Restronguet Creek
Encyclopedia
Restronguet Creek is a tidal
ria
in south Cornwall
, United Kingdom
. It is a tributary of Carrick Roads
, the estuary of the River Fal
, and is situated approximately four miles (6.5 km) south of Truro
and three miles (5 km) north of Falmouth
.
The creek is approximately two miles (3 km) long from its Normal Tidal Limit (NTL) to its mouth and half-a-mile (800 metres) across at its widest point. It discharges into Carrick Roads at Restronguet Point
through a narrow channel known locally as 'the gut'.
Restronguet Creek forms the boundary between the civil parish
es of Feock
(on the north bank), Mylor (at the eastern end of the south bank), and Perranarworthal
(at the western end of the south bank).
At its upstream end, Restronguet Creek is fed by two freshwater rivers: the Carnon River from the northwest and the River Kennall from the southwest. The Normal Tidal Limit (NTL) on the Carnon River is immediately upstream of Devoran
where the A39
trunk road crosses the river; the NTL on the River Kennall is at Perran Wharf. A smaller stream from the north discharges into the tidal creek at Penpol
.
and copper
mining
industry. Devoran was a small port engaged in the export of mined minerals and the import of mining materials and coal.
The Redruth and Chasewater Railway
, an early industrial line which served the many mines a few miles to the north, terminated at Devoran (although there was an extension to Point Quay on Restronguet Creek; trains were hauled by horses rather than locomotives on the extension). There were also wharves and quays at the head of Penpol Creek
.
At low water
, large expanses of intertidal mudflat
s are exposed (which can be dangerous because the mud is deep and very soft) and recent academic study suggests the mud still bears evidence of mineral contamination by former mining activity further upstream.
coast are popular for yachting and dinghy racing
. Restronguet Sailing Club takes its name from the creek although it is located a mile south at Mylor Harbour.
'The Restronguet Creek Society' is a voluntary organisation formed in 1972 to protect and preserve the creek and its environs. The organisation opposes unsuitable development and, in particular, any construction or activity that would cause further silting.
Tide
Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the moon and the sun and the rotation of the Earth....
ria
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...
in south 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...
, 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 a tributary of Carrick Roads
Carrick Roads
Carrick Roads is located on the southern Cornish coast in the UK, near Falmouth. It is a large waterway created after the Ice age from an ancient valley which flooded as the melt waters caused the sea level to rise dramatically , creating a large natural harbour which is navigable from Falmouth to...
, the estuary of the River Fal
River Fal
The River Fal flows through Cornwall, United Kingdom, rising on the Goss Moor and reaching the English Channel at Falmouth. On or near the banks of the Fal are the castles of Pendennis and St Mawes as well as Trelissick Garden. The River Fal separates the Roseland peninsula from the rest of...
, and is situated approximately four miles (6.5 km) south of Truro
Truro
Truro is a city and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The city is the centre for administration, leisure and retail in Cornwall, with a population recorded in the 2001 census of 17,431. Truro urban statistical area, which includes parts of surrounding parishes, has a 2001 census...
and three miles (5 km) north of Falmouth
Falmouth, Cornwall
Falmouth is a town, civil parish and port on the River Fal on the south coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It has a total resident population of 21,635.Falmouth is the terminus of the A39, which begins some 200 miles away in Bath, Somerset....
.
The creek is approximately two miles (3 km) long from its Normal Tidal Limit (NTL) to its mouth and half-a-mile (800 metres) across at its widest point. It discharges into Carrick Roads at Restronguet Point
Restronguet Point
Restronguet Point is a small narrow promontory in the civil parish of Feock in south Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated approximately three-quarters of a mile south of Feock village....
through a narrow channel known locally as 'the gut'.
Restronguet Creek forms the boundary between the civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
es of Feock
Feock, Cornwall
Feock is a coastal civil parish and village in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated approximately 5 miles south of Truro at the head of Carrick Roads on the River Fal. To the south, the parish is bounded by Restronguet Creek and to the east by Carrick Roads and the River Fal...
(on the north bank), Mylor (at the eastern end of the south bank), and Perranarworthal
Perranarworthal
Perranarworthal is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The village is situated approximately four miles northwest of Falmouth and five miles southwest of Truro....
(at the western end of the south bank).
