Hayle

History

Although there is a long history of settlement in the Hayle Estuary area dating from the Bronze Age, the modern town of Hayle was built predominantly during the 18th century Industrial Revolution. Evidence of Iron Age settlement exists at the fort on the hill above Carnsew Pool where the Plantation now stands. It is thought that Hayle was an important centre for the Neolithic tin industry, trading not only with Irish and Breton people, but also the Phoenicians of the eastern Mediterranean. Evidence of this comes from finds of imported pottery including Romano/Grecian Amphorae - containers for wine and oil. Although the Romans never conquered Cornwall they may have had a military presence in the Hayle Estuary, and it is thought that the rectangular churchyard at St Uny's Church, Lelant on the western shore of the estuary is built within the outline of a Roman fort. In those times the estuary looked a lot different from that of today. It appears that the estuary was deeper and it was possible for boats to go up the River Hayle as far as where St Erth Bridge is now situated; the tide used to flow in and out of what is now Foundry Square in the town, and at Gwithian reached inland some considerable distance toward Connor Downs. The departure of the Romans was followed by an influx of Christian missionaries, most of whom are said to have had Irish origins and after whom many Cornish towns take their present name. The lives of Saint Samson and Saint Petroc report that both saints arrived in Cornwall at the Hayle Estuary, indicating that it was an established port at least by the end of the 5th century. During the mid-6th century, however, the area was held by the Breton exile Tewdwr Mawr ( or ), who was said to have martyred many of them—particularly the members…

Most-observed species

• Herring Gull

  Larus argentatus Pontoppidan, 1763 · Aves
  11,544
• Common Wood-Pigeon

  Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  8,648
• Carrion Crow

  Corvus corone Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  8,516
• Western Jackdaw

  Coloeus monedula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  8,141
• European Robin

  Erithacus rubecula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  7,934
• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  7,522
• Eurasian Wren

  Troglodytes troglodytes (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  7,476
• Eurasian Magpie

  Pica pica (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  7,212

Most recent

• M 2.8 — 2008-03-23
  38 km NW of St Just, United Kingdom
• M 2.6 — 2007-12-02
  46 km SSE of Mullion, United Kingdom
• M 2.8 — 2006-12-19
  1 km NNE of Polperro, United Kingdom
• M 3.6 — 2005-08-24
  48 km SSW of Newton Ferrers, United Kingdom