Post by Cornish Terrier on Mar 17, 2024 4:45:27 GMT -5
Does anyone either know the answer to or know where to find information about Gwavas Pit near Newlyn? I have tried searching online and cannot find the information I want.
What I would like to know is just what is/was the depth of Gwavas Pit if someone can help find the answer.
Reason? - Well it is all to do with the death of one John Gerald Harry (entered in the Paul Burial Register as HARVEY) who died at Gwavas Pit 19th July 1929 at the age of 23. John Gerald Harry, born at Mousehole 28th August 1905 and baptised at Paul 5th November 1905 (surname transcribed as Harvey) was a member of the Royal Navy Reserve and hence the National Archives have documents relating to him. The Cause of Death section of those documents reads as follows:-
Cause of Death:- Fractured skull + other injuries by throwing himself from the top to the bottom (approx. 700 feet) of Gwavas Quarry, Newlyn. Suicide whilst of unsound mind. No P.M.
Since beginning this post I have actually found a document online talking about proposals for the use of the area since its closure but it does not really answer my question. The best I can find is areference to '100m below sea level' which would give a depth at that point of around 340 feet which is well short of the figure I read in the document from the National Archives.
Now, to my way of thinking 200 feet would be a more likely depth but the way it is written in the document it does look like 700. A '2' is rounded at the top whereas a '7' is more often than not commenced with a straight line at the top which is exactly what it looks like. That and the slightly angled right to left downward stroke clearly indicates a '7' with the only slight doubt provided by the fact that once the downward stroke is completed the pen remains on the paper creating a line up to the commencement of the '00' with both zeroes also joined by a cross stroke of the pen.
In the notes added to John Harry's record in my database I have entered the depth as '700' but will be very happy to change that if my questions can be answered.
CT
What I would like to know is just what is/was the depth of Gwavas Pit if someone can help find the answer.
Reason? - Well it is all to do with the death of one John Gerald Harry (entered in the Paul Burial Register as HARVEY) who died at Gwavas Pit 19th July 1929 at the age of 23. John Gerald Harry, born at Mousehole 28th August 1905 and baptised at Paul 5th November 1905 (surname transcribed as Harvey) was a member of the Royal Navy Reserve and hence the National Archives have documents relating to him. The Cause of Death section of those documents reads as follows:-
Cause of Death:- Fractured skull + other injuries by throwing himself from the top to the bottom (approx. 700 feet) of Gwavas Quarry, Newlyn. Suicide whilst of unsound mind. No P.M.
Since beginning this post I have actually found a document online talking about proposals for the use of the area since its closure but it does not really answer my question. The best I can find is areference to '100m below sea level' which would give a depth at that point of around 340 feet which is well short of the figure I read in the document from the National Archives.
Now, to my way of thinking 200 feet would be a more likely depth but the way it is written in the document it does look like 700. A '2' is rounded at the top whereas a '7' is more often than not commenced with a straight line at the top which is exactly what it looks like. That and the slightly angled right to left downward stroke clearly indicates a '7' with the only slight doubt provided by the fact that once the downward stroke is completed the pen remains on the paper creating a line up to the commencement of the '00' with both zeroes also joined by a cross stroke of the pen.
In the notes added to John Harry's record in my database I have entered the depth as '700' but will be very happy to change that if my questions can be answered.
CT
