In the 1800’s it was possible for a man living in Calstock to have been housed, clothed and shod with bricks, serge and leather produced within a mile of it’s quays. Paint coloured by ochre from the local mines would have been used to decorate his house, paper to wrap his purchases was made in the mill beside the river and beer brewed locally would have slaked his thirst.

A ship owner or merchant could have sailed on a ship built and fitted out on the quayside, a farmer could use fertiliser and lime ground and burnt in the parish and his tools would have been made in the nearby hammer mill. These industries are now long gone, but their legacy remains in the form of the abandoned buildings, chimneys and quarries that until recently were in danger of disappearing altogether.

Mother nature might have got her way - reclaiming what was once hers but for an ambitious project to open up a series of new trails to provide better access to these fascinating sites, and work to prevent further loss and damage to the buildings. More details and some ideas for a great day out are available on our links page.