Greensplat
Encyclopedia
Greensplat is a location in south Cornwall
, United Kingdom
. It is immediately west of Carthew and is approximately two miles (3 km) north of St Austell
.
Greensplat is situated in the china clay area and the name is believed to be derived from Green's Plat, referring to a mine shaft nearby that was known as "the Plat". Greensplat is sometimes erroneously spelled Greensplatt.
the centre of Greensplat was entirely demolished. Most of the buildings were Victorian in period, with the exception of a few Georgian and earlier period cottages related to farming and tin streaming that took place prior to clay extraction. Until the Methodist chapel
and adjoining Sunday School were demolished in 1997, Greensplat was still considered to be a village.
The former settlement was aligned on a north to south axis, and was roughly divided into three segments; north, central, and south, with the central area forming the bulk of the settlement. Greensplat was noted for its railway carriage homes which survived to be among those demolished. The last house to be demolished was "Kenwyn", a double fronted Victorian house—written on the building in red spray paint were the words "Kenwyn Do Not Demolish".
Following the demolition, the only remaining part of Greensplat is a semidetached cottage at South Greensplat, which is the only inhabited building within quite a large area, surrounded by just under 100 acre (0.404686 km²) of uninhabited and abandoned land. The nearest inhabited settlements are at Old Pound to the west, Ruddlemoor to the east, and Carthew to the northeast.
The story of Greensplat's demolition is told in The Lost Villages by Henry Buckton published by I. B. Tauris & Co Ltd, London, Feb 2008, ISBN 1845116712.
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It is immediately west of Carthew and is approximately two miles (3 km) north of St Austell
St Austell
St Austell is a civil parish and a major town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated on the south coast approximately ten miles south of Bodmin and 30 miles west of the border with Devon at Saltash...
.
Greensplat is situated in the china clay area and the name is believed to be derived from Green's Plat, referring to a mine shaft nearby that was known as "the Plat". Greensplat is sometimes erroneously spelled Greensplatt.
History
Until 1997 there was a settlement at Greensplat. However, due to expansion of the nearby Wheal Martyn china clay quarryQuarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
the centre of Greensplat was entirely demolished. Most of the buildings were Victorian in period, with the exception of a few Georgian and earlier period cottages related to farming and tin streaming that took place prior to clay extraction. Until the Methodist chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
and adjoining Sunday School were demolished in 1997, Greensplat was still considered to be a village.
The former settlement was aligned on a north to south axis, and was roughly divided into three segments; north, central, and south, with the central area forming the bulk of the settlement. Greensplat was noted for its railway carriage homes which survived to be among those demolished. The last house to be demolished was "Kenwyn", a double fronted Victorian house—written on the building in red spray paint were the words "Kenwyn Do Not Demolish".
Following the demolition, the only remaining part of Greensplat is a semidetached cottage at South Greensplat, which is the only inhabited building within quite a large area, surrounded by just under 100 acre (0.404686 km²) of uninhabited and abandoned land. The nearest inhabited settlements are at Old Pound to the west, Ruddlemoor to the east, and Carthew to the northeast.
The story of Greensplat's demolition is told in The Lost Villages by Henry Buckton published by I. B. Tauris & Co Ltd, London, Feb 2008, ISBN 1845116712.