River Gannel

The Gannel Estuary, Cornwall: Archaeological and Historical Assessment, published by the Cornwall Archaeological Unit concluded that human activity around the Gannel could be dated to the Mesolithic period.{{Cite web |title=The Gannel Estuary, Cornwall. Archaeological and Historical Assessment |url=https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/library/browse/issue.xhtml?recordId=1049689&recordType=GreyLit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230625151317/https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/library/browse/issue.xhtml?recordId=1049689&recordType=GreyLit |archive-date=25 June 2023 |access-date=25 June 2023 |website=archaeologydataservice.ac.uk |language=en}}

Sean Taylor, Senior Archaeologist at the Cornwall Archaeological Unit, said of the area, “It’s starting to look like this part of Newquay, alongside the River Gannel, was a very important and densely populated area from the Neolithic (c 4000BC) onwards. The estuary undoubtedly formed an important link with the outside world throughout prehistory.” Finds alongside the Gannel include three Bronze Age roundhouses.{{Cite web |last=Altuntaş |first=Leman |date=10 April 2023 |title=Bronze Age and Roman-era settlements unearthed in Newquay |url=https://arkeonews.net/bronze-age-and-roman-era-settlements-unearthed-in-newquay/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230624174536/https://arkeonews.net/bronze-age-and-roman-era-settlements-unearthed-in-newquay/ |archive-date=24 June 2023 |access-date=24 June 2023 |website=Arkeonews |language=en-US}}

In 2007 a 'Wraxall' class neck ring was found at Pentire, indicationg the area around the Gannel was inhabited in the late Iron Age.{{Cite journal |last1=Nowakowski |first1=Jacqueline |last2=Gwilt |first2=Adam |last3=Megaw |first3=Vincent |last4=Niece |first4=Susan La |date=29 July 2009 |title=A late iron age neck-ring from Pentire, Newquay, Cornwall, with a note on the find from Boverton, vale of Glamorgan |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquaries-journal/article/abs/late-iron-age-neckring-from-pentire-newquay-cornwall-with-a-note-on-the-find-from-boverton-vale-of-glamorgan/D872C13981B1EDD151D88E597ED939D2# |journal=The Antiquaries Journal |language=en |volume=89 |pages=35–52 |doi=10.1017/S0003581509990072 |s2cid=161915843 |issn=1758-5309 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230624173614/https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquaries-journal/article/abs/late-iron-age-neckring-from-pentire-newquay-cornwall-with-a-note-on-the-find-from-boverton-vale-of-glamorgan/D872C13981B1EDD151D88E597ED939D2 |archive-date=24 June 2023 |access-date=24 June 2023|url-access=subscription }}

During the medieval period sandrock was quarried on the beach at Crantock. The quarry is now covered by dunes. Use of this poor quality stone may have contributed to the collapse of an earlier tower at St Carantoc's Church, in the 14th century.{{Cite web |date=31 May 2023 |title=Building Stones of England: Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/building-stones-england-cornwall-isles-of-scilly/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629075108/https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/building-stones-england-cornwall-isles-of-scilly/ |archive-date=29 June 2023 |access-date=1 July 2023 |website=Historic England |language=en}}

John Woodward (1688-1728) recorded that iron ore was mined from a large vein on Perran Beach. In the 1860s ore was moved up the cliff by a 'puffer' engine. It was then transported from Gravel Hill Mine, at the north end of Perran Beach, to a quay on the Gannel.{{Cite web |date=24 June 2023 |title=GRAVEL HILL MINE |url=https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archsearch/record?titleId=1093758 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230624191009/https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archsearch/record.xhtml |archive-date=24 June 2023 |access-date=24 June 2023 |website=archaeologydataservice.ac.uk}}

During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries tin mining took place at Chiverton Wheal Rose, also known as Trethellan Mine. The ore was accessed from an adit level on the beach.{{Cite web |date=15 January 2023 |title=Chiverton Wheal Rose (Trethellan Mine), Newquay, Cornwall, England, UK |url=https://www.mindat.org/loc-216040.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230625161005/https://www.mindat.org/loc-216040.html |archive-date=25 June 2023 |access-date=25 June 2023 |website=Mindat.org}}{{Cite journal |last=Gossip |first=James |date=2000–2001 |title=Gannel Estuary |url=https://cornisharchaeology.org.uk/app/uploads/2022/08/No.39-40_2000-2001.pdf |journal=Cornish Archaeology (Hendhyscan Kernow) |volume=39-40 |pages=197 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230625161328/https://cornisharchaeology.org.uk/app/uploads/2022/08/No.39-40_2000-2001.pdf |archive-date=25 June 2023 |access-date=25 June 2023}}

