For centuries the River Tamar was the main artery of the Tamar Valley. Almost every farm had its own quay and there were ancient ferry crossings and market boats sharing the water with barges and schooners carrying ore, stone and heavy goods to and from the mines. Pack horses, wagons and tramways brought the goods down to the river bank. Many farmers and gardeners developed the skills of the mariner with those of farming or horticulture, carrying their produce to market and returning with dock dung.
http://www.cyber-heritage.co.uk/towndung/dung.htm
The increase in motor transport during the First World War led to the decline in horse transport which, along with the railway, had begun to eclipse the use of the river. Excursion boats continued to ply the river and the market boats continued until the 1930s, but any large goods began to be transported by road.
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The buildings to the right were the stables.
The smallest Anglican chapel in England, at Halton Quay on the west bank of the River Tamar was originally a clerk's office, when cargoes were landed by barge, but has been leased to the church since 1956.
The chapel had to shut after falling into disrepair. But it was refurbished in a project costing many thousands of pounds and involving the community in and around nearby St Dominick.
The chapel was dedicated at a special service by the Bishop of St Germans, the Right Reverend Roy Screach. The chapel seats 20 people and is positioned on the Pentillie Estate.
David Rushby, who made the altar and restored the pews, said he hoped the building would be put to other uses, as well as worship.
North Hooe Farm.
Upstream.
Downstream.
View downstream.
The modern quay.
Halton Quay was one of the most important quays for the lime trade. The four kilns her would produce about 600 tons of burnt lump lime annually. The lime would be supplied in horse drwan carts for the intensive marketing gardening that sprang up at St Dominick and St Mellion in the nineteenth century.
The last lime to be produced in the Tamar Valley was burnt here in 1916.
There have been claims that a cast iron mine pump pipe embedded in the foreshore draughted the kiln - the truth is less exciting: it has been re-used as a mooring bollard.
The banks (dykes) prevent the river entering in the side valley.
Looking downstream.
There are claims that a cast iron mine pump pipe embedded in the foreshore draughted the kiln - the truth is less exciting: it has been re-used as a mooring bollard.
