In and Around Helston

What is now the bustling market town of Helston, was in early times a thriving port at the head of the Cober estuary. However from the 13th century onwards, the estuary began to silt up and a great shingle bank ‘The Loe Bar’ was formed at the mouth of the estuary making the largest freshwater lake in Cornwall. The estate surrounding the lake is partly owned by The National Trust and there are delightful walks to be taken in this area.

Quite apart from being a delightful town, in which you will find a mixture of Georgian and Victorian architecture, it is one of the ancient coinage towns of Cornwall. Coinagehall Street is a permanent reminder of the town’s past when, in the 14th Century, tinners working the area’s mines would assemble to have their tin tested and weighed in the coinage hall, to assess the duty payable to the Duke of Cornwall.

If you walk up Coinagehall Street, you will pass the Blue Anchor, a thatched building, originally a monk’s rest house, which became a tavern in the 15th century. Miners received their wages in the pub, which is possibly the oldest private brewery in the country.

At the bottom of the main street you will find the Guildhall - originally the market house this imposing building now serves as a gracious Town Hall. If you are interested in the history and heritage of this lovely old town then do go to the Helston Museum housed here and now incorporating the Drill Hall with its mezzanine art gallery.

Its many displays are civic, transport and trades including the former railway, Flora Day, fishing and farming, mining, archaeology and minerals, and a large domestic section incorporating both Victorian and 1950s kitchens. Helston’s most famous sons, Henry Trengrouse, inventor of the life-saving apparatus, and Bob Fitzsimmons, world heavyweight boxing champion, are depicted. There is also a new Costume Gallery and Early Learning Area.

The Museum Shop has local books, silver, tin and pewter jewellery, minerals, old bottles, etc. for sale.

At the top of Meneage Street, next to the Peugeot Garage, you will find Hutchinson’s fish & chip shop. ‘Friers Quality Award’ approved since 1996, it has won many awards and has been the National Winner in two different competitions. In both competitions the judges were deciding on high quality food, cleanliness, consistently high standards and helpful staff. So you can be sure that everything will be just right when you go in to the shop.

Senior Citizen ‘specials’ are available in the cafe at lunchtimes and at the other end of the age scale toddlers and small children are always made welcome - a good family place to eat.

One of the leading food stores in the town and area is the Natural Store, which stocks natural food of all kinds, specialising in wholefood and organic foods. It is an ideal destination for the self-caterer as it offers ingredients from herbs and spices to organic vegetables and meat, and from rice to teas, as well as fresh bread, soft drinks, organic and natural foods, natural bodycare and cosmetics, natural remedies and supplements, fresh bread, organic vegetables and meat. Knowledgeable and friendly staff will help you and offer advice. Tel: 01326 564226 Monday - Saturday 9.00am - 5.30pm (5.00pm winter) Trengrouse Way, Helston also at 16 & 17 High Street, Falmouth.

Additionally The Natural Store has a wide range of natural bodycare products, natural remedies and supplements. You will find it on Trengrouse Way, just below Somerfield supermarket.