Gweek
| |
|---|---|
 The east bank of the river, viewed from the quay | |
  Gweek Location withinCornwall | |
| Population | 581 (United Kingdom Census 2001) 667 (2011 Census)[1] |
| OS grid reference | SW705268 |
| Civil parish |
|
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | HELSTON |
| Postcode district | TR12 |
| Dialling code | 01326 |
| Police | Devon and Cornwall |
| Fire | Cornwall |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| UK Parliament | |
| 50°05′46″N5°12′32″W / 50.096°N 5.209°W /50.096; -5.209 | |
Gweek (Cornish:Gwig, meaningforest village) is acivil parish and village inCornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated approximately three miles (5 km) east ofHelston.[2] The civil parish was created from part of the parish ofConstantine by boundary revision in 1986. The nameGweek is first recorded asGwyk in 1358 and is derived from theCornish wordgwig, meaning "forest village", cognate with theWelshgwig andOld Bretonguic.[3] Gweek village has a pub, theBlack Swan,[4] and a shop. The village is also home to theCornish Seal Sanctuary.
Gweek lies within theCornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Almost a third of Cornwall has AONB designation, with the same status and protection as a National Park.
Gweek is at the head of navigation of theHelford River. It has been a port since Roman times and thrived in the Tudor period, with its own Customs House.[5] In the 13th century, the townspeople of Helston bought the rights to the port of Gweek.[6]
During the mining boom, a tin-smeltingblowing house operated at the quayside.[7]
In Lewis'sTopographical Dictionary of England published in 1848, the village was described as:[8]
GWEEK, a small port, in thehundred of Kerrier, W. division of Cornwall, 3½ miles (E. by S.) from Helston. The pilchard-fishery is carried on extensively, 200 boats being employed in taking the fish, which are cured in the various creeks and coves within the limits of the port. In addition to the fishery, the chief trade consists in the exportation of copper-ore, corn, moorstone, and oysters, and the importation of timber, coal, and limestone.
In an August 1880 edition ofThe Cornishman newspaper, Gweek (along withPorthleven) was described as a prominent seaport, supplying coal, lime, timber, slate, etc to the neighbouring mines and inhabitants. Timber was unloaded from ships at Merthen Hole and floated up-river to Gweek on barges. The western wharf was owned byMr Basset ofTehidy.[9][10]
Gweek has asilver band[11] which performs locally and provides music at some Anglican services in the Gweek Mission Church. The band also organises a yearly "band week". This starts with a concert of three local brass bands in a field overlooking theHelford River. Afterwards, there is a pig roast with stalls and entertainment and at the end of the week a clay pigeon shoot.
TheCornwall Fiddle Orchestra[12] was formed in 2007 by fiddle player Hudson Swan. He was a member of Scottish band,The Tannahill Weavers but now lives in Cornwall and works as a violin teacher for the Cornwall Music Service.[13] The orchestra rehearses weekly at Helston School.
The three-corneredTolvan Holed Stone is an unusual megalith. It is about 800 metres north of Gweek behind Tolvan Cross Farm.
Gweek is featured inThe Meaning of Liff, a book byDouglas Adams andJohn Lloyd, being used as a noun meaning "A coat hanger recycled as a car aerial". A passage inCharles Kingsley's novelHereward the Wake features Gweek and its neighbouring woods. Kingsley received some of his education at nearby Helston Grammar School.[14]
