Polruan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Polruan
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 Polruan viewed across the river from Fowey |
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| OS grid reference | SX126508 |
| Civil parish |
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| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | FOWEY |
| Postcode district | PL23 |
| Dialling code | 01726 |
| Police | Devon and Cornwall |
| Fire | Cornwall |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Polruan (Cornish: Porthruwan) is a charming coastal village in Cornwall, England. It's almost surrounded by water, with Pont Creek to the north, the River Fowey to the west, and the English Channel to the south. The nearby village of Bodinnick is connected by a walking path.
Polruan is built on a steep hill, which helps protect it from strong winds. Polruan Pool is a safe spot for small boats. In 2021, about 534 people lived in Polruan.
Contents
Polruan's Past: A Look at History
Polruan is often thought of as a fishing village, but it was actually more famous for shipbuilding! In the 1800s, most people worked building ships or as sailors, not as fishermen.
In the Middle Ages, Polruan built some very large ships. These ships were used to trade wine with Bordeaux in France. In 1343, five Polruan ships were even used by the King! About 100 years later, a ship called the Edward of Polruan was accused of piracy. It was a big ship, carrying 200 men ready for battle.
Ancient Landmarks and Fortifications
The ruin of St Saviour's church stands on the hill above Polruan. It dates back to the 8th century. This church was important for two reasons:
- It helped guide ships.
- It was a lookout point during wars to spot enemy ships heading for the important Fowey harbour.
The name Polruan comes from the Cornish language, meaning "harbour of a man called Ruveun."
Polruan also has a special fort called a blockhouse, built in the 14th century. It guards the entrance to the River Fowey. There was another blockhouse on the Fowey side of the river. A strong chain was stretched between the two blockhouses to stop enemy ships from entering the harbour. This chain could be lowered for friendly ships. It was mainly used during wars with the Dutch.
Shipbuilding and Wartime Roles
The Harbour Commissioners Yard at Brazen Island was a busy shipbuilding site in the 1800s. Many types of sailing ships were built here. Polruan was the main place for shipbuilding in the harbour, and many ship owners and sailors lived in the village.
When wooden shipbuilding became less common, Brazen Island changed into a factory that processed sardines. It even supplied electricity to the village!
During World War II, motor torpedo boats were repaired at Pont Creek. The trees hanging over the water helped hide the boats from enemy planes. You can still see parts of old boat cradles in the mud today. Some boat-building still happens in Polruan at Toms's Yard, which is known for repairing trawlers and building wooden boats by hand.
A cross, sometimes called Polruan Cross or St Saviour's Cross, stands at the top of Fore Street. It's named after a chapel that used to be nearby.
Learning in Polruan: Schools and Education
The main school for the village is Polruan Primary Academy. It's a school for both boys and girls. This primary school, which has about 50 students, used to be just for girls. The boys' school was destroyed during World War II when a German bomber dropped its unused bombs. The car park at the top of St Saviour's Hill is now where the boys' school used to be.
The closest secondary school, Fowey River Academy, is in Fowey.
Getting Around: Transport Options
You can reach Polruan in a few ways:
- By Car: There's one road in and one road out of the village. A local taxi service helps residents get around.
- By Bus: A bus service runs to places like Looe, Polperro, Lansallos, and Greenbank. The schedule changes depending on the season.
- By Ferry:
* The Polruan ferry crosses the river to and from Fowey every 15 minutes, all year round. * There's also a passenger ferry that goes to Mevagissey. * If you have a car, you can use the car ferry from Bodinnick (about 4 miles away) to Fowey. If the car ferry isn't running, you can drive to Fowey by going through Lostwithiel.
Sports and Activities
Polruan has a connection to the history of the Troy class boats. Marcus Lewis, who builds boats, has written about these boats and the Fowey River class of boats.
Maritime Connections: Sea and Safety
The long history of shipbuilding continues today at Toms's Yard. For a long time, the Fowey Harbour Pilots, who guide large ships into the harbour, traditionally came from Polruan. They would board ships from small open boats using a special ladder. The Fowey Pilots Association has more information about their work.
Polruan is also one of many places in Cornwall that uses lookouts to help boats in trouble. Many lookout towers were taken down in the 1980s to save money. But now, thanks to the National Coastwatch Institution (NCI), a group of volunteers, many old coastguard lookouts are being used again. The Old Coastguard Lookout at Polruan was one of the first to reopen.
The current HM Coastguard headquarters for cliff rescue is on St Saviour's Hill, near the NCI Station. The Polruan NCI Station, built in the 1800s, watches over the Fowey estuary and St Austell Bay.
Famous People from Polruan
Several well-known people have lived in or had connections to Polruan:
- Calvin Dean, an actor from the film Tormented, grew up here.
- The famous author Daphne du Maurier stayed in the village. Her first novel, The Loving Spirit, was based on the Slade family of shipbuilders and sailors from Polruan.
- Peter Skellern, a singer, lived in the village.
- Actor Patrick Malahide, known for playing Inspector Chisholm in the TV series Minder, is also a Polruan resident.
- The well-known illustrator Mabel Lucie Attwell also lived in Polruan.
- The playwright Norman F. Simpson was a resident too.
- Raynor Winn, author of the best-selling book The Salt Path, used to live in Polruan. The village is an important part of her 630-mile walk described in the book.
- The author of The Stories of Benjamin series, Tom Barrie Simmons, currently lives in Polruan.
Polruan on Screen: Film and Television
Polruan has been featured in movies and TV shows:
- The film Stolen Hours, starring Susan Hayward, was filmed around Polruan in 1963. The movie shows older parts of the village, including the village shop and a children's sports day.
- An episode of The Inspector Lynley Mysteries was also partly filmed in Polruan.
See also
In Spanish: Polruan para niños
