G r y l l ' s   G a t e

 

Hell's Stone Town

The old market town of Helston. The name comes from a large block of stone that some say was used to block the entrance to Hell. This stone was being carried by the devil before he was challenged by the town's patron saint, St. Michael. In their ensuing combat, the stone was dropped and left to the town. It spent many years laying in the courtyard of the Angel inn. But the stone is no longer whole, in 1783 it was broken up and used for building materials. The remains are now part of the west wall of the now renamed Angel hotel. They can be recognized as two black stones that are set in the wall, under a window found in an alley adjacent to the hotel. They are marked by the grooves of coaches that passed over them during its days in the courtyard. The stones are said to bring bad luck on any woman living in the inn. This curse may have caused tragedy in the past to the inn's owners in 1873 during the smallpox epidemic. Mary Ann Bennet, licensee to the Angel up to 1875, lost her 2 sons, her granddaughter's husband and some years later, her great grandson in a drowning accident.

On a happier note, the people of Helston celebrate their patron saint's victory over their unwelcome visitor. They dance the furry dance through the streets of Helston on the 8th May, the feast of St. Michael.

Further on down Coinagehall Street where it joins Monument Road, is a very well dressed gothic gateway of elaborate design. It has many gothic features including a central arch, blind quarterfoils and windows, buttresses, ornate castellations, and topped off with four tall, crocketed octagonal pinnacles for good measure.

The gateway, or monument as it is locally known, was built in 1834 as a memorial to Humphrey Millit Grylls. its construction took 196 tons of finest granite totaling a sum of £384. The money was raised from a 'subscription' paid for by local miners. A bottle containing a eulogy written in latin was inserted into a drilled hole made in the first stone to be laid.

Humphrey Grylls was a local banker who secured the funding to keep the Wheal Vor copper mine running in 1830. He saved the mining jobs of over 1,200 men, women and children. When he died 4 years later, his funeral was one of the biggest seen in Cornwall with a grand procession of over 2 miles long.

The rear side of the monument is a mirror image of the front. its only difference being the out-dented scripture above the arch, the date of its construction. The front side being scribed simply "To the memory of Humphrey Millit Grylls"

Visiting

Helston is a busy town and has many car parks. The Angel Hotel is open all year round.

Co-ords 165700 027400 / SW 657 274  

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Anglo Asia. The home of the Tawa

Helston also has another claim to fame, The Tawa. There is a very good indian restaurant in Helston, maybe one of the finest in Cornwall, called the Anglo Asia. You will be served exceptional cuisine in a fine atmosphere by friendly staff. The restaurant specializes in an unusual indian dish called a "Tawa", served to and eaten by the customer in a shallow pan. I personally recommend the vindaloo, outstanding. Booking is recommended, it gets very busy.

The Anglo Asia Restaurant

2 The Parade, Trengrouse Way

Helston Cornwall TR13 8RT

01326 562881

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