Par River, Cornwall Explained

50.343°N -4.703°WThe Par River (Cornish: '''Dowr Gwernan''', meaning alder tree river), also known as the Luxulyan River is a river draining the area north of St Blazey in Cornwall, in the United Kingdom.

Geography

The Par River rises on Criggan Moor, with tributaries rising near Crift, Bokiddick Downs, and the villages of Lockengate, Lanivet and Tregullon near Bodmin. It flows southwards via Bokiddick, Bodwen, and through the Luxulyan Valley, to flow into St Austell Bay at Par.[1]

History

Until the 16th century the valley below St Blazey contained an estuary and the crossing at St Blazey was the lowest crossing point on the river.[2] Ponts Mill was once a port, up-river of St Blazey, and as late as 1720, 80 ton sea going vessels could reach the port.[3]

In January 2017 Imerys Minerals were fined £75,000 with £25,000 costs for polluting the tributary, Rocks Stream. An estimated of Jayfloc 85, a substance harmful to aquatic life, was in July 2013, flushed from a redundant storage tank, through drains and settlement lagoons and into the stream, near Bugle.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Smith. John R. The Luxulyan Valley. Cornwall Archaeological Society. 31 March 2015. 1988. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402152655/http://mapping.cornwall.gov.uk/EventRecord/1988/1988R005.pdf. 2 April 2015. dead.
  2. Web site: Cornwall Industrial Settlements Initiative ST BLAZEY (with St Blazey Gate and West Par) . June 1999 . Historic Environment Service, Cornwall County Council . 4 February 2012 .
  3. Book: Bristow. Colin M. Cornwall's Geology and Scenery. An Introduction. 1996. Cornish Hillside Publications. St Austell. 1 900147 01 7. 137.
  4. Web site: Clay company pays heavy price for toxic discharge. Environment Agency. GOV.UK. 27 January 2017. 27 January 2017.