Helford River
Encyclopedia
The Helford River is a ria
(flooded river valley) located in Cornwall
, England, UK, and not a true river. It is fed by a number of small streams into its numerous creeks. There are seven creeks on the Helford, from west to east these are Ponsontuel Creek, Mawgan Creek, Polpenwith Creek, Polwheveral Creek, Frenchman's Creek, Port Navas Creek, and Gillan Creek, the best known of which is Frenchman's Creek, made famous by Daphne du Maurier
in her novel of the same name. A little further up river is Tremayne Quay, built for a visit by Queen Victoria in the 1840s which she then declined to make-—allegedly because it was raining!
, where injured seals are nursed back to health before being released to the freedom of the Atlantic Ocean. The traditional 'heavy' industries have been replaced by 'lighter' businesses catering for the many tourists who visit the area.
The area falls into a Special Area of Conservation, Site of Special Scientific Interest and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The growth of eco and sustainable tourism has seen the development of tourism by Helford River Expeditions http://www.helfordriverexpeditions.co.uk focussing on the natural surroundings. The National Trust play an important role with their strategy. Natural England (formerly English Nature) play an important part in protecting and monitoring the area. The river is unique in that it is not wholly managed by a specific port or river authority but that it brings together major environmental groups and organisations interested in its, (the rivers) protection and development and introducing and recommending safe guards, such as Helford River Marine Conservation Grouphttp://www.helfordmarineconservation.co.uk/
, Port Navas, Helford
village, Helford Passage
and Durgan
. Gweek is larger than the others and has a larger permanent population, with more businesses, shops and a pub, The Gweek Inn. Helford village, on the south bank, has a shop/Post Office, Helford River Sailing Club and pub, The Shipwrights. Helford Passage
, on the North bank, has a pub, The Ferryboat. Helford and Helford Passage are linked by a passenger (and pedal cycle) ferry which has existed for over 300 years.
Port Navas is home to the Duchy Oyster Farm
and has at its focal point the Grade II listed Port Navas Quay. The quay, owned by the Duchy of Cornwall, has been allowed to become degraded and damaged. A campaign group has been set up to protect and preserve Port Navas Quay and to reverse associated environmental damage in the Helford River Area: this is Preserve Port Navas Quay http://www.preserveportnavasquay.co.uk. Where once granite was loaded on to ships bound eastwards for building some of the country's major buildings and roads the oyster fishery is expanding and there are moorings for yachts.
Ria
A ria is a coastal inlet formed by the partial submergence of an unglaciated river valley. It is a drowned river valley that remains open to the sea. Typically, rias have a dendritic, treelike outline although they can be straight and without significant branches. This pattern is inherited from the...
(flooded river valley) located in Cornwall
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...
, England, UK, and not a true river. It is fed by a number of small streams into its numerous creeks. There are seven creeks on the Helford, from west to east these are Ponsontuel Creek, Mawgan Creek, Polpenwith Creek, Polwheveral Creek, Frenchman's Creek, Port Navas Creek, and Gillan Creek, the best known of which is Frenchman's Creek, made famous by Daphne du Maurier
Daphne du Maurier
Dame Daphne du Maurier, Lady Browning DBE was a British author and playwright.Many of her works have been adapted into films, including the novels Rebecca and Jamaica Inn and the short stories "The Birds" and "Don't Look Now". The first three were directed by Alfred Hitchcock.Her elder sister was...
in her novel of the same name. A little further up river is Tremayne Quay, built for a visit by Queen Victoria in the 1840s which she then declined to make-—allegedly because it was raining!
Industry and tourism
The river has long been an important industrial and agricultural marine highway serving local mines, farms and quarries as well as the local fishing industry. Most of this industry has now gone, although commercial fishermen still use the river to land their catch amounting to about 1 million pounds sterling a year and the oyster fishery is being revived. The industries have largely been replaced by tourist activities, in particular those relating to the sea, although at the head of the river the landscape is dominated by the extensive operations of Gweek Boatyard and the base of marine drilling and construction company Fugro Seacore, although the latter has moved its main base to Falmouth. These businesses now dominate the head of the river where once coal and timber were landed. On the opposite bank is the National Seal Sanctuary, GweekNational Seal Sanctuary, Gweek
Gweek Seal Sanctuary is a charity funded sanctuary for injured seal pups. It is situated on the banks of the Helford River in Cornwall, England, UK and there is a road along the creek from the centre of Gweek village to the sanctuary's large car park....
, where injured seals are nursed back to health before being released to the freedom of the Atlantic Ocean. The traditional 'heavy' industries have been replaced by 'lighter' businesses catering for the many tourists who visit the area.
The area falls into a Special Area of Conservation, Site of Special Scientific Interest and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The growth of eco and sustainable tourism has seen the development of tourism by Helford River Expeditions http://www.helfordriverexpeditions.co.uk focussing on the natural surroundings. The National Trust play an important role with their strategy. Natural England (formerly English Nature) play an important part in protecting and monitoring the area. The river is unique in that it is not wholly managed by a specific port or river authority but that it brings together major environmental groups and organisations interested in its, (the rivers) protection and development and introducing and recommending safe guards, such as Helford River Marine Conservation Grouphttp://www.helfordmarineconservation.co.uk/
Villages, ferries and harbours
The main areas of settlement that adjoin the river are GweekGweek
Gweek is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated approximately three miles east of Helston. The civil parish was created from part of the parish of Constantine by boundary revision in 1986...
, Port Navas, Helford
Helford
Helford is a village in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated on the south bank of the Helford River and is approximately five miles south-southwest of Falmouth.Helford is in the civil parish of Manaccan...
village, Helford Passage
Helford Passage
Helford Passage is a village in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated on the north bank of the Helford River opposite Helford approximately five miles south-southwest of Falmouth....
and Durgan
Durgan
Durgan is a hamlet in the parish of Mawnan, south Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated beside the Helford River four miles south of Falmouth.Glendurgan Garden, a National Trust property is located in Durgan....
. Gweek is larger than the others and has a larger permanent population, with more businesses, shops and a pub, The Gweek Inn. Helford village, on the south bank, has a shop/Post Office, Helford River Sailing Club and pub, The Shipwrights. Helford Passage
Helford Passage
Helford Passage is a village in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated on the north bank of the Helford River opposite Helford approximately five miles south-southwest of Falmouth....
, on the North bank, has a pub, The Ferryboat. Helford and Helford Passage are linked by a passenger (and pedal cycle) ferry which has existed for over 300 years.
Port Navas is home to the Duchy Oyster Farm
Duchy of Cornwall
The Duchy of Cornwall is one of two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Lancaster. The eldest son of the reigning British monarch inherits the duchy and title of Duke of Cornwall at the time of his birth, or of his parent's succession to the throne. If the monarch has no son, the...
and has at its focal point the Grade II listed Port Navas Quay. The quay, owned by the Duchy of Cornwall, has been allowed to become degraded and damaged. A campaign group has been set up to protect and preserve Port Navas Quay and to reverse associated environmental damage in the Helford River Area: this is Preserve Port Navas Quay http://www.preserveportnavasquay.co.uk. Where once granite was loaded on to ships bound eastwards for building some of the country's major buildings and roads the oyster fishery is expanding and there are moorings for yachts.
Further reading
- Reynolds, Ann (2000) Helford Estuary Historic Audit; for the Cornwall Archaeological Unit. Truro: Cornwall County Council ISBN 1-898166-54-4