St. Ewe
OS grid reference:- SW9746
The small but picturesque village of St. Ewe lies in the agricultural area west of Mevagissey, on the Roseland Peninsula.
Known in Cornish as Lannewa, the village is situated approximately five miles (8 km) southwest of St Austell. A roadside Celtic cross once stood near Nunnery Hill. The crosshead and shaft were sadly removed in 1873 by a local farmer hunting for buried treasure, and were afterwards lost. The base has survived to the present day, it bears an inscription in insular script, now illegible apart fom the word crucem. The monument has been dated at between the ninth and eleventh centuries.
The village church is dedicated to St Ewe, of whom very little is known. apart from the fact that she was female. The church was originally a Norman cruciform building: the tower and spire were added in the fourteenth century and the south aisle in the fifteenth. Inside the building is a Norman font and an ornate fifteenth century rood screen with carvings of birds and beasts, which is the only one in Cornwall to have survived the attentions of Cromwell's soldiers.
The characterful cottage style village pub (pictured above, the Crown Inn, dates from sixteenth century and boasts many original features. With its beams, white washed stone walls and colourful climbing roses, the Crown inn provides a glimpse at Olde World Cornwall. The pub offers bed and breakfast accommodation, fine ales and delicious meals in its bespoke restaurant.
The Heligan estate is located at the eastern edge of St Ewe, overlooking Mevagissey. The long-term home of the Tremayne family, the estate is now best known as the location of the Lost Gardens of Heligan, a recently restored Victorian garden.
The Bosue Vineyard at St. Ewe offers tours conducted by the owner, Paul Sibley. The vinyard produces Regional Quality white wine and an expanding range of red and sparkling wines from Rondo, Regent, Phoenix and Orion Grapes grown in a sheltered valley. The white wine is dry, full of aroma and flavour. The dry red wine has an elegant flavour. It is barrel aged for six months prior to bottling.
Polmassick vineyard, Cornwall's "oldest" vineyard, was planted in 1978, Polmasick offers wine by the glass during opening hours under a sheltered and peaceful wine garden, sitting amongst indoor vines.