Skip to content
WordPress site playing up? Vincony fixes it β€” today, from $5.Get it fixed β†’
The Great Britain Guide

Historic churches Β· South West England

Gunnislake

In or near Calstock.

Free admission

Gunnislake (Cornish: Dowrgonna) is a large village in east Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated in the Tamar Valley approximately ten miles (16 km) north of Plymouth The first woman cabin

Traffic lights, Gunnislake - geograph.org.uk - 4567284

Derek Harper β€” CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence

Plan your visit

Typical visit
30 min–1 h
Nearest railway station
Gunnislake Β· 0.9 km
  • Free entry

Getting there & planning your visit

To visit Gunnislake Church in Cornwall, you can take a train to Gunnislake station, which is 0.9 km away. The postcode for sat-nav is PL18 9JG, and entry to the church is free.

Directions on Google Maps β†’

About

Gunnislake (Cornish: Dowrgonna) is a large village in east Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated in the Tamar Valley approximately ten miles (16 km) north of Plymouth The first woman cabinet minister in the British Empire, Mary Ellen Smith, was born here in 1863. Gunnislake is in the civil parish of Calstock and is close to Cornwall's border with Devon which follows the course of the River Tamar. It has an electoral ward in its own name which includes much of Calstock and the surrounding area. The population at the 2011 census was 4,574. According to an OCSI report, of the total population, 562 (18.2%) are children, making up a larger proportion of the population than across Cornwall and Isles of Scilly (17.3%). 685 (22.2%) are people of pensionable age, making up a smaller proportion of the population than across Cornwall and Isles of Scilly (24.3%). The village has a history of mining although this industry is no longer active in the area. During the mining boom in Victorian times more than 7000 people were employed in the mines of the Tamar Valley. During this period Gunnislake was held in equal standing amongst the richest mining areas in Europe.

Photo gallery

See it from the streetimagery from 2021

Imagery Β© Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0

Protected designations

  • Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Tamar Valley
  • Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Cornwall

Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.

From the Wikipedia article

Gunnislake (Cornish: Dowrgonna) is a large village in east Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated in the Tamar Valley approximately ten miles (16 km) north of Plymouth The first woman cabinet minister in the British Empire, Mary Ellen Smith, was born here in 1863. Gunnislake is in the civil parish of Calstock and is close to Cornwall's border with Devon which follows the course of the River Tamar. It has an electoral ward in its own name which includes much of Calstock and the surrounding area. The population at the 2011 census was 4,574. According to an OCSI report, of the total population, 562 (18.2%) are children, making up a larger proportion of the population than across Cornwall and Isles of Scilly (17.3%). 685 (22.2%) are people of pensionable age, making up a smaller proportion of the population than across Cornwall and Isles of Scilly (24.3%). The village has a history of mining although this industry is no longer active in the area. During the mining boom in Victorian times more than 7000 people were employed in the mines of the Tamar Valley. During this period Gunnislake was held in equal standing amongst the richest mining areas in Europe.

Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.

Background

History

There has recently been discovered a significant Roman fort on the outskirts of Calstock, the largest known Roman site in Cornwall. Hingston Down is usually accepted as the place mentioned in an entry in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for 835 (corrected by scholars to 838) which says that Egbert king of the West Saxons defeated an alliance of Cornish Britons and Danish Vikings. In 1644 the Battle of Gunnislake New Bridge was fought. The famous painting by Turner Crossing the Brook exhibited in 1815 is in fact a view of Gunnislake Newbridge. Newbridge was built c. 1520: it is 182 feet long and has seven arches. It is built of large regular granite blocks and is considered by Sir Nikolaus Pevsner…

Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Coordinates
50.5242, -4.2133
District
Cornwall
Parish
Calstock
Postcode
PL18 9JG
Parliamentary constituency
South East Cornwall
Nearest railway station
Gunnislake β€” 0.9 km

Sources

Other places nearby

Nearby

Traffic lights, Gunnislake - geograph.org.uk - 4567284πŸ“· 3

Public art & sculpture Β· South West England

William the Miner

William the Miner β€” a public art in england-south-west, United Kingdom.

FreeπŸ•
Traffic lights, Gunnislake - geograph.org.uk - 4567284πŸ“· 3

Public art & sculpture Β· South West England

Wheal Talk

Wheal Talk β€” a public art in england-south-west, United Kingdom.

FreeπŸ•
South Bedford car park - geograph.org.uk - 4636762πŸ“· 3

Historic houses Β· South West England

South Bedford Mine

South Bedford Mine β€” a historic house in england-south-west, United Kingdom.

πŸ‘Ά
Hatch Wood and the A390 - geograph.org.uk - 2897693πŸ“· 3

Historic houses Β· South West England

Minshaft

Minshaft β€” a historic house in england-south-west, United Kingdom.

