St Eval
Encyclopedia
St Eval is a civil parish and hamlet in north Cornwall
, United Kingdom
. The hamlet is situated approximately four miles (6.5 km) southwest of Padstow
.
Much of the village land was acquired by compulsory purchase in 1938 to build an RAF Coastal Command
Station, RAF St Eval
. Many buildings were demolished leaving only the Norman
church, the Vicarage, and Trevisker Farm. These buildings were effectively surrounded by RAF activity, and during World War II
were taken over for RAF use, with the church tower
used as an observation post and navigation mark.
St Eval church has been Incorporated into the combined benefice
of St Mawgan
, St Ervan
and St Eval.
and Iron Age
settlement. From the pottery found at Trevisker round at St. Eval it was possible to distinguish several stages of occupation. This was the first Bronze Age site of this kind in the UK. This type of Bronze Age pottery is known as Trevisker ware.
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The hamlet is situated approximately four miles (6.5 km) southwest of Padstow
Padstow
Padstow is a town, civil parish and fishing port on the north coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The town is situated on the west bank of the River Camel estuary approximately five miles northwest of Wadebridge, ten miles northwest of Bodmin and ten miles northeast of Newquay...
.
Much of the village land was acquired by compulsory purchase in 1938 to build an RAF Coastal Command
RAF Coastal Command
RAF Coastal Command was a formation within the Royal Air Force . Founded in 1936, it was the RAF's premier maritime arm, after the Royal Navy's secondment of the Fleet Air Arm in 1937. Naval aviation was neglected in the inter-war period, 1919–1939, and as a consequence the service did not receive...
Station, RAF St Eval
RAF St Eval
RAF St Eval was a strategic airbase for the RAF Coastal Command in the Second World War . St Eval's primary role was to provided anti-submarine and anti-shipping patrols off the south west coast of England...
. Many buildings were demolished leaving only the Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
church, the Vicarage, and Trevisker Farm. These buildings were effectively surrounded by RAF activity, and during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
were taken over for RAF use, with the church tower
Tower
A tower is a tall structure, usually taller than it is wide, often by a significant margin. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires....
used as an observation post and navigation mark.
St Eval church has been Incorporated into the combined benefice
Benefice
A benefice is a reward received in exchange for services rendered and as a retainer for future services. The term is now almost obsolete.-Church of England:...
of St Mawgan
St Mawgan
St Mawgan in Pydar is a civil parish in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The village of St Mawgan is situated four miles northeast of Newquay....
, St Ervan
St Ervan
St Ervan is a rural civil parish and hamlet in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The hamlet is situated three miles southwest of Padstow. Notable features in St Ervan are the Anglican church, the village hall and the Nonconformist cemetery,...
and St Eval.
Prehistoric settlement at Trevisker round
In 1955 and 1956 excavations were carried out on behalf of the Ministry of Works on the site currently occupied by Trevisker School and playground. The Excavation found evidence of a Bronze AgeBronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
and Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
settlement. From the pottery found at Trevisker round at St. Eval it was possible to distinguish several stages of occupation. This was the first Bronze Age site of this kind in the UK. This type of Bronze Age pottery is known as Trevisker ware.
Notable parishioners
- Nick DarkeNick DarkeNick Darke born Nicholas Temperley Watson Darke was best known as playwright but was also a writer, poet, lobster fisherman, environmentalist, beachcomber, politician, broadcaster, film-maker and chairman of St Eval Parish Council.-Life and writings:Nick Darke was born at St Eval, near Padstow in...
, playwright and journalist - George Hawke, pioneer emigrant to Australia. whose diary was published as a book called Road to Byng by Yvonne McBurney, (1982) ISBN 0908053 185