Gerrans

Gerrans (including Tregassick, Percuil, Trewithian, Bohortha, Lanhay and Lanhoose). The village of Gerrans is mainly one long street, which is Churchtown Road as far as the church and then Tregassick Road leading to the hamlet of that name. Gerrans has the parish church, a primary school, and the Standard pub, but otherwise shares amenities with its twin, Portscatho (in particular surgery and village hall). The church has a spire which is a useful navigational mark by land or sea. There are four further hamlets, of which Bohortha is located in the former parish of St Anthony, and its only settlement.

Running south from Gerrans to St Anthony Head, between the Percuil River and Gerrans Bay is a stunningly beautiful Roseland sub-peninsula (about 3 x 1 miles). This embodies miles of clifftop, creekside and country walks. It also has coastal and sea views over Gerrans Bay, Falmouth Bay and across to the Lizard Peninsula, Carrick Roads (Fal estuary) and across to Falmouth, and superb views of St Mawes across its outer harbour. Towan Beach, where refreshments are available and seals are often seen, and Porthbeor Beach (currently only accessible from the sea) add to the attractions.

At the southern tip of the peninsula is a lighthouse, built in 1835, originally using oil lamps. There are also the remnants of gun batteries, dating back to 1805 and updated over the years, designed to protect Falmouth. Some of the former military accommodation also remains. Nearby there is a bird hide from where peregrine falcons can often be observed.

The Percuil River is tidal from its half mile wide junction with Carrick Roads for about 5 miles, narrowing to a few yards wide at Trethem Mill. It is a haven for waterbird life, not to mention the occasional visiting pod of dolphins. There are four sub creeks, each of great beauty. They are Trethem Creek fed by the upper Percuil River, Polingey Creek with the remains of a tide mill, Pelyn Creek, and Porth (Froe) Creek. The latter also had a tide mill, the dam of which is intact.

About halfway along the tidal part of the river is the hamlet of Percuil where there is a boatyard. There was a passenger ferry for many years for travellers between St Mawes and Gerrans/Portscatho and beyond. The sheltered anchorage here is where merchant schooners would await their next assignment. In the days before there were good roads loaded trading ketches would arrive at high tide and would settle on the beach as the tide receded. They were then unloaded by horse and cart for local delivery. There was also once a powered (originally steam then diesel engined) ferry taking passengers from Gerrans and Portscatho to Falmouth, calling at St Mawes on the way.

In a very sheltered location off the main Percuil River is Place, with its French chateau style house and church with spire. The church has a particularly noteworthy Norman arch doorway and is no longer active but is open to the public. There is a foot ferry from St Mawes to Place running in the season.

Near St Anthony Head is the attractive hamlet of Bohortha with a lovely little schoolhouse, now a home, and some thatched cottages. Close to Gerrans is the hamlet of Tregassick and a little further away to the north is the hamlet of Trewithian. This retains its village green where fairs were once held, and where there was once a pub catering for thirsty travellers. Lanhoose is a tiny hamlet (3 dwellings) near the upper reaches of the Percuil River. The final hamlet in the parish, very much off the beaten track, is Lanhay, on a quiet lane to nowhere.

For much more detail of the area see ‘The Roseland between River and Sea’ by Laurence O’Toole, ‘A History of The Parish of Gerrans’ by Hilary Thompson, ‘The Story of Place House’ by Nigel Hare-Scott, and ‘The Roseland and St Anthony Head’, a National Trust publication.