Rock-cut Seawater Bath
In the rocks at Polridmouth (on the right if you are in front of the lake facing the sea) is a seawater bathing pool cut into the rocks, complete with steps. It was constructed in Victorian times for Jonathan Rashleigh "for health reasons". Similar, slightly earlier, pools exist on Portreath beach so it may have been a case of "keeping up with the Bassets".
The sea has worn away the surrounding rocks so that it doesn't hold water when the tide goes out. When it was built, a lead-lined channel was constructed at the bottom to allow it to drain, perhaps to limit weed growth and discourage shore crabs from making it their home! It's possible this "plug hole" originally had an associated plug that could be used to retain water at low tide.
On walks
- Fowey to Polridmouth (4.7 mile walk)
- Readymoney Cove to Polridmouth (3.3 mile walk)