Duporth Holiday Village

Duporth Holiday Village
Location	St Austell
Holiday Camp chain	Butlins (1972-1985), Haven Holidays(1985-2001)
Coordinates	50°20′00″N 4°42′0″W / 50.3333333°N 4.7°W / 50.3333333; -4.7Coordinates: 50°20′00″N 4°42′0″W / 50.3333333°N 4.7°W / 50.3333333; -4.7

Duporth Holiday Village was situated on Porthpean Road, just outside of St Austell in south Cornwall, UK. For over 50 years families would holiday at the picturesque resort, until its closure in 2006. The site has now been sold to private developers.

History

Duporth Holiday Village was built on the site of the old Duporth estate and manor which was owned by Charles Rashleigh, who developed Charlestown. The site was sold in 1933 to Seaside Holiday Camps Ltd and the camp opened by the Whitsun of 1934.^[1]

During the second world war the camp was requisitioned by the War Office and the Indian Army and American Army were stationed there.^[1]

After the war it returned to being a holiday camp. Butlins bought the camp in 1972 and it opened as one of their Smaller Freshfields sites.^[2] The Manor was demolished in 1989 after it became uneconomical to repair.^[1]

In 1985 The Rank Group owner of Butlins at that time, also bought Haven Holidays and certain sites including Duporth rebranded to the sister company (There is some anecdotal evidence that in the early 1980s Duporth was branded under another sister company's name Warner Holiday Camps) Duporth Holiday Village was owned by Haven Holidays until the early 2000s, then sold several times into private ownership. The capacity of the park was around 1200, with a combination of chalets and caravans, and self catering and half board holidays.

The Manor

View from Carlyon Bay across the western part of St Austell Bay. Porthpean Beach is partially visible at right, with what was Duporth Holiday Village behind it. Just to the left, is Porthpean itself. The coastline extends away to left, with Ropehaven at far left.

The ancient manor house at Duporth was said to have been haunted by the ghost of a nun known affectionately as "Flo". A century ago she could be heard striking matches in adjoining rooms and at the same time almost every night someone - or something? - would click open the lock on the cabinet in the drawing rooms. The manor has now been demolished and the sight became Duporth Holiday Village, but according to a night security guard "Flo" has not gone away. Many strange happenings have been witnessed in recent years. The roundabout in the children's playground has been seen to turn by itself, first one way then the next without a breath of wind in the air. A kettle boiled itself in a locked and unattended room and a sewing machine which whirred into life without human assistance abruptly stopped when a member of staff said "no thanks Flo - I don't need you today". People claim to be aware of an invisible presence near the old farmhouse. An elderly lady staying at the village with her 5 year old granddaughter heard the child talking to someone on the landing one afternoon. On investigating the grandmother could see no one, and when questioned the child said she had been chatting to a nice old lady in a black dress.^{[citation needed]}

Geography

The site of Duporth Holiday Village lies midway between the fishing port of Charlestown and Porthpean, approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) from St Austell town centre. The entrance into the park was just near a crossroads on Porthpean Road. One direction coming from St Austell and going to Porthpean, one road going to the small village of Tregorrick and the other going to Charlestown. The village of Duporth is accessed from Charlestown Road next to the caravan entrance into Duporth Holiday Village. Houses in Duporth itself have views across St Austell Bay.

The port of Fowey is just around the corner (to the east) from St Austell Bay and ships can often be seen making their way in and out of the harbour, and with tall ships regularly travelling in and out of the small harbour at Charlestown it is not unusual to see dolphins following them in.^{[citation needed]}

Two Coves

Two Coves is the name given to the new residential development at Duporth. It will comprise two, three, four and five bedroom houses and apartments, due for occupation in the summer of 2008. Access is being maintained to Duporth beach, with direct access to the South West Coast Path.^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Duporth Village Development Brief, Restormel Borough Council, February 2006, http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/idoc.ashx?docid=4cdbe480-028f-4b5b-8f7a-d1398991bf2c&version=-1 
2. ^ "Bygone Memories website". Freshfields. butlinsmemories.org/. http://www.butlinsmemories.org/other/freshfields.htm. Retrieved 2010-10-20. 

External links

• Two Coves by Midas Homes