At its upstream end, Restronguet Creek is fed by two freshwater rivers: the Carnon River from the northwest and the River Kennall from the southwest. The Normal Tidal Limit (NTL) on the Carnon River is immediately upstream of Devoran
Devoran
Devoran is a village in south Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated four miles southwest of Truro at . Formerly an ecclesiastical parish, Devoran is now in the civil parish of Feock....
where the A39
A39 road
The A39 is an A road in south west England. It runs south-west from Bath in Somerset through Wells, Glastonbury, Street and Bridgwater. It then follows the north coast of Somerset and Devon through Williton, Minehead, Porlock, Lynmouth, Barnstaple, Bideford, Stratton, Camelford, Wadebridge and St...
trunk road crosses the river; the NTL on the River Kennall is at Perran Wharf. A smaller stream from the north discharges into the tidal creek at Penpol
Chycoose
Chycoose, Point and Penpol form a coastal settlement around Penpol Creek in Cornwall, United Kingdom.The creek is a ria, a tidal inlet on the north side of Restronguet Creek...
.
Industrial past
Until the beginning of the 20th century, Restronguet Creek (and its tributary rivers) played an important role in the tinTin
Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. It is a main group metal in group 14 of the periodic table. Tin shows chemical similarity to both neighboring group 14 elements, germanium and lead and has two possible oxidation states, +2 and the slightly more stable +4...
and copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
mining
Mining in Cornwall
Mining in Cornwall and Devon began in the early Bronze Age approximately 2,150 BC and ended with the South Crofty tin mine in Cornwall closing in 1998...
industry. Devoran was a small port engaged in the export of mined minerals and the import of mining materials and coal.
The Redruth and Chasewater Railway
Redruth and Chasewater Railway
The Redruth and Chasewater Railway, otherwise called the Redruth and Chacewater Railway using modern spelling, was a very early industrial railway line in Cornwall, England, UK that opened in 1825 and closed in 1915...
, an early industrial line which served the many mines a few miles to the north, terminated at Devoran (although there was an extension to Point Quay on Restronguet Creek; trains were hauled by horses rather than locomotives on the extension). There were also wharves and quays at the head of Penpol Creek
Chycoose
Chycoose, Point and Penpol form a coastal settlement around Penpol Creek in Cornwall, United Kingdom.The creek is a ria, a tidal inlet on the north side of Restronguet Creek...
.
At low water
Tide
Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the moon and the sun and the rotation of the Earth....
, large expanses of intertidal mudflat
Mudflat
Mudflats or mud flats, also known as tidal flats, are coastal wetlands that form when mud is deposited by tides or rivers. They are found in sheltered areas such as bays, bayous, lagoons, and estuaries. Mudflats may be viewed geologically as exposed layers of bay mud, resulting from deposition of...
s are exposed (which can be dangerous because the mud is deep and very soft) and recent academic study suggests the mud still bears evidence of mineral contamination by former mining activity further upstream.
Leisure
Today, Restronguet Creek, Carrick Roads and Cornwall's English ChannelEnglish Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
coast are popular for yachting and dinghy racing
Dinghy racing
Dinghy racing is the competitive sport of sailing dinghies. Dinghy racing has affected aspects of the modern dinghy, including hull design, sail materials and sailplan, and techniques such as planing and trapezing.-Organisation of dinghy racing:...
. Restronguet Sailing Club takes its name from the creek although it is located a mile south at Mylor Harbour.
'The Restronguet Creek Society' is a voluntary organisation formed in 1972 to protect and preserve the creek and its environs. The organisation opposes unsuitable development and, in particular, any construction or activity that would cause further silting.
Locations
- Normal Tidal Limit (NTL) at DevoranDevoranDevoran is a village in south Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated four miles southwest of Truro at . Formerly an ecclesiastical parish, Devoran is now in the civil parish of Feock....
coordinates 50.21292°N 5.09881°W - Penpol Creek (north bank) coordinates 50.206742°N 5.06676°W
- Restrongruet Passage (south bank) coordinates 50.19553°N 5.06538°W
- Mouth (Restronguet PointRestronguet PointRestronguet Point is a small narrow promontory in the civil parish of Feock in south Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated approximately three-quarters of a mile south of Feock village....
) coordinates 50.19212°N 5.05637°W