The Church of the Storms
Hello m' sandy cracks,
Gunwalloe Church Cove Beach, Cornwall
The summer has flown by in a haze of heat and mischief. As I type, the finest patio petrichor fills the garden. Its perfume filters through the window. Parched grass greedily sucks up today's rainfall. Together we eagerly await the autumn mists, steady mizzle and kite flying breeze. I've been busy catching up with old friends and have spent my 'holiday' with local days out and a little camping trip with the kids. Surely stargazing, sea swimming and cream teas must be the remedy for all modern day evils.
A dry stone Cornish wall by Dollar Cove - thus named as silver dollars were washed ashore following the wrecking of a Portuguese ship in the 17th Century.
Not a topless Poldark in sight - which is a good thing. Let's face it, he's a bit of a tw*t isn't he?!
A short walk away, tucked between a wild expanse of sand dunes and rocky outcrop: St Winwaloe's Church. 1332 is the earliest mention of a church on this site. Some parts date back to the 13th Century, but the holy well is lost and not for our eyes. Unusually it has a separate bell tower built into the cliff side. A broken stone figure welcomes visitors with one opened arm.
Cornwall's only church on the beach. It has long been known as 'The Church of the Storms'.
How wildly romantic! I fell in love.
Mystical builds and pecking crows -
Southwards now to Lizard Point for a nice cream tea and some wildlife spotting-
Here you'll find Rock Samphire, Hottentot Fig and Purple Dew clinging to the steep cliffs.
Lizard Point is the furthest south one can go on the UK mainland before falling into the moody English Channel. Have you perhaps heard it was Lands End? - well forget that, Lands End is over 5 miles north.
We spotted two seals swimming about catching fish.
The old boy that runs Polpeor Cafe said his old school friend started to make mosaics when he was diagnosed with Leukemia and had to give up fishing.
Aren't they incredibly beautiful!?
The old lifeboat station of Polpeor Cove -
Lobster pot and Agapanthus painted bench by the tiny gift shop -
A poster by the Lizard Lighthouse told us Cornwall is the county with the greatest number of Lighthouses. It also said that 95% of everything that is brought into the UK comes by sea.
Unfortunately we couldn't climb the lighthouse on the day we visited.
Ahhh, the power of the internet told me that this BG Jade container vessel was traveling between Ireland and Rotterdam -
The character of today's fog signal is one blast every 30 seconds. My dad knew someone who stayed in the accommodation here and the fog horn when off all blumin' night. Something to consider for lighthouse nutters like me who dream of living in one!
There has been some gardening going on here at Long Mizzle, but as it's now officially spritz o' clock, I shall have to return.
Please send gossip. For those of you with blogs, please know that I am coming for you soon!...
Lulu xXx
P.s. I almost forgot - there was a fab scarecrow trail in Mullion over the bank holiday weekend.
Here's just one of the beauties -
Thank you for visiting!
Most recent posts can be found here - https://longmizzle.blogspot.com/
Good morning old sandy toes. I'm sure that scarecrow looks like me in my younger days. Please can we have another Shizzle style video to make me smile
ReplyDeleteAlreet m' toasty pasty! I thought the scarecrow looked a bit like you Cherie but I didn't want to say anything. I'm glad you liked the Shizzle so much. It's a shame the eau de toilet didn't sell, but there's always next time ;) x
DeleteWas it the svelte like figure....................be kind :-)
DeleteHi Lulu! Glad you've been enjoying the holidays. I can see why you fell in love with the Church of the Storms! That's going to have to go on my list of places to visit! Love your edge of the world landscape shots too and I agree, those mosaics are stunning. I always dream of doing one on our garden wall, but don't have the skill or the patience sadly. As for those misty lighthouse photos, I'd best not show Gareth the fog horn, as he will almost certainly try and acquire one for the garden; even better if he can blast it every 30 seconds to counter next door's barky dog! xxx
ReplyDeleteP.S. What a lovely tribute to Olivia!
