Description

Gwithian, a village, a parish, and a stream in Cornwall. The village stands near the mouth of the stream, at the E side of St Ives Bay, 2 1/2 miles N by W of Gwinear Road station on the G.W.R., and 3 1/2 NE of Hayle, and has been so exposed to accumulations of drift sands as to have been in risk of destruction by them, and to have required an extensive planting of the Arundo arenaria to stop them. Post town and money order and telegraph office, Hayle. Acreage of parish, 2420; population, 649. Copper ore at one time was worked more extensively than now. Building stone, and a peculiar kind of freestone, suitable for chimneys, are quarried. There are extensive ancient earthworks called Tre-varian Rounds. The living is a rectory, annexed to the rectory of Phillack, in the diocese of Truro; value, £140 with residence. The church was rebuilt in 1866. Remains of an ancient, small, very rude chapel, a baptistery, and a graveyard were discovered by digging into the sand in the vicinity of the church. There is a Wesleyan chapel. The stream rises between Redruth and Cambome, and runs westward, about 6 1/2 miles, to St Ives Bay.