Rilla Mill
Rilla Mill maps (2 available)
Rilla Mill books (8 available)
Rilla Mill memories
The picture house.
How many people remember the picture shows which were held in a hut at the top of the hill. I was one of the London evacuees billeted at Minions, and some of us would walk to the pictures and back again - how far was that! We were at Upton Cross school and I can recall the class being told to bring a lunch to school one day as Mr Bartholomew, our teacher, was to take us up on the moors, I think towards Sharp Tor, to see a bomb crater. Relations of the elderly couple I lived with owned Addicroft Mill, they were George and Ethel Pike, and we loved going there. I believe the Mill was bought at one ...read more here
Contributed by Eileen Banks
Cornwall memories
The picture house.
How many people remember the picture shows which were held in a hut at the top of the hill. I was one of the London evacuees billeted at Minions, and some of us would walk to the pictures and back again - how far was that! We were at Upton Cross school and I can recall the class being told to bring a lunch to school one day as Mr Bartholomew, our teacher, was to take us up on the moors, I think towards Sharp Tor, to see a bomb crater. Relations of the elderly couple I lived with owned Addicroft Mill, they were George and Ethel Pike, and we loved going there. I believe the Mill was bought at one ...read more here
A memory of Rilla Mill contributed by Eileen Banks
St Cleer Church
This scene has changed little, except for the addition of carpeted areas and pews that look far more comfortable and inviting! I feel sure that every person who has walked through the doors of this church has been touched by what they have seen and the wonderful people they have met here. Todays community has added many other fine features like their fabulous millenium tapestry and the tea bar!!! I have loved this village, indeed my daughter was born here, and I have loved this church and my wonderful church family. It is with a heavy heart that I will soon have to leave here but St Cleer church will always be my favourite place and my ...read more here
A memory of St Cleer contributed by Michelle Coxeter
Bluecap
I remember well the Saturday Night Dances at the Bluecap Hotel in the 50's & 60's, now pulled down. The Bull's Head was more up-market. I lived at St Dominick and remember the Cattle Market. I was going to Callington Grammer School when King George V1 and family came to open the Royal Cornwall Show at Callington we all had the day off to go to the Show. There was a Youth Club where we played table tennis etc. and learnt to dance. I have nothing but fond memories of Callington.
A memory of Callington contributed by Brian Furse
Extracts From Rilla Mill & Cornwall books
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".
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".
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".
Polkerris has hardly
changed, with virtually
no new houses in 70
years. Here we see the
village tucked away in
its valley, with the
great expanse of the
bay reaching beyond
to Black Head (centre)
and the Dodman Point
(left). The garden plots
of the houses are
prominent, sheltered
by hedges and mostly
on the south-facing
slope on the right.
An extract from from"St Austell Bay Photographic Memories".
The gable end of the lifeboat house is seen in the background, almost
at the end of the road through the village. Stone cottages, teas for sale
and no unsightly road markings are the delights of this village.
An extract from from"St Austell Bay Photographic Memories".






