Prussia Cove facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prussia Cove
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| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 530: Unable to find the specified location map definition: "Module:Location map/data/Cornwall (mainland)" does not exist. | |
| OS grid reference | SW556299 |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | PENZANCE |
| Postcode district | TR20 |
| Dialling code | 01736 |
| Police | Devon and Cornwall |
| Fire | Cornwall |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Prussia Cove (Cornish: Porth Legh), once known as King's Cove, is a small private area on the coast of Mount's Bay in Cornwall, England. It is located east of Cudden Point. This special place is part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
Prussia Cove has four small coves and several houses. The coves are named Piskies, Bessy's, King's, and Coule's. You can reach the area by walking along the South West Coast Path. The cove is famous for an 18th-century smuggler named John Carter. He was known as the "King of Prussia."
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History of Prussia Cove
Prussia Cove got its name from John Carter, a famous smuggler from the 1700s. He was born in 1738. People called him the "King of Prussia" because of a game he played as a child.
Smuggling was common here. You can see evidence of this in the Coastguard Cottages. These seven cottages were built in 1826 by the Coastguard. They overlook Coule's Cove and Mount's Bay. The Coastguard built them to help stop smuggling.
In 1841, a sad event happened at Prussia Cove. Money was collected to help families affected by a disaster. People like the Bishop of Oxford donated. The money was put into a savings bank in Penzance. It helped children learn trades or find jobs. Widows also received money to support their children and themselves.
Prussia Cove also had a small fishing industry. Fishermen used nets to catch mackerel. In 1880, a big storm destroyed seven of their small fishing boats.
A large Victorian house was built above the coves in 1885. It was for Henry Du Boulay, who was a church leader in Cornwall. The coastal path goes through a special area called "Porth-en-Alls." This area includes a crescent-shaped "Lodge." The architect Philip Tilden designed these buildings in 1911. However, they were never fully finished because of World War I.
In April 1947, a famous warship, HMS Warspite, got stuck here. It was being pulled to a place where old ships are taken apart. Later, it was moved to Marazion and broken up there.
Cudden Point and Prussia Cove SSSI
Cudden Point is a large piece of land that sticks out into the sea. The National Trust owns it. You can see it clearly from most of Mount's Bay. Cudden Point, Little Cudden, and Piskies Cove are part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means they are protected because they are very important for nature and geology.
The rocks here are special. They show how hot, melted rock (magma) pushed into older rocks. This created unique rock formations called "greenstone." These rocks are important for scientists to study how Earth's crust forms.
The area also has small patches of coastal grassland. You can find different types of butterflies here, such as the silver-studded blue, small pearl-bordered fritillary, and grayling. Plants like gorse and bramble grow in the richer soils. Above the headland is "The Lookout." The government built this building during World War I (1914–1918) to watch the coast. Today, it is used as holiday accommodation.
Culture and Arts
In 2004, a British movie called Ladies in Lavender was filmed here. It starred famous actresses Judi Dench and Maggie Smith.
International Musicians Seminar
The International Musicians Seminar (IMS) Prussia Cove is held at Porth-en-Alls. It was started in 1972 by violinist Sándor Végh and Hilary Tunstall-Behrens. These seminars are like special classes for young musicians. They help students learn more about music and meet other musicians. Many former students of IMS Prussia Cove have become leading soloists and orchestra leaders around the world. The musicians also play concerts in local places, like St Pol de Léon's Church, Paul and St Buryan's Church.
