History of Penventinue, Fowey

 

It is thought the original Manor House, mentioned in the Domesday Book, had a Mill on this site, with documents showing the existing Mill stood here in the early 1800s as one of two small farms.

At the rear of the Mill, in the wild flower meadows, is an area known as 'Merry Meet'. Villagers used to meet here in Medieval times. Surrounding this meadow are high stone walls, thought to be the old Walled Courts of the original Manor House.

The Mill was built from slate excavated from a quarry behind the lower Mill pond. Penventinue actually means "head or source of the springs" in Cornish. The source of the stream which feeds the Mill ponds are natural springs. The natural spring waters still run through the Mill throughout the winter, creating a torrent of rushing water and tumbling waterfalls through the grounds.

There was a leat which ran from the upper mill pond through a set of sluice gates, which were set by an old beech tree, which is no longer visible. These sluice gates were opened when the wheel needed to be turned to operate the leyshaft.

The water wheel was removed in the early 1900s and replaced by a small engine. During the war the engine was run to grind wheat to make flour at last once a week.

Penventinue Mill ceased to produce grain from the late 20C and became used as agricultural buildings. The mill workings were removed, and the building fell into disrepair.

The Mill was converted to a house in 2001 and we purchased it in 2006. Our aim is to replace the wheel and as many original features as we possibly can.

There is a small creek; just a few minutes walk from of the Mill and a little way up from the deeper Estuary waters, known as Sawmills Creek. Much Medieval trade took place here by silver merchants of Bodmin.

A load of silver is recorded as landing here in 1496. Merchants from Bodmin used to land and load goods here, and the present path marks the route that the traders would have taken, the old road running from Lostwithiel to Fowey, and passed by our Mill.

The creek was described in the 16C as Bodmin Pille. A sawmill, which was established in the 19C now stands near the creek. It was used as a headquarters during the Normandy Landings and now is a renowned recording studio.

The ancient woodland of Colvithick Wood runs between Penventinue Mill and the site of the medieval slipway, and makes a stunning walk from our Mill, passed Sawmills Creek to fishing village of Golant, where you may want to sip a cold drink and enjoy a real Cornish pasty out on the terrace of the Fisherman's Arms Pub.