River Gannel

The Gannel Estuary, Cornwall: Archaeological and Historical Assessment, published by the Cornwall Archaeological Unit concluded that human activity around the Gannel could be dated to the Mesolithic period. Sean Taylor, an archaeologist at Cornwall Council's archaeological unit, said of the area, "It's starting to look like this part of Newquay, alongside the River Gannel, was a very important and densely populated area from the Neolithic (c 4000BC) onwards. The estuary undoubtedly formed an important link with the outside world throughout prehistory." Finds alongside the Gannel include three Bronze Age roundhouses. In 2007 a 'Wraxall' class neck ring was found at Pentire, indicating the…

The river is known for a legend called the Gannel Crake, an unusual noise which might be heard "crying out". During the 19th century it was described as being like "a thousand voices pent up in misery, with one long wail dying away in the distance". It is traditionally referred to by the superstitious natives as the cry of a troubled spirit that ever haunts the scene. The Gannel estuary was depicted in the painting Crossing the Gannel by William Prater. <gallery> File:Gannel Ferry - geograph.org.uk - 184701.jpg|Gannel Ferry File:The Gannel above Crantock Beach (6049).jpg|The Gannel above Crantock Beach File:River Gannel Newquay.jpg|The river at Crantock Beach </gallery>