MORE INFORMATION ABOUT NEWQUAY STAG WEEKENDS

history about Newquay stag weekends

Newquay dates from the early part of the first millennium, over 1600 years ago Newquay was little more than a minor fortified settlement. Evidence suggests that weapons were smelted here in the Iron Age. Newquay’s enviable position, enjoying surf, sand and sunshine has made it an attractive proposition through the ages. In 1439 Bishop Lacey of Exeter allowed the burghers of what was then called “Towan Blistra” to build a New Quay, hence Newquay.

It was the beginning of the town’s second life as a fishing port culminating in the arrival of the great pilchard shoals of the 18th century. When the pilchards went, the Industrial Revolution came, turning Newquay from a fishing to a commodity port trading tin, lead and china clay. In the seventeen and eighteenth centuries, low wages from fishing and agriculture were supplemented by smuggling and more sinisterly the "wrecking" made famous in Daphne du Maurier's “Jamaica Inn“. Crantock hid many a cargo of silks, spices and brandy from the Revenue Men, and wreckers used to swarm from the nearby villages at news of a ship in difficulties near the jaws of rock called the Bedruthan Steps. Interestingly Cornwall has its own language with a 2000 year tradition and close ties with Welsh and Breton. As late as the 18th century peasants resentful of English ways and taxes would say "My ny vynnaf cows sawnsek" ("I will not speak English"), now they’re more likely to say “surf‘s up dude“.