storage batteries for the Parish hall, to maximise the power generated by the solar panels and £500 would ensure free energy saving light bulbs to every household in the parish.

St Sampson’s Church would like to replace some lights, at a cost of £2000

And suggestions from the PC were to provide additional car parking in the recreational field. Some thought parking should be made available at the top of the field by the football pitch, or closer to the hall.

If you have any thoughts on this, contact a PC member or the clerk. http://www.south-hill-pc.gov.uk/members.php   This will be further discussed at the July PC meeting.

The Neighbourhood Development Plan 6 week consultation period ends on July 7th .  Again if you have any comments, pass these to the PC clerk.

Cllr Sharon Daw gave her updates and comments read her monthly article here reflecting her concerns for the 52,500 new houses planned for the county.

A new Allotment contract will be further discussed next month and a coordinator put in place to report to the PC, if you would like to act as the go-between, let Jim Gale know or the PC clerk.

The Parish footpath monitoring team, reported on the state of the footpaths and asked for certain landowners to be contacted to improve the accessibility of some paths. The PC supported this, and were pleased a number of issues had already been resolved.

Local walks have been uploaded to the Connection web site and more will be added. If you have a favourite walk you’d like to share, email editor@south-hill.co.uk

On Tuesday June 27th 6pm there’s a Parish Footpath Walk starting at Golberdon crossroads. All Welcome.

The BT Phone box is due to be disconnected and a suggestion is to use the space to display parish maps and walks. If you have any other ideas contact the PC clerk.

Other news:

THIS THURSDAY June 29th 7:30 for 8pm start The Monthly Charity QUIZ at the Parish Hall Golberdon, Teams of 4, £1.50 pp All Welcome. BYO Drinks and nibbles and a Raffle Prize.

St Sampsons church. Thank you to all who have bought or donated plants. The monies raised will go to Callington food bank. More plants are now required . If you have any spare plants please leave them outside the church door entrance. Buy something new for yourself and leave donations in the jar.

I hope your sunflowers are growing well! To take part in the Horticultural Show, submit your details on Monday August 14th with your other show entries, including how tall the sunflower plant is and how tall the grower is. The Show is on August 19th, programmes are on line HERE and printed copied in a box outside the hall.

South Hill Rocks ! If you find a South Hill painted Rock, take a photo and post on FB or email SHARE@south-hill.co.uk  and hide again, and start painting your own rocks.   www.south-hill.co.uk/south-hill-rocks

Callington Horse Show was on Saturday 24th at Polhilsa, you can see pictures on the South Hill FaceBook Page. It was good to see so many from the parish supporting this great charity event.

Have you all received the new recycling information leaflet! Good news: from 31st July more plastics will be collected in the existing plastic bottles, cans and tins recycling bags.

July 1st Callington Carnival

July 2nd 1:30 – 5pm Open Gardens at Anvil and Windmills at South Hill

July 13th – 16th S.H Piece Makers Patchwork & Quilting Exhibition at The Parish Hall Golberdon

July 26th 7pm SMITE fun evening at Rilla Mill BYOB. Let Ali or Nick know if you are interested in joining us.

June 28th Callington Free Business workshops Town TakeOver

July 29th 7pm Golberdon Girls Choir at St. Mary’s church, Callington.

ALL DETAILS and more on the Connection web site Events

 If you have events you want to share, news articles, for sale, trade, give away items, let us know!

Thank You

Astrid

South Hill Connection Secretary

From Cornwall Councillor Sharon Daw


How time fly’s one month on and several meetings and training sessions to include miscellaneous licensing, Licensing Act… Code of Conduct….Scrutiny…. Induction….Full Council…..and 2 day planning ….

As a licensing Act member I have found myself in the forefront of licensing issues and hearings making up a team of 3 to consider issuing licenses of premises. I have also been selected for planning central and the new rules mean we can’t vote on planning in our area… we can support planning applications and speak at the meetings; but if it’s in your own division you can’t vote.

Planning training opened my eyes to the fact Cornwall Council have selected sites to build 52,500 houses of which 38,000 are already earmarked.

Which I raised the question who are these house for??? As I have not seen many earmarked for local need and when I challenge Cornwall council where are the jobs to support these houses; along with hospitals and schools. The reply was 60% were for people moving into Cornwall retired so would not need jobs. So it looks like Cornwall is going to become a retirement hub?????

