Redgate Smithy B&B
~ History ~

Redgate Smithy was originally built in the early 1800s, and was still a working Blacksmiths even into the 1960s. Trade moved, as with many smithies, from wrought iron work, cart fittings, shoeing horses - and in this area likely some work for the local copper mines (such as the Wheal Victoria Copper Mine down at Golitha Falls) - and onto agricultural machinery, tractors, ploughs, combines and the like. Much like the old coach makers moved from horse-drawn coaches to cars.

The smithy and shop as it was seen from an aerial photograph taken in 1965
(supplied by Skyviews Aerial Archive)

We are still trying to trace the rest of the history of Redgate Smithy, and the picture is building all the time. The last Blacksmith here, who was more of an Agricultural Engineer (as machinery played more and more of a part in rural life), was Ivor Pengelly, husband of Ellen Pengelly. John Trevillian was the sitting tenant and Blacksmith who originally bought Redgate Smithy from the Treworgey Estate in 1927. He died in 1959, and was the father of Ellen Pengelly. Before John Trevillion came to Redgate as the Blacksmith, the Smith who worked here (and was presumably the tenant of the Treworgey Estate who lived here) was Sam or Samp Wilton. Sam Wilton, from the 1901 census, was aged 65 at that time.

Unfortunately, records relating directly to Redgate Smithy prior to 1927 were destroyed in a fire at Treworgey Manor some time ago, but maps dated early in the 1800s show that there was certainly a building on the site of Redgate Smithy at that time. The smithy would have been among the first buildings in what is now the present hamlet, apart from the two farms that have given Redgate its name - these being Higher Redgate Farm just up the Minions road, and the closer Lower Redgate Farm that was originally opposite us, and is now a house. Both Higher Redgate Farm and Lower Redgate Farm are marked on the copy of the "New and Accurate Map of Cornwall" (by Thomas Martyn, 1748); displayed at Lanhydrock.

The picture below is thought to date from around 1910, but this is not confirmed...

...and as a comparison, Redgate Smithy in 2004   

During the 1990's, Redgate Smithy was beautifully transformed into a fully restored and refurbished private house by the previous owners, and in 2004 we moved here ourselves, and further converted the property into Redgate Smithy B&B - a welcoming and friendly Four Star Bed and Breakfast...

The little hamlet of Redgate nestles on a shoulder of land between the River Fowey valley, right above Golitha Falls on the north side of us, and the East Looe river valleys to the south of us. Part of the East Looe river has its source just down the lane. In geological history the courses of the two rivers were much different for in Redgate, whilst nestling and sheltering between hills to the east and west of us, we are also on the top of hills coming from the south and north of us! For the technically minded, we are now right on the watershed between the two separate river systems, and right on the shoulder of land now referred to as a "wind gap" or "col", which is the result of an excellent example of "river capture".

The parts of the (now) River Fowey to the north of Golitha Falls, were once the headwaters of the East Looe River, now effectively cut off, and now arising to the south of Redgate. When the sea levels fell during earlier times of glaciation, and meltwaters cut deeper into the rock strata, some rivers also cut their headwaters back, and effectively cut off and "captured" the headwaters of another river. The River Fowey did this while forming the gorge that is now Golitha Falls, and then capturing the East Looe River at the "elbow" or right angle turn in the river at Draynes Bridge. This then left the now quite out of place and over-deep valley at the head of the East Looe river; and with the River Fowey cutting deeper at Golitha, Redgate (as the place was named at a much, much, later time) was left over 40 feet or more above both rivers, yet still lying in the remains of the far, far older valley that was once the ancient east Looe River.

Redgate can just be seen between the valley sides in the centre of the photo

The name of "Redgate" is not an obviously Cornish name, but there have certainly been two very old and established farms here, at Higher Redgate and Lower Redgate, that have been here for several hundreds of years, and which feature on maps made in the 1700s (for instance the 1748 map at Lanhydrock).

"Red" in Cornish can be taken as meaning "ford", as in Redruth (the ford on the Red river - although "ruth" is also Cornish for "red" just to confuse), but the name in this instance is probably more in keeping with an Anglo Saxon origin, or perhaps a corruption of an original Cornish name. There are however several other "reds" about this part of Cornwall, such as Redpost, Redhill, and Redmoor.

More romantically (or blood curdlingly interesting!), is the old local story that once told of Redgate being the site of a fierce and bloody battle that was fought here long ages ago, and that the blood flowed so much and so deep, that it covered the bottom bar of the gate, turning it red! Perhaps that was when King Doniert drowned at Golitha falls (King Doniert's Stone is just up the road), having fought a battle here!!!

For more local information, and photos around Redgate hamlet, see our Redgate page in the PhotoFile