St Mawes
Introduction
St Mawes (Cornish: Lannvowsedh) is a village on the end of the Roseland Peninsula, in the eastern side of Falmouth harbour, on the south coast of Cornwall, England. The village, formerly two separate hamlets, lies on the east bank of the Carrick Roads, a large waterway created after the Ice Age from an ancient valley which flooded as the melt waters caused the sea level to rise. The immense natural harbour thus created is claimed to be the third largest in the world. St Mawes was once a busy fishing port, but the trade declined during the 20th century and the village now serves as a popular tourist location, with many properties functioning as holiday accommodation.[citation needed] The village is in the civil parish of St Just in Roseland and lies within Cornwall.
History & Geography
The village takes its name from the Celtic saint Saint Maudez (Mawe), who may have come from Ireland but is mainly venerated in Brittany. A name: 'Musidum' in Roman times, has subsequently been applied to St. Mawes, although the source is dubious.
St Mawes was once an important town and was made a borough in 1563, returning two members to parliament. It was disfranchised in 1832. The town was described, in 1880, by an anonymous writer:
"... as a quiet little fishing village, and consists of a long straggling street, fronting the water; it has, however a good pier, which was erected in 1854; and a sea-wall, with a parapet was built not long ago, along the centre front of the town."
St Mawes Castle is a well-preserved coastal fortress from the time of Henry VIII, built to counter the invasion threat from the Continent. Charles Henderson, writing in 1925, says of St Mawes, "an ancient fishing town which in late years has assumed the different and more sophisticated character of a watering place". The seal of St Mawes was Az. a bend lozengy Or between a tower in the sinister chief Arg. and a ship with three masts the sail furled in the dexter base of the second, with the legend "Commune Sigillum Burgi de St. Mawes al Mauditt."
Royal Visits
As a matter of historic note there have been frequent private visits to St Mawes by members of the royal family since the time of Queen Elizabeth.
Locations of Interest
Attractions
Cemeteries
Churches
- St Mawes’ Catholic Church -- Est. 1884
Clinics
- Brown Clinic & Morgue -- In-House Physician
Factories
- Alba Cannery --
Fortifications
Galleries
- Sea Glass Gallery -- Fine Art (Victorian)
Hotels
- Duchess Inn --
Libraries
Mortuaries
- Wight Family Mortuary -- Father & Son
Municiple Buildings
- Jail --
- Phone Exchange --
- Post Office --
- Town Hall --
Public Gardens
- Lamorran House Gardens -- Victorian rose gardens.
Pub & Taverns
Schools
Shopping
Theater
Transportation
- O'Brian's Livery Yard -- Carter, Coaching & Livery Services.
Warehouses
- Alba Warehouses -- One cold and one for cans.
Farmsteads
- Bellamy Farm -- The French Farm
- Carver Farm -- A shack & Out Buildings
- Prichard Place -- The Shepherd's Cottage
Noteworthy Residents
- Alba, Phineas -- Owner of the Alba Cannery
- Brown, Gavin -- Town Doctor and Owner of the Brown Clinic
- Carver, Peter & Paul -- Highwaymen, ex-cons, from a family of graverobbers
- Fox, Calvin -- Lighthouse Keeper
- Glass, Emma -- Owner of Sea-Glass Gallery
- Glass, Holden -- Captain of the Ferry and nephew of Emma Glass
- Grady, Larson -- Priest of St. Mawes Catholic Church
- Green, Linda -- Phone Operator
- Kirk, Jon -- Pastor of St. Mawes Methodist Church
- Knox, John -- Custodian for the Tudor Theater
- O'Brian, Seamus -- Owner of O'Brian's Livery Yard
- Price, Carlton -- Mayor of St. Mawes
- Price, Donald -- Chief Constable and the mayor's brother
- Price, Reginald -- Postmaster and cousin of the mayor
- Prichard, Wynn -- Local Shepherd
- Salt, Jonas -- Owner of the Salt Merchantile
- Sampson, Martin -- Owner of the Brine Water Pub
- Scrivener, Lionel -- Cemetery Caretaker
- Wight, Rhys & Ossian -- Father & Son Morticians
- Wood, Clara -- Owner of the Driftwood Tavern
- Worth, David -- Local Librarian (Son of Patrick & Mary)
- Worth, Patrick & Mary -- Owners of the Duchess Inn
Visitors
Mortals
-- Violet Mary Firth -- A sensitive young girl on holiday
Undead
-- Warin Versessen -- Malkavian Agent Provocateur (London)
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Mawes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Mawes_Castle
https://explorecornwall.uk/attractions/st-mawes-castle/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornish_surnames