The new leader Adam Paynter is against this housing too so let’s hope it’s not too late. I do struggle with the concept of building so many houses which are in open countryside i.e., Launceston, Liskeard, Newquay, yet hardly any are eco friendly, carbon neutral, and once built costs not only drain the worlds resources but encourage fuel poverty.

So when is open countryside not open countryside ????

It’s been busy in the division with highway issues, pot holes, speeding , rubbish,  signs no one wants to see,  several planning applications and the on-going appeal 46 houses St. Ive road.

If anyone has a 1/2 bed bungalow would like to swap with an elderly couple who can cope with two sets of steps I would be delighted to hear from you … must be in Pensilva …Home-choice seem to be hopeless!!!!!

Looking forward to meeting more people in the coming weeks and remember the Millennium centre is yours and now is the time to get involved!!

Cornwall Councillor Sharon Daw

3 mile loop. Trewoodloe, Lansugle, Kerney Bridge, Tregonnet.


Starting at Golberdon Crossroads PL17 7ND Trewoodloe, Lansugle, Kerney Bridge, Tregonnet 3 miles Loop.
At the crossroads, walk pass by the hall and play area coming out through a pedestrian gate onto the main road. Take care crossing and enter “THE SQUARE” where the pub used to be, many years ago at Honeysuckle cottage, with the blue shutters. Back lane was once a busy thoroughfare with one of the blacksmiths here and leads out past the old Post Office and shop, again closed many years ago. Keep right and follow beside Moorland View houses and a short path onto Trewoodloe Lane. Turn left.

Follow this past a large shed on the right, Trewoodloe Castle on the left and then spot the granite steps on the right, at the entrance to Trewoodloe Farm House. Climb the steps and stile into the field and head for the top left hand corner, over a stone hedge stile. From here aim straight ahead towards the left hand power pole. Take in the views. To your right Kit Hill and left Caradon Mast, Cheesering & Sharp Tor. Once you’re close to the power pole you’ll spot the stile straight ahead bringing you down into Lansugle Road.
Turn left. Follow this quiet road past Lansugle Farm and down the hill. Turn left, this road will bring you to Wagmuggle on the corner. Alongside the cottage, a path leads down to a stream and is a footpath leading to Browda… another day!
Continue on the road, you’ll be following along by the leat leading to Berrio Mill. On the left is a well and a footpath sign leading through Berrio Farm, again another walk for another day.
You’ll also pass an old quarry on your left and eventually you’ll come to Kerney Bridge and the main Golberdon to Pensilva Road. Take care crossing the road. (you don’t go over the bridge) Where the Water Works are now, used to be a saw mill with Garrets Traction Engines. Follow the signpost alongside the fence and over a small stile into the woods. Keep straight on, the river Lynher is on your right. Follow the well worn path, keeping your eyes open for SOUTH HILL painted ROCKS. Use the hand rail by the granite steps, down to the tyre swing.
Keep along by the river, there’s a popular area to stop and enjoy the surroundings, The Parish Council have plans to place a bench here.
The footpath brings you to a field gate with a stile alongside. Continue over this into a quiet road. If you turn right you’ll come to Bicton Bridge and the Old Mill with disused water wheel.
OPTIONS: From here you could come back over the bridge and go up the steep hill to PENWARDEN but for this walk….
from the stile turn left and continued up the hill to the farm (with dog) at Tregonnet. Pass the buildings on the right and old milking parlor with the interesting stone lintel, then pass the new farm house.
On the corner, where the large shed is, was where some local farmers used to bring their sheep to use Mr Gorman’s plunge sheep dip. Not all farms had a dip and it was required to dip every year to protect sheep from parasites such as Fly Strike.
Admire the views here to Caradon Mast, Cheesering and Sharpe Tor. Opposite you’re looking across into Trewoodloe Farm, with Egypt below.
Continuing on will bring you into Golberdon village passing the old chapel on your left. Keep right and turn right by the footpath sign thru the pedestrian gate back into the Recreation Field and play area and the hall, where you started.

South Hill Horticultural Show


Schedule Final 2017

Classes include: Floral Art, Pot Plants, Fruits & Vegetables, Preserves, Cookery, Handicrafts, Photography and new tallest Sunflower Children’s classes include: Animal made from fruit & vegetables, Garden in a seed tray, Recycled model, Handwritten verse, 3 cup cakes, Mini pizza, Lego model, Decorated boiled egg, Photographs.

The Sunflower class is an addition to the Horticultural Show Programme, and is open to everyone, the winner will be the plant that has grown taller than the person that planted it.       On August 14th submit your entries including your height and the height of your sunflower!