πŸ‘Ά
Hatch Wood and the A390 - geograph.org.uk - 2897693πŸ“· 3

Historic houses Β· South West England

Bedford United Mine (Ruin)

Bedford United Mine (Ruin) β€” a historic house in england-south-west, United Kingdom.

πŸ‘Ά
The canal-keeper's cottage by Tamar Manure Navigation - geograph.org.uk - 4638187πŸ“· 3

Historic houses Β· South West England

Russel United Mine

Russel United Mine β€” a historic house in england-south-west, United Kingdom.

πŸ‘Ά

Where to eat & stay near Gunnislake

Places to stay

Flush Bracket OSBM G2058, Gulworthy, School - geograph.org.uk - 6113386πŸ“· 5

Caravan parks Β· South West England

The Old Rectory Caravan & Camping Park

The Old Rectory Caravan & Camping Park β€” a caravan park in england south west.

Field near Wheal Josiah - geograph.org.uk - 4304739

Campsites Β· South West England

Woodovis Park

Woodovis Park β€” a campsite in england south west.

Pasture and Woods - geograph.org.uk - 337328

Campsites Β· South West England

Copper Pot Campsite

Copper Pot Campsite β€” a campsite in england south west.

β†— thecopperpotcampsite.co.uk
St Eustachius' Church, Tavistock, Devon - geograph.org.uk - 5899852πŸ“· 5

Hotels Β· South West England

The Bedford

The Bedford β€” a hotel in england south west.

Farm track to Leeches - geograph.org.uk - 4096343πŸ“· 5

Campsites Β· South West England

Harlings

Harlings β€” a campsite in england south west.

Track to Pengover - geograph.org.uk - 4130113πŸ“· 5

Campsites Β· South West England

Compton Park

Compton Park β€” a campsite in england south west.

Free↗ comptonpark.co.uk

Places to eat & drink

Short cut to The Harvest Home - geograph.org.uk - 4979167πŸ“· 7

Restaurants Β· South West England

Harvest Home

Harvest Home β€” a restaurant in england south west.

The Royal InnπŸ“· 3

Historic pubs Β· South West England

The Royal Inn

The Royal Inn β€” Historic pub β€” listed building or notable heritage status.

FreeπŸ•β†— royalinn.co.uk
King Street, Tavistock - geograph.org.uk - 2389966πŸ“· 7

Restaurants Β· South West England

The Cornish Arms

The Cornish Arms β€” a restaurant in england south west.

β†— thecornisharmstavistock.co.uk
Tavistock, Ordulph Arms - geograph.org.uk - 1987120πŸ“· 7

Historic pubs Β· South West England

Sir Francis Drake Public House

Sir Francis Drake Public House in England South West, United Kingdom.

Tavistock Enterprise Hub - geograph.org.uk - 6275882πŸ“· 6

Historic pubs Β· South West England

(White Hart Inn) Public House

(White Hart Inn) Public House in England South West, United Kingdom.

Direction Sign - Signpost at Acorn Cottage crossroads - geograph.org.uk - 8281460πŸ“· 7

Historic pubs Β· South West England

Sportsmans Arms

Sportsmans Arms in England South West, United Kingdom.

More places in this region

Abbey Church of St Gregory the Great, Downside AbbeyπŸ“· 5

Historic churches Β· South West England

Abbey Church of St Gregory the Great, Downside Abbey

Abbey Church of St Gregory the Great, Downside Abbey β€” church in Stratton-on-the-Fosse, Somerset, England, UK.

FreeGrade I
All Saints ChurchπŸ“· 5

Historic churches Β· South West England

All Saints Church

All Saints Church β€” Grade I listed church in Woolley, Somerset, England, UK.

FreeGrade I
All Saints Church, HamprestonπŸ“· 5

Historic churches Β· South West England

All Saints Church, Hampreston

All Saints Church, Hampreston β€” church in Hampreston, Dorset, England, UK.

Free
All Saints Church, Nether CerneπŸ“· 5

Historic churches Β· South West England

All Saints Church, Nether Cerne

All Saints Church, Nether Cerne β€” church in Nether Cerne, Dorset, England, UK.

FreeGrade I

Frequently asked questions

Where is Gunnislake?
Gunnislake is in South-West England, United Kingdom (postcode PL18 9JG), in the parish of Calstock.
What is Gunnislake?
Gunnislake (Cornish: Dowrgonna) is a large village in east Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated in the Tamar Valley approximately ten miles (16 km) north of Plymouth The first woman cabin
How do I get to Gunnislake?
The nearest railway station is Gunnislake, about 0.9 km away. Drivers can use postcode PL18 9JG.
Is Gunnislake a protected site?
Yes β€” Gunnislake is part of the Tamar Valley National Landscape (AONB) and the Cornwall National Landscape (AONB).
Is Gunnislake free to visit?
Yes, Gunnislake is free to enter.
How do I get to Gunnislake?
The nearest railway station is Gunnislake, about 0.9 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode PL18 9JG.