An early Christian memorial stone, medieval crosses and historic route links give Phillack a distinctive character. The village lies half a mile inland, behind the dunes of Hayle Towans Beach. Its stone monuments tell of inscriptions, burial traditions and changing uses. If you like to explore a destination’s local history and landscape connections, Phillack offers tangible points of interest.
Memorial Stone and Crosses in the Churchyard
The early Christian memorial stone in the churchyard bears the inscription “CLOTUALI MOBRATTI”. This is translated as “the stone of Clotualus, son of Mobrattus”. The stone’s reuse reflects the churchyard’s continuous use as a burial ground from the 8th century to the present day. The memorial stone is part of a Scheduled Monument. The inscription and burial tradition offer two distinct ways to explore Phillack’s history: a dedication preserved by name and the churchyard’s long history of use.
South of the church stands the well-preserved churchyard cross, an elaborately decorated cross with four openings. The medieval wayside cross southeast of the church survives as an upright granite shaft with a round wheel-head and is also part of a Scheduled Monument. Its history includes several uses: it first served as a gatepost at the entrance to Bodriggy Farm, 0.75 km south of Phillack church. Later, in the late 19th century, it became a doorpost at the entrance to the schoolyard in Phillack. In 1910, it was moved to the churchyard. This sequence shows how its function changed while the cross itself was preserved as a historic object.
Mexico Cross and Historic Routes
The medieval Mexico Cross stands at a field corner on the ridge of the slope that rises north of Copperhouse Pool. Copperhouse Pool is the broad, shallow eastern arm of the Hayle Estuary in western Cornwall. The cross has a rounded wheel-head; an equal-armed cross in low relief is carved on its southwest side. Its former location was on the approximate line of a route through the Towans: it ran southwest from Gwithian church to the crossing of the Hayle Estuary at Lelant. The description of its present location and the historic route line thus provide different reference points for the cross.
Circular Walk, Bridge and Route Section
The nearby King George V Memorial Walk is a 2-mile (3 km) circular route on flat asphalt or firm gravel. Its length and surface give you specific information about the character of the walk. Another historic landmark is the Clapper Bridge over the Loggans Mill Leat. Reverend William Hockin Senior, the rector of Phillack, built it in 1812.
Section three of the “Dynamite” line begins at the Recreation Ground; the starting point is thought to be at the point nearest to the site of the Phillack Road Level Crossing. The line runs along Leathlean Lane towards the Towans. If you’re planning to include this section or the circular walk, check current path conditions in advance.
Discover more destinations: Mullion, Menheniot, St Just, Fowey, Constantine, Landewednack, Perranwell Station, St Teath.
See the main travel overview: Cornwall.
