The Shell House & Other Buildings, Polperro, Cornwall

 

Back in 1996 a friend wanted a holiday and asked me if I'd like to accompany her. She'd come into some money and I was on unemployment benefit at the time so she very kindly paid for our Bed & Breakfast and I helped out with a meal on the journey there. It was such a nice couple of days and I took photos of some of the interesting buildings we saw on our wandering around...plus a few more, which I'll add at the end.

The photos above show the harbour at low tide. Below is this enchanting entrance of a private residence with several plants in flowerpots, crab & lobster pot floats and a live macaw on a perch. The photos look the same but I took the two to show that the bird was real and had moved. 

Bearing in mind that the photos are rather old and that I was just taking them of things I liked at the time, I was surprised at how interesting some of them are historically too. That's especially true of the Shell House.

It's an amazing achievement, covering the house with shells and stones into the plasterwork and looks absolutely gorgeous. Now a Grade II Listed Building, the decorations were made by seaman Samuel Puckey circa 1937 and 1942, and is an unusual piece of folk art. The house itself was built during the early to mid 19th century, constructed with stone rubble and comprising three storeys with an external staircase up to the first floor.

The windowsills are a cornucopia of large conch shells from abroad, whereas the other shells are smaller, local ones arranged into attractive shapes and patterns. Halfway up the left side of the photo below is a depiction of the Eddystone Lighthouse, which is situated on the Eddystone Rocks off the coast of Cornwall. This looks like the first one to be built (the first of four), called Winstanley's, built in 1698 and which was swept away by a storm in 1703.

With its steep, narrow and winding streets, many of the houses and cottages are reached by steps. Most have no room for front gardens, but that hasn't deterred householders from delightfully decorating the fronts of their homes with plants, wall plaques and, especially in the case of the Shell House, with shells from all over the world.

The one below is a Grade II Listed Building called Gull Cottage, built circa mid 18th century. Containing a ground floor basement, which was either used as a fish store or stable, the living quarters are on the first floor with the main entrance reached by steps. The steps and retaining stepped wall are of stone rubble with slate treads, beautifully adorned with the house owner's potted plants.

Then there's this enchanting house called, appropriately enough, the House on Props. A Grade II Listed Building, built with rendered and painted stone rubble, it also has a delightful slate hung gable end, seen in the photo below.

According to the listing it's reputed to be 16th century but is probably early 18th century. As seen above and below, the props which give the building its name.

 

Called The Old Barkhouse, I only have one photo of this cafe, seen below. I haven't been able to find anything about the building itself, but the name Barkhouse is of Anglo-Saxon origin, meaning someone who works in a bake house. However, I vaguely remember someone saying that it was originally something to do with storing fishing tackle. Checking further I found a reference to the Bark House Fishery on the River Wye, which seems to fit the fishing reference. If anyone knows anything further a comment left below would be most appreciated. Thanks. :)

And last, but not least, is this gloriously over-the-top place to eat called Nelson's Restaurant.

It isn't a listed building but was built in 1937, replacing three 17th century cottages on this site.

And that's all I have from this great little visit, although I do have some photos from our journey down and from nearby the town, seen below.

First off, was the famous - or infamous! - pub/resturant called Jamaican Inn. Not at all like the ancient pub as described in Daphne Du Maurier's book of the same name, it's now a seriously commercial venture, with extensions. A couple of photos below, including the sign outside.

I think this next is Fowey Estuary (Fowey is pronounced Foy), where we took the ferry over the river after a little break to enjoy the views.

And some odd photos of other views, an old mine winding engine, a rock stack on a beach, taken on the way down, and another nearby beach to Polperro where my friend braved the cold, early spring sea and had a swim. Me being me, I just took some photos, lol.

And a further two which I can't place, but could either be from the journey there or above the beach near Polperro. 

There we go! Coming up shortly, an article about Exeter Cathedral, which I seem to have been working on forever. Now at last with re-scanned photos (a few times after accidentally overcooking with post-editing!) and more information than I had on my former website article.