Redgate Hamlet
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The little hamlet of Redgate nestles on a shoulder of land between the River Fowey valley, right above Golitha Falls on the north side of us, and the East Looe river valleys to the south of us. Part of the East Looe river has its source just down the lane. In geological history the courses of the two rivers were much different for in Redgate, whilst nestling and sheltering between hills to the east and west of us, we are also on the top of hills coming from the south and north of us! For the technically minded, we are now right on the watershed between the two separate river systems, and right on the shoulder of land now referred to as a "wind gap" or "col", which is the result of an excellent example of "river capture".

The parts of the (now) River Fowey to the north of Golitha Falls, were once the headwaters of the East Looe River, now effectively cut off, and now arising to the south of Redgate. When the sea levels fell during earlier times of glaciation, and meltwaters cut deeper into the rock strata, some rivers also cut their headwaters back, and effectively cut off and "captured" the headwaters of another river. The River Fowey did this while forming the gorge that is now Golitha Falls, and then capturing the East Looe River at the "elbow" or right angle turn in the river at Draynes Bridge. This then left the now quite out of place and over-deep valley at the head of the East Looe river; and with the River Fowey cutting deeper at Golitha, Redgate (as the place was named at a much, much, later time) was left over 40 feet or more above both rivers, yet still lying in the remains of the far, far older valley that was once the ancient east Looe River.

Redgate can just be seen between the valley sides in the centre of the photo

Origin of the name "Redgate"
The name of "Redgate" is not an obviously Cornish name, but there have certainly been two very old and established farms here, at Higher Redgate and Lower Redgate, that have been here for several hundreds of years, and which feature on maps made in the 1700s (for instance the 1748 map at Lanhydrock).

"Red" in Cornish can be taken as meaning "ford", as in Redruth (the ford on the Red river - although "ruth" is also Cornish for "red" just to confuse), but the name in this instance is probably more in keeping with an Anglo Saxon origin, or perhaps a corruption of an original Cornish name. There are however several other "reds" about this part of Cornwall, such as Redpost, Redhill, and Redmoor.

More romantically (or blood curdlingly interesting!), is the old local story that once told of Redgate being the site of a fierce and bloody battle that was fought here long ages ago, and that the blood flowed so much and so deep, that it covered the bottom bar of the gate, turning it red! Perhaps that was when King Doniert drowned at Golitha falls (King Doniert's Stone is just up the road), having fought a battle here!!!

John Rowe ~ Historian and Writer
Redgate has its own claim to fame in being the birthplace, and home in his early years, of the well-known Cornish Historian and Writer William John Rowe, who died in 2004.

The following excerpt is from The Independant newspaper, dated 11th June 2004 (see link above),

"William John Rowe was born 31 October 1915 and brought up on an agricultural smallholding on the edge of Bodmin Moor [Redgate, Cornwall]. Educated initially at Trekieve Steps and Liskeard County School, he won a scholarship in 1935 to read Modern History at Brasenose College, Oxford.

In 1953 the book Cornwall in the Age of the Industrial Revolution established John Rowe as a key member of a small group of distinguished scholars - the others being A.L. Rowse and Mary Coate - whose work in the middle decades of the 20th century led to a series of impressive publications covering Cornwall from the end of the medieval period to the Victorian era. As Rowse pointed out in a foreword, the work of these three scholars covered the "significant moments" when Cornwall had "impinged on English history".

Rowe had always taken a keen interest in the cultural life of Cornwall and in 1950 this was recognised by his installation as a bard of the Cornish Gorseth. Retirement enabled him to play an even greater role in Cornish affairs, as President of the Federation of Old Cornwall Societies, president of the Cornwall branch of the Historical Association, trustee of the Cornwall Heritage Trust and council member of the Royal Institution of Cornwall."

Redgate Smithy B&B
The small hamlet of Redgate is also where Redgate Smithy is located (the designers and publishers of this website), and further details can found on our main Bed & Breakfast website at Redgate Smithy B&B.

The Lanes around Redgate
Below Redgate on the northern side, literally just down the lane across Draynes Bridge, can be found the beautiful Golitha Falls, details and photographs of which will be found on their own page.

The lane down from Redgate, on the opposite side to Golitha Falls, leads down to a turning to Treworrick with fine views down the upper reaches of the East Looe river valley, and back towards Redgate, then on to the village of St.Cleer (where there are two pubs, two shops, and a fine church).

If you go straight on past the Treworrick turn, you will find yourself at the bottom of the valley, past Lampretten by the East Looe stream, and all points south down towards High Wood.

Looking down the lane towards Treworrick, St.Cleer and Lampretten.