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River Gannel

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Coordinates: 50°24′37″N 5°07′27″W / 50.4103°N 5.1243°W / 50.4103; -5.1243
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Gannel
The River Gannel below Trevemper Bridge
Map
Location
CountryEngland
RegionCornwall
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationCarland Cross
 • coordinates50°20′57″N 5°01′32″W / 50.3492°N 5.0256°W / 50.3492; -5.0256
 • elevation115 m (377 ft)
MouthAtlantic Ocean
 • location
Pentire
 • coordinates
50°24′37″N 5°07′27″W / 50.4103°N 5.1243°W / 50.4103; -5.1243
 • elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Length13 km (8.1 mi)

The River Gannel (Cornish: Dowr Gwyles, meaning lovage river[citation needed]) rises in the village of Indian Queens in mid Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It flows north under Trevemper Bridge and becomes a tidal estuary, the Gannel (Cornish: An Ganel, meaning the Channel), that divides the town of Newquay from the village of Crantock and joins the Celtic Sea. The Newlyn Downs form part of the catchment area of the river.[1] The principle tributary of the Gannel is the Benny Stream.[2] Since January 2016 the Gannel estuary, as far as the tidal limit, has been part of the Newquay and the Gannel Marine Conservation Zone.[3][4]

History

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The Gannel Estuary, Cornwall: Archaeological and Historical Assessment, published by the Cornwall Archaeological Unit concluded that human activity around the Gannel could be dated to the Mesolithic period.[5]

Sean Taylor, Senior Archaeologist at the Cornwall Archaeological Unit, said of the area, “It’s starting to look like this part of Newquay, alongside the River Gannel, was a very important and densely populated area from the Neolithic (c 4000BC) onwards. The estuary undoubtedly formed an important link with the outside world throughout prehistory.” Finds alongside the Gannel include three Bronze Age roundhouses.[6]

In 2007 a 'Wraxall' class neck ring was found at Pentire, indicationg the area around the Gannel was inhabited in the late Iron Age.[7]

During the medieval period sandrock was quarried on the beach at Crantock. The quarry is now covered by dunes. Use of this poor quality stone may have contributed to the collapse of an earlier tower at St Carantoc's Church, in the 14th century.[8]

John Woodward (1688-1728) recorded that iron ore was mined from a large vein on Perran Beach. In the 1860s ore was moved up the cliff by a 'puffer' engine. It was then transported from Gravel Hill Mine, at the north end of Perran Beach, to a quay on the Gannel.[9]

During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries tin mining took place at Chiverton Wheal Rose, also known as Trethellan Mine. The ore was accessed from an adit level on the beach.[10][11]

A shipbuilding industry once existed at Tregunnel on the north shore of the estuary, where, from 1858 to 1881, Thomas and John Clemens built 10 schooners.[12][13] At Penpol Creek a ruined lime kiln can be found. Limestone and coal were transported here in the past by barge. Until late in the 20th century the mouth of the Gannel was used by shipping until the silting up of the narrow channel and the development of Newquay harbour.[14]

In 2014, storms damaged a wall that altered the course of the river, so that it now flows across Crantock beach.[15]

Wildlife

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The estuary is an important location for migratory birds. Fulmars, jackdaws and pigeons can be seen nesting at Pipers Hole, a deep cleft on the west side of the beach on the estuary. Weever fish can be found particularly at low tide.[14] The rare Giant Goby can be found within the Marine Conservation Zone and anemones, sponges, sea mats and sea squirts can be found below the low water mark at the mouth of the estuary.[16] Trout, lamprey, eel, and bullhead have been recorded in the freshwater portion of the river.[17]

Ferry

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A seasonal ferry runs from the Fern Pit across to Crantock beach.

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The river is known for a legend called the Gannel Crake, an unusual noise which might be heard "crying out". During the 19th century it was described as being like "a thousand voices pent up in misery, with one long wail dying away in the distance".[18][19] It is traditionally referred to by the superstitious natives as the cry of a troubled spirit that ever haunts the scene.[20]

The Gannel estuary was depicted in the painting Crossing the Gannel by William Prater.[21]

  • Gannel Ferry
    Gannel Ferry
  • The Gannel above Crantock Beach
    The Gannel above Crantock Beach
  • The river at Crantock Beach
    The river at Crantock Beach

References

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  1. ^ "Newlyn Downs" (PDF). Natural England. 1997. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  2. ^ "Gannel (Lower) | Catchment Data Explorer | Catchment Data Explorer". environment.data.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 24 June 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  3. ^ "The Newquay and the Gannel Marine Conservation Zone Designation Order 2016". legislation.gov.uk/. 2016. Archived from the original on 2 July 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  4. ^ "Marine Conservation Zones: Newquay and the Gannel". GOV.UK. 18 January 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  5. ^ "The Gannel Estuary, Cornwall. Archaeological and Historical Assessment". archaeologydataservice.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 25 June 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  6. ^ Altuntaş, Leman (10 April 2023). "Bronze Age and Roman-era settlements unearthed in Newquay". Arkeonews. Archived from the original on 24 June 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  7. ^ Nowakowski, Jacqueline; Gwilt, Adam; Megaw, Vincent; Niece, Susan La (29 July 2009). "A late iron age neck-ring from Pentire, Newquay, Cornwall, with a note on the find from Boverton, vale of Glamorgan". The Antiquaries Journal. 89: 35–52. doi:10.1017/S0003581509990072. ISSN 1758-5309. S2CID 161915843. Archived from the original on 24 June 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  8. ^ "Building Stones of England: Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly | Historic England". Historic England. 31 May 2023. Archived from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  9. ^ "GRAVEL HILL MINE". archaeologydataservice.ac.uk. 24 June 2023. Archived from the original on 24 June 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  10. ^ "Chiverton Wheal Rose (Trethellan Mine), Newquay, Cornwall, England, UK". Mindat.org. 15 January 2023. Archived from the original on 25 June 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  11. ^ Gossip, James (2000–2001). "Gannel Estuary" (PDF). Cornish Archaeology (Hendhyscan Kernow). 39–40: 197. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 June 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  12. ^ "Heritage nurtured upon the high seas - Newquay Voice". www.newquayvoice.co.uk. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  13. ^ "Vessel list". shippingandshipbuilding.uk. 24 June 2023. Archived from the original on 24 June 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  14. ^ a b "Exploring Crantock Beach │ Cornwall". National Trust. 22 June 2023. Archived from the original on 22 June 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  15. ^ "More rescues at 'unpredictable' storm-damaged Crantock beach". BBC News. 22 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  16. ^ "Marine Conservation Zones: Newquay and the Gannel factsheet" (PDF). Environment Dept: UK Gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  17. ^ "Cornwall Rivers Project | Geography | Gannel". www.cornwallriversproject.org.uk. 2006. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  18. ^ esdale77 (12 February 2022). "The Legend of the Crake & the Haunting of the River Gannel". The Cornish Bird. Archived from the original on 30 January 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ "Gannel Estuary". The Newquay Guide. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  20. ^ Heath, Sidney (1911). "The Cornish riviera". Archive.org. Blackie and Son Limited. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  21. ^ the-saleroom.com (22 June 2023). "WILLIAM PRATER Crossing the Gannel, Newquay Oil on canvas Signed 31 x 51cm". www.the-saleroom.com. Archived from the original on 22 June 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
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