History of Gunnislake , Cornwall.

Gunnislake, or Lynngonna to give it its Cornish name, was a mining boom town in Victorian times and in 1862 more than 7000 people were employed in the mines of the Tamar Valley.

The name Gunnislake is a derivation of two words - 'gunnis' meaning an open mine-working, and 'lake' the Cornish term for water.

There has recently been discovered a significant Roman Fort on the outskirts of Calstock, the biggest known Roman site in Cornwall and the famous painting by Turner 'Crossing the Brook' exhibited in 1815 is in fact a view of Newbridge.

Gunnislake is now home to around 1,800 people.

Today Gunnislake has a very active historical society which meets once a month in a local church hall for talks about the area.

There are extensive archives stored in Calstock which charts the rise and decline of the area during the mining era.

There will be an exhibition during the Festival in the Public Hall on Fore Street.

Opening times: Friday 1st August. 9.00am to 5.00pm
Saturday 2nd August. 9.00am to 5.00pm

There will be refreshments available on both days.