All about the village of Par
Par is a "proper" Cornish village and fishing port situated east of St Austell, on the south coast of Cornwall. It has a population of around 1,600.
South of the village is Par Harbour and the beautiful wide beach of Par Sands. The South West Coastal Path is forced to take an inland diversion through the village due to the beach and port.
The harbour development saw the expansion of the village but the port is due to close in 2008 and is expected to be turned into a Marina.
The arrival of the railway from Plymouth in 1859 saw further expansion towards Tywardreath.
The village started as a small group of houses below a cliff overlooking the mouth of the River Par which was in those days was crossed by a ferry. Joseph Austen (later Joseph Treffry) bought the ferry and replaced it with a bridge in the early 1800's. He began construction of a harbour in 1829.
In the beginning of the docks life cargoes were mainly to and from mines and quarries near St Blazey, later further mines and china clay dries were built on Par Moors.
Par Canal was constructed to serve the harbour. There was an entrance lock to the canal at the harbour, and then two more between there and it terminated at Pontsmill which is now the entrance to Luxulyan valley.
Par as a holiday resort is served by two large holiday camps, Par Sands an Snowlands and various Bed & breakfasts establishments , there are also many of the facilities that are associated with a busy village, a fish and chip shop, snack bar, a Scout Hall, entrance to Par Running Track, public library, Financial Advice centre, estate agents, jewellers, a Chinese & Indian takeaway, several B&B's, a Post Office, 3 pubs, hairdressers, letting agency, laundrette, greengrocer, tea room, beauty salon and 2 large corner shops.
Par railway station is still open on the Cornish Main Line from Plymouth to Penzance. It is the site of the junction for the Atlantic Coast Line to Newquay. Par station is the destination of many charter trains for visitors to the Eden Project which is only 3 mies from Par. Par is also at the end (or the beginning) of one of the Nation Cycle routes.
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