Do you know Claire, I cleared a space on a garden wall a few years ago with good intentions of doing a mosaic and have been collecting bits of broken tile ever since. The ivy has taken over again though :0 I think a fog horn would be a great addition ;) xXx
Deletei really do miss beaches......
ReplyDeleteso thank you very much for the wonderful photos and the report :-D
its a gorgeous patch of coastal land there! the fishermans mosaics are beautiful - as sad as the story behind is.
oh my gosh - sandy scarecrow is scary indeed :-DDD
much love! xxxxx
Thank you Beate :) Oh I do love it when a whole village decide to do scarecrows! Sending you a bottle of salty beach air xXx
DeleteHello Lulu! Lovely to see you and read about what you've been up to.
ReplyDeleteI can't think of anything better than stargazing, sea swimming and cream teas.
St Winwaloe's Church sounds indeed wildly romantic, but pray do tell me who's that one-armed chap in the churchyard?
And how lovely to see Lizard Point! I walked there once but there was a dense fog and it was only the mournful wail of the lighthouse's fog horn which kept us on the coast path.
The mosaics are gorgeous, and I love Sandy, although she is looking quite scary indeed. I'm sure it won't only be crows she's scaring :-) xxx
Hello Ann, I haven't been able to find out about the one armed statue but looking at older pictures, still within the realm of colour, he did used to have two arms. Hmmm, I shall have to investigate further. Lizard Point is wonderful on a moody day. You did well to stay on the path :0 xXx
DeleteIt sounds like you've enjoyed a lovely summer. Lizard Point is beautiful. I remember spending a lovely morning there, looking out to sea. Sadly, it was later that day when the floods wreaked devastation on villages like Boscastle.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen Poldark, so I'll take your word for it :)
Thanks Jules :) I Think I enjoyed the summer too much. Back to the grind now :0 The 2004 Boscastle flood was devastating - it was a small miracle that no one died. To be fair, I didn't watch ALL of Poldark. He may have redeemed himself (but then he did have a hint of inner tw*t about him) xXx
DeleteHow perfect, I want to follow in your holiday footsteps - not in a weird way, of course! Just love your photos and the places you visited and it's quite a while since I've been in that area. The church is very special. Those mosaics are wonderful. Oh well, nearly time for our Sunday dinner - thanks for your lovely post.
ReplyDeleteHello Mike, I'm glad you liked the pictures. I haven't been down to that part of the Lizard for many years (silly really, as I'm not that far away!). It was a real treat. I've got a nice slow cooker stew bubbling away. Enjoy your roast dinner xXx
DeleteHow lovely the mosaics are I just love those and what a beautiful place and a very good post to do it justice, thanks for sharing so much info x
ReplyDeleteThank you Betty love. Oh I'd love a whole wall of Mosaic! Sending tea & scones xXx
DeleteWhat beautiful, sandy photos.
ReplyDeleteI laughed at your Poldark joke!
And the mosaics are so beautiful, what a wonderful way to be creative. X
Thanks Jess. I think you know what I'm saying, don't you ;) xXx
DeleteThank you Ellie :) Hope you are well xXx
ReplyDeleteMy mum was a runner up in her local Scarecrow competition- I must share a pic on my blog!
ReplyDeleteYour photos are wonderful- dollar bay looks gorgeous!
Ha, Ross Poldark! Poldark is responsible for mine and my sister's names because she was named Clowance after a character in Poldark and then when I was born, she sought another Cornish name. Everyone always thinks I am Italian and asks where my name comes from and I have to say, Cornwall but I'm sadly from Essex and explain the Poldark thing! My Mum's best friend's oldest son is called Ross after, yes, you guessed it, Ross Poldark!
The Mosaics are lovely!
I love the Agapanthus bench!
Oh please do share a picture of your mum's scarecrow Kezzie! Isn't that fab that you have a Cornish name. Perhaps the Poldark character is better in the books ? :0 I shouldn't be so mean - I only watched the first couple of series to be honest - Ross may have redeemed himself :) xXx
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