Gweek ( kw, Gwig, meaning ''forest village'') is a civil parishes in England, civil parish and village in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated approximately three miles (5 km) east of Helston. The civil parish was created from part of the parish of Constantine, Kerrier, Constantine by boundary revision in 1986. The name ''Gweek'' is first recorded as ''Gwyk'' in 1358 and is derived from the Cornish language, Cornish word ''gwig'', meaning "forest village", cognate with the Welsh language, Welsh ''gwig'' and Old Breton ''guic''. Gweek village has a pub, the ''Black Swan'', and a combined shop and post office. The village is also home to the Cornish Seal Sanctuary. Gweek lies within the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Almost a third of Cornwall has AONB designation, with the same status and protection as a National Park.

History

Gweek is at the head of navigation of the Helford River. It has been a port since Roman times and thrived in the Tudor period, with its own Customs House. In the 13th century, the townspeople of Helston bought the rights to the port of Gweek. During the mining boom, a tin-smelting blowing house operated at the quayside. In Lewis's ''Topographical Dictionary of England'' published in 1848, the village was described as:

''GWEEK, a small port, in the hundred of Kerrier, W. division of Cornwall, 3½ miles (E. by S.) from Helston. The pilchard-fishery is carried on extensively, 200 boats being employed in taking the fish, which are cured in the various creeks and coves within the limits of the port. In addition to the fishery, the chief trade consists in the exportation of copper-ore, corn, moorstone, and oysters, and the importation of timber, coal, and limestone.''

In an August 1880 edition of The Cornishman newspaper, Gweek (along with Porthleven) was described as a prominent seaport, supplying coal, lime, timber, slate, etc to the neighbouring mines and inhabitants. Timber was unloaded from ships at Merthen Hole and floated up-river to Gweek on barges. The western wharf was owned by Basset family, Mr Basset of Tehidy.

Musical activities

Gweek has a silver band which performs locally and provides music at some Anglican services in the Gweek Mission Church. The band also organises a yearly "band week". This starts with a concert of three local brass bands in a field overlooking the Helford River. Afterwards, there is a pig roast with stalls and entertainment and at the end of the week a clay pigeon shoot. The Cornwall Fiddle Orchestra was formed in 2007 by fiddle player Hudson Swan. He was a member of Scottish band, The Tannahill Weavers but now lives in Cornwall and works as a violin teacher for the Cornwall Music Service. The orchestra rehearses weekly at Helston School.

Antiquities

The three-cornered Tolvan holed stone, Tolvan Holed Stone is an unusual megalith. It is about 800 metres north of Gweek behind Tolvan Cross Farm.

In literature

Gweek is featured in ''The Meaning of Liff'', a book by Douglas Adams and John Lloyd (producer), John Lloyd. A passage in Charles Kingsley's novel ''Hereward the Wake (novel), Hereward the Wake'' features Gweek and its neighbouring woods. Kingsley received some of his education at nearby Helston Grammar School.

References

External links

The Village Website of Gweek
{{authority control Civil parishes in Cornwall Ports and harbours of Cornwall Villages in Cornwall