Tresmeer: History of its Monuments and Walking Route

Tresmeer is best understood through its historic buildings and the Three Saints Way along the River Kensey. The surviving evidence varies in age, material and form: it includes a medieval wayside cross, church architecture, a gravestone and farmhouses from different centuries.

Churchyard and Historic Buildings

The monuments include The Pottery, a Grade II listed building. The Church of St Nicholas has a Norman font. There is also a medieval wayside cross in the churchyard, in the form of a Latin cross. After being moved several times within the parish of Laneast, it was re-erected in the churchyard at Tresmeer in the 19th century. Two dates should be distinguished: the medieval classification applies to the monument, while its re-erection at Tresmeer took place later.

Tresmeer Farmhouse and Garden Walls to Front probably date from the mid-19th century. The rear of Tresmeer Farmhouse faces the churchyard of the Church of St Nicholas; the farmhouse is part of a largely unaltered group of buildings. Its orientation towards the churchyard establishes a spatial connection with the church, while the description of the group refers to the architectural context.

The gravestone of John Kittow is near the Church of St Nicholas. It commemorates John Kittow and his son William, who both died in 1779. The stone is made of slate; its segmental-arched top and curved shoulders describe its shape. A different cross, made of greenstone, stands east of the church. It is about two feet high and one foot nine inches wide, and bears a raised Latin cross in low relief on both sides. The two cross monuments can be distinguished by their locations and descriptions: one is the medieval wayside cross in the churchyard, while the other is the greenstone cross standing east of the church.

At Treburtle Farmhouse, the focus shifts to a different period: it stands on the west side of the settlement of Treburtle, probably dates from the 17th century and was extended in the 18th and 19th centuries. Compared with the probable mid-19th-century construction date of Tresmeer Farmhouse, it points to an earlier building phase with later extensions. Both dates remain probable as stated.

The Three Saints Way and the River Kensey

The Three Saints Way is a circular walking route through the tributary valleys of the River Ottery and the River Kensey. Its route follows the River Kensey valley downstream to the Church of St Nicholas in Tresmeer. The River Kensey flows past Tresmeer; the path connects the river valley with the church. The walking route thus complements the historic buildings as a separate focus for travel planning.

The Three Saints Way offers many opportunities to observe wildlife, including birds and butterflies. In addition to its route through the river valleys, the path therefore has a connection with nature. When planning your trip around a particular theme, you can consider whether to focus on Tresmeer’s architectural history, walking and nature, or a combination of the two.

Location and Travel Planning

The location of Tresmeer railway station is also useful for orientation: it is not in the village of Tresmeer, but in the neighbouring village of Splatt. For your travel planning, it is therefore helpful to distinguish between the station name and the village where it is actually located. When searching for a hotel, the historic buildings and the Three Saints Way can serve as separate reference points to help you decide what you want to focus on during your trip.

Discover more destinations: Callington, Cardinham, Pendeen, Probus, Sancreed, Constantine Bay, Roche, Porthallow

For the broader travel overview: Cornwall.