South West Water Money Saving Schemes


Money saving schemes from South West water and are really great for families on low incomes /family tax credit / benefits.
One policy particularly benefits those on low incomes with 3 or more children or a household with someone who has a medical condition that requires more water to be used.

Watercare http://www.southwestwater.co.uk/index.cfm?articleid=10776 

You may qualify for a social tariff to help reduce your bill if you are on a very low income. You may qualify if:

1.     You are on a water meter or on assessed charges

2.     The person who pays the water bill or someone in your household receives one or more of the following means tested benefits:
• Housing Benefit
• Income Support
• Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance
• Income-based Employment and Support Allowance
• Pension Credit (guaranteed element)

3.     Your ‘equivalised’ weekly income, after housing costs, is less than £295 

Watershare http://www.southwestwater.co.uk/watersure

Help with metered bills – the WaterSure Tariff

You may qualify for a lower bill if you receive a means-tested benefit or tax credit.

WaterSure can help you if you have a low-income and your water is measured by a meter. We can put a limit on your charges for water and sewerage services, if you meet the following conditions.

1.  Your supply is metered

2. The person who pays the water bill or someone else in your household receives benefit  or tax credit

3. There are either:

  • three or more children under the age of 19 living in the household for whom the person receiving the above benefit also claims Child Benefit; or
  • you or someone living in your household has a medical condition which causes  extra water to be used.

FREE Money Saving Products savewatersavemoney.co.uk/southwest/free-water-saving-products  

Info sourced by SHARE South Hill Association for Renewable Energy www.south-hill.co.uk/share

SHARE Fun Day


The SHARE in our Community Free Family Fun Day was an amazing success on Bank Holiday Monday. There have never been so many children in Golberdon Park, estimated around 300 people in total, all enjoying the activities laid on by South Hill Parish Renewable Energy community group, S.H.A.R.E.

Events centered on energy and money saving tips, recycling and reducing waste, including Kicks Count charity, clothes alterations by Janet Harding, promoting cycling with E Bike demos and bike slalom course, planting seeds, foraging the hedgerows and an energy science project. Plus The Big Beat Junk Band invited everyone to join in and make lots of noise.

“South Hill Rocks” was launched as rocks were painted and hidden around public spaces for people to find, then upload a photo to South Hill FB and re-hide, encouraging families to be creative and explore the area. Join in the fun, like South-Hill FB facebook.com/SouthHillParish or visit south-hill.co.uk/south-hill-rocks

Free Energy Saving Light-bulbs were donated by E-On, sunflower starter kits and grocery Bags for Life, donated by Tesco’s, Morrison’s and Waitrose were given away. A massive Thank you to everyone that helped make the day so special, to all that donated items, Tamar Organics, Spar, Launceston Cycles, Compton Park Farm Shop, Callington Fresh Produce, our generous parishioners, the South Hill W.I ladies for teas, the South Hill Horticultural Show for including the Sunflower class on August 19th. The car booters, the Police for providing leaflets on protecting property, Project Solar answering questions and giving energy advice and the families that came from near and far and team S.H.A.R.E for hosting such a great fun day. Learn more by contacting enquiries@ProjectSolarUK.com or call Simon on 07955522072.

South Hill Association for Renewable Energy (SHARE) a Community Benefit Society since June 2015. SHARE’s vision is “A secure and sustainable future for all, using community owned R.E to provide economic, social and environmental benefits.” Contact SHARE@south-hill.co.uk call Peter 01579 208519 and visit south-hill.co.uk/share

…. and the 50/50 of 140 pounds was won by a couple from Saltash, visiting for the day. finding and hiding SOUTH HILL ROCKS at Golberdon Park !

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U3A speaker June 2017


This month speaker at the Callington U3A was the delightful and funny Denise Walker her talk was entitled ‘Who goes there’ a look at animal tracks.
She suggested when we are out walking in this beautiful county, that we keep our noses to the ground, as there is a world of animal tracks and clues to the wild life in your area. You need to look for clues to the small dramas that have been taking place.
There maybe fur caught on barbed wire, tracks and trails in the bank, and foot prints if the path is wet. Denise showed us various tracks we could spot, like hedgehogs, squirrels, deer and foxes. She showed us pictures of various poo! which contains the indigestible parts of foods such as hair, feather, bone splinters, which provide a wealth of information. Smells also play a vital role in the social aspects of mammals.
Clues can be found about their eating habits in their droppings, there are 3 types, vegetarians, carnivores and birds.

Continue reading →