Picturesque fishing village
Mousehole is a beautiful picturesque fishing village and is considered to be one of the loveliest villages in the county.
It is situated between Penzance and Land’s End with St Clement’s Isle just offshore from the harbour.
In July 1595 Mousehole was destroyed, burnt to the ground by the Spaniards, only one building survived which was the ‘Keigwin Arms’ and it still stands today.
Keigwin Arms is now a private residence with a plaque outside which reads: ‘Squire Jenkyn Keigwin was killed here on the 23rd July 1595 defending this house against the Spaniards’.
Around 100 years ago Mousehole was a busy commercial fishing port bursting with fishing boats landing pilchards.
It has retained much of its old world charm where narrow streets proudly
display a fine selection of shops, galleries and restaurants.
The village is famous for it’s wonderful Christmas lights, which are turned on the middle of December; there are even helicopter flights from Penzance to see them from the sky.
On December 19, 1981, the village was devastated by the loss of the Penlee lifeboat, the Solomon Browne, the entire crew of eight died whilst attempting to rescue the crew of the Union Star.
On the anniversary of the Penlee lifeboat disaster, as a mark of respect, the lights are switched off for one hour.
The village is home to the famous Mousehole Wild Bird Hospital, which was founded by the Misses Dorothy and Phyllis Yglesias in 1928.
During the Torrez Canyon disaster in the sixties, 8,000 oiled sea birds passed through the hospital. It is a now a registered charity and open to the public.
Car parking is limited, visitors are asked to park outside the village and walk in. There is a regular bus service from Penzance to Mousehole.
Photographs supplied courtesy of Tamsin Richards.
Mousehole Wild Bird Hospital
This famous hospital on the Cornish cliffs, overlooking the magnificent Mounts Bay to the Lizard and St Michaels Mount,was founded in 1928 by the Misses Phyllis, better known as Pog, and Dorothy Yglesias.
Their sister Mary brought an injured jackdaw, Jacko, to be cared for. Their reputation grew and more and more birds were brought and the Jackdaw Hospital was founded, later changing its' name as different species arrived.
The hospital has just celebrated 80 years of caring for all types of wild birds. The aim is always to heal and return them to the wild as quickly as possible. If the bird is too seriously ill or injured then it is painlessly put to sleep. Others who cannot be released but take kindly to captivity are given permanent sanctuary.
The story of the hospital was told in a book, 'The Cry of a Bird,' and later by 'In Answer to the Cry', both written by Miss Dorothy.
To celebrate the 80th anniversary the hospital has published a further book of extracts from the first diary kept by Pog. It has been reproduced directly from the diary, with original photos, maintaining Pog's inimitable handwriting and style. It tells of the many birds admitted in the first five
Cornish Visitor Guide - spring / summer 2011 25
years. Some sad, some funny but all make you feel you know these characters personally.
The hospital is open to visitors every day of the year from 10.00am to 4.30pm and admission is free. The bird hospital is located on the main road through Mousehole towards Lamorna on Raginnis Hill. For those with GPS/Sat Nav Raginnis Hill is TR19 6SR.
If you wish to know more about the Wild Bird Hospital the web address is
www.mouseholebirdhospital.org.uk
if you need information about a bird in distress please call 01736 731386.
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