The Francis Frith Collection.
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Bude photos (450 available)

Old photo of Bude

Bude maps (2 available)

Old map of Bude

Bude books (5 available)

Bude memories

Mary Cornish

Bude, Mill house and Cottage c1955

My gt gt grand mother, Mary Cornish was born in Coombe Valley c 1814 She was married to Henry Harris in the parish church of St Morwenna & John the Baptist on 26th December 1839 The presiding incumbent was Robert Stephen Hawker.
Contributed by Joan Coughlin

Cornwall memories

Mary Cornish

Bude, Mill house and Cottage c1955

My gt gt grand mother, Mary Cornish was born in Coombe Valley c 1814 She was married to Henry Harris in the parish church of St Morwenna & John the Baptist on 26th December 1839 The presiding incumbent was Robert Stephen Hawker.
A memory of Bude contributed by Joan Coughlin

Finding Mum's Family

Stratton, St Andrew's Church c1965

After researching my mother's family for four years I found that our ancestors came from Kilkhampton and decided to pay a visit. I couldn't find anything relating to the family so, on a whim, I decided to explore Stratton and found this beautiful church. To my surprise, the moment I walked through the gate, a whole bank of "MAYNARD" headstones stood before me and I was able to complete the little book I had written for Mum to celebrate her 90th birthday, complete with photographs of all her ancestors graves. What a find. My cousins who all live in the London area, could not believe I had found where their middle Christian name of "MAYNARD" had originated from and were delighted ...read more here
A memory of Stratton contributed by Andrea Honeyman-Brown

My School and Village Life Memories

In the 1970s I was a school girl at the old school building, in the 70s a small two classroom premises.  Those of us there, living in the village, were taught by the Head Mistress, my mother Mrs Jennifer Newport. My sister Naomi and brother Bruce were also there. Our school was small, and no more than 53 pupils from reception through to Year 6. It was primarily a farming community. Many of the young girls in the village belonged to a club called G.F.S. or Girls Friendly Society, run by senior village ladies overseen by Miss Jones. We were very much integrated into village life, and contributed to the Horticultural Clubs held at the Bray Institute. My happy memories include ...read more here
A memory of Marhamchurch contributed by Ruth Newport

Extracts From Bude & Cornwall books

Bude, Lock and Breakwater 1893

This was the only English canal to open directly into the Atlantic Ocean. Bude sea lock is still in use today, although the rest of the canal was abandoned in 1896. However, the barge section was retained as a water channel.
An extract from from"50 Classics - Canals".

Bude, on the canal 1920

Bude’s canal, built in 1823, was something of an oddity. For its first two miles, it was a barge canal – as seen here. Then, freight was trans-shipped into small 5-ton tubs with wheels. These were horse-drawn; but instead of using locks, the tub boats were hauled up and down inclined planes by engine to reach the different water levels. By the 1830s over thirty miles of canal had been constructed, which was used to transport 50,000 tons of sea sand a year from the north Cornwall coast for use as fertiliser on inland farms.
An extract from from"50 Classics - Canals".

Polkerris, Polridmouth Beach near Gribbin Head c1960

This scene has hardly changed for many years; the beach at Polridmouth is still only accessible on foot. Although we are just around the corner from St Austell Bay, this photograph gives us a good view of the prominent day mark erected in 1832 on the Gribbin Head as an aid for shipping entering the bay.
An extract from from"St Austell Bay Photographic Memories".

Polkerris, 1888

The old pilchard-curing cellar, or ‘palace’, beside the shore in the foreground was one of the largest in Cornwall. However, by the time of this early photograph the harbour seems already deserted by the fishing fleet, perhaps in favour of Mevagissey on the far side of the bay.
An extract from from"St Austell Bay Photographic Memories".

Polkerris, 1888

A boat sails across the bay, which was known as Polkerris or Par Bay in the late-18th century. The little village of Polkerris is situated at the end of a sheltered valley on the east shore of St Austell Bay. There was an important pilchard fishery here, and the pier (left) was built in about 1735 for sheltering the fishing boats rather than for trade.
An extract from from"St Austell Bay Photographic Memories".