Mother Ivy's Bay facts for kids
Polventon Bay, also known as Mother Ivey's Bay, is a beautiful bay and beach on the north coast of Cornwall, United Kingdom. Its Cornish name, Poll Fenton, means "pool of a spring."
This lovely bay is located on the eastern side of Trevose Head, a well-known headland. It is part of the St Merryn area. Above the bay, you can find the famous South West Coast Path. This long walking trail follows the coast of south-west England, stretching from Somerset all the way to Dorset.
The Story Behind the Name
The name Mother Ivey's Bay first appeared around 1870. It is named after a local wise woman. She was known as a "white witch," which meant she used her knowledge to help people.
Fishing History of the Bay
In the past, Polventon Bay was an important place for fishing, especially for pilchards. Pilchards are a type of small fish.
The Pilchard Fishery
In the late 1800s, there was a business called the "Mother Ive Pilchard Fishery." This fishery was a busy place where people caught and processed pilchards.
In 1879, the fishery was put up for sale. It included many things needed for fishing. There was a stone building called a fish cellar, which had sleeping areas for 19 people. The sale also included two large fishing nets called seynes, along with their boats and oars. They even had horses to help with the work, and large barrels called hogsheads for storing the fish. A lot of French salt was also part of the sale, used to preserve the pilchards.
Even though it was a busy and important business, the fishery did not sell right away. It was offered for sale again a couple of years later. This shows how important fishing was to the local community in Cornwall during that time.
