Maenporth

The beach head has been built up by Easterly weather, and covers a previous natural harbour and human activity. The heritage environment record indicates a forest terrain beneath the sandy beach. A total of seven Bronze age Tumuli in the area have been identified by aerial surveys, suggesting a significant settlement and trading base in middle to late Bronze age.[2] Well sheltered for vessels against Westerly weather, and probably navigable in the two flooded valleys above the beach head, the likely trading commodity was tin, brought overland from the west. Sand obstructs the harbour entrance, thought to be on the South end of the inlet, where a more recent stone quay is now obscured by blown sand. A trackway of this period routes West, past the creeks and riverhead of Helford, towards Helston and Penzance.[3] A small cove on the south side is known as Silly Billy beach, allegedly named after William 4th, relating to an unknown incident. Coastal vessels discharged here in the 19th century, and sand barges collected sand for building and agricultural purposes. (local folk law) In the early 20th century, there was a chemical works based here.[4] On the night of 30 December 1978, the Scottish trawler Ben Asdale was wrecked off Maenporth in a heavy easterly gale, on the North escarpment, adjacent to a rock called the Devil's Eye. The latter is now eroded, but once had a hole in the shalestone rocks. Substantial remains of the trawler are still visible.