Par River, Cornwall facts for kids
The Par River is a lovely river in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It's also known as the Luxulyan River. In the Cornish language, it's called Dowr Gwernan, which means 'alder tree river'. This river helps drain the land north of a town called St Blazey.
The Par River
Where the River Flows
The Par River begins its journey on a moor called Criggan Moor. Many smaller streams, known as tributaries, join it along the way. These streams start near places like Crift, Bokiddick Downs, and the villages of Lockengate, Lanivet, and Tregullon near Bodmin.
From its source, the river flows southwards. It passes through areas like Bokiddick and Bodwen. A very special part of its journey is through the beautiful Luxulyan Valley. Finally, the Par River reaches the sea, flowing into St Austell Bay at a village called Par.
A Look Back in Time
For many centuries, the valley below St Blazey was quite different. Before the 16th century, it was actually an estuary, which is where a river meets the sea. The crossing point at St Blazey was the lowest place you could cross the river.
A place called Ponts Mill was once a busy port! It was located further up the river from St Blazey. Even as late as the year 1720, large ships weighing up to 80 tons could sail all the way to Ponts Mill. This shows how important the Par River was for trade and transport a long time ago.