A shipbuilding industry once existed at Tregunnel on the north shore of the estuary, where, from 1858 to 1881, Thomas and John Clemens built 10 schooners.{{cite web |title=Heritage nurtured upon the high seas - Newquay Voice |url=http://www.newquayvoice.co.uk/news/0/article/1873/ |access-date=31 March 2018 |website=www.newquayvoice.co.uk}}{{Cite web |date=24 June 2023 |title=Vessel list |url=http://shippingandshipbuilding.uk/list.php?vessel=&year_built=&builder=10207 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230624182100/http://shippingandshipbuilding.uk/list.php?vessel=&year_built=&builder=10207 |archive-date=24 June 2023 |access-date=24 June 2023 |website=shippingandshipbuilding.uk}} At Penpol Creek a ruined lime kiln can be found. Limestone and coal were transported here in the past by barge. Until late in the 20th century the mouth of the Gannel was used by shipping until the silting up of the narrow channel and the development of Newquay harbour.{{Cite web |date=22 June 2023 |title=Exploring Crantock Beach │ Cornwall |url=https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/crantock-beach/things-to-see-and-do-at-crantock-beach |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622141340/https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/crantock-beach/things-to-see-and-do-at-crantock-beach |archive-date=22 June 2023 |access-date=22 June 2023 |website=National Trust |language=en}}

In 2014, storms damaged a wall that altered the course of the river, so that it now flows across Crantock beach.{{Cite news |date=2019-10-22 |title=More rescues at 'unpredictable' storm-damaged Crantock beach |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-50124283 |access-date=2020-10-13}}

The estuary is an important location for migratory birds. Fulmars, jackdaws and pigeons can be seen nesting at Pipers Hole, a deep cleft on the west side of the beach on the estuary. Weever fish can be found particularly at low tide. The rare Giant Goby can be found within the Marine Conservation Zone and anemones, sponges, sea mats and sea squirts can be found below the low water mark at the mouth of the estuary.{{Cite web |title=Marine Conservation Zones: Newquay and the Gannel factsheet |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/492387/mcz-newquay-gannel-factsheet.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724231859/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/492387/mcz-newquay-gannel-factsheet.pdf |archive-date=24 July 2019 |access-date=25 June 2023 |website=Environment Dept: UK Gov}} Trout, lamprey, eel, and bullhead have been recorded in the freshwater portion of the river.{{Cite web |date=2006 |title=Cornwall Rivers Project {{!}} Geography {{!}} Gannel |url=http://www.cornwallriversproject.org.uk/geography/gannel.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403230116/http://cornwallriversproject.org.uk/geography/gannel.htm |archive-date=3 April 2015 |access-date=24 June 2023 |website=www.cornwallriversproject.org.uk}}

A seasonal ferry runs from the Fern Pit across to Crantock beach.

The river is known for a legend called the Gannel Crake, an unusual noise which might be heard "crying out". During the 19th century it was described as being like "a thousand voices pent up in misery, with one long wail dying away in the distance".{{Cite web |last=esdale77 |date=12 February 2022 |title=The Legend of the Crake & the Haunting of the River Gannel |url=https://cornishbirdblog.com/the-legend-of-the-crake-the-haunting-of-the-river-gannel/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130140610/https://cornishbirdblog.com/the-legend-of-the-crake-the-haunting-of-the-river-gannel/ |archive-date=30 January 2023 |access-date=26 June 2023 |website=The Cornish Bird |language=en-US}}{{cite web |title=Gannel Estuary |url=http://www.newquayguide.co.uk/gannel.html |access-date=23 July 2017 |website=The Newquay Guide}} It is traditionally referred to by the superstitious natives as the cry of a troubled spirit that ever haunts the scene.{{cite web |last1=Heath |first1=Sidney |date=1911 |title=The Cornish riviera |url=https://archive.org/details/cornishriviera00heat |access-date=23 July 2017 |website=Archive.org |publisher=Blackie and Son Limited}}

The Gannel estuary was depicted in the painting Crossing the Gannel by William Prater.{{Cite web |last=the-saleroom.com |date=22 June 2023 |title=WILLIAM PRATER Crossing the Gannel, Newquay Oil on canvas Signed 31 x 51cm |url=https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/david-lay-f-r-i-c-s/catalogue-id-srdavid10048/lot-c43b9352-4360-43f1-9061-a6f00117e2cd |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622170445/https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/david-lay-f-r-i-c-s/catalogue-id-srdavid10048/lot-c43b9352-4360-43f1-9061-a6f00117e2cd |archive-date=22 June 2023 |access-date=22 June 2023 |website=www.the-saleroom.com |language=en-gb}}

File:Gannel Ferry - geograph.org.uk - 184701.jpg|Gannel Ferry

File:The Gannel above Crantock Beach (6049).jpg|The Gannel above Crantock Beach

File:River Gannel Newquay.jpg|The river at Crantock Beach

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Gannel, River

Category:Newquay

Category:Marine reserves of the United Kingdom