Polperro Books

A book looking at the History of Polperro published by the Polperro Heritage Press.

Dr Jonathan Couch was Cornwall's foremost naturalist in the 19th century. This book looks at the Royal Institution of Cornwall's extensive collection of his material, in particular his hitherto unpublished study of Cornish birds begun in 1829 and his "Journal of Natural History". This book includes a short biography of Couch and notes of his local contacts and those of national importance such as Thomas Bewick and William Yarrell. Illustrations include engravings highlighting the difficulty of identification encountered by early naturalists at a time when ornithology was in its infancy.

This story follows the life of Mary Rowett who grew up in Polperro in the late seventeenth century. Following the death of her parents, she is cared for by Elsie, a midwife and white witch. As she grows up, Mary finds herself drawn into a world of smuggling and pagan worship. When Captain William Beawes is shipwrecked on the Cornish coast and loses his cargo of diamonds, Mary's life is changed for ever.

Extracts from the letter-books of Zephaniah Job help tell this story of smuggling in Polperro. The schoolteacher became known as "Smugglers' Banker" for his role in the highly-organized contraband trade carried on in this Cornish village at the end of the 18th century. This book features the Quiller, Rowett and other Polperro families who were all involved and traces the voyages of the the "Swallow", the smuggling vessel whose capture of a valuable French prize laid the foundation to Job's fortune, and the raids on Polperro led by Captain Gabriel Bray in search of hidden contraband.

Polperro is a popular holiday location but not many people know about it's varied history. This book takes information from the earliest records looking at the harvest from the sea; the churches; the smugglers and their tales and the two great men of Polperro - Zephaniah Job and Jonathan Couch.