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HOLIDAYS IN LAMORNA
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Lamorna Cove
A delightful approach down the deeply wooded Lamorna Valley
leads to the famous Lamorna Cove and the glittering sea of Mount’s
Bay. Nature has taken back this centre of Victorian industry where quarrying
for high quality granite began in 1849.
Lamorna Cove has a small quay which is occassionally used
for fishing. The Slipway at lamorna is exposed to the elements and boats
have to be dragged up the slipway in bad weather.
The harbour is constructed from the granite blocks, which
were quarried locally and then shipped from Penzance to various destinations.
The granite was of a high quality and coniquently used in the construction
of many local buildings and wharves. The remnants of this trade can still
be seen strewn on the hillsides around the cove but the quarries have
been long derelict.
Originally, A timber jetty was first used to load the
granite onto ships but this was replaced with a stone pier in 1854. Heavy
seas often delayed loading the stone and threatened moored vessels. This
raised the price of Lamorna granite and sea transport was abandoned in
favour of difficult but regular transport overland to Penzance. The quarries
ceased production in 1911.
Today all is peace and beauty in Lamorna. In the early
1900s, the areas exquisite landscape attracted painters of distinction,
such as Harold and Laura Knight, Lamorna Birch, Dod and Ernest Proctor
and Sir Alfred Munnings.
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