Gunnislake
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Gunnislake (Lynngonna, its Cornish name) is one of the first villages in Cornwall, after crossing the River Tamar. Sprawled over the picturesque steep sides of the Tamar Valley, the village is a hot spot for tourists and visitors interested in mining and industrial heritage. The area is mainly residential with a small handful of businesses ranging from pubs to garages and small shops. Gunnislake is located in the Tamar Valley designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, though some recent industrial development has been attempted and achieved. Within early 2006 Hingston Down Quarry installed a new Asphalt production tower which is easily noticeable as it is proud of the skyline of Gunnislake.
Today an approximate figure of 2000 people live in Gunnislake but most of its development was primarily due to the dramatic increase in mining and industrial activity in the nineteenth century. Gunnislake is widely known as being part of the Tamar Valley, the richest Copper mining area in Europe which provided around 7000 jobs at its peak in 1862. Most mining activity ceased in the late nineteenth century which has left a haven for anyone interested in archaeology or industrial heritage. As well as mining, other industry such as brickworks and quarries were present. Nearby, locations such as Kit Hill, Morwellham Quay, Cotehele and Calstock were mined and quarried with heavy use of the Tamar River for transportation of the raw material obtained from the works.
Annually, the village holds its festival with a wide variety of events such as the giant Sunflower competition, the Scarecrow competition, live music, art exhibitions and others. There is a King George's Field in memorial to King George V.
The village is also well known as the terminus of the scenic Tamar Valley Line from Plymouth. Until 1966, the line continued on to Callington. In 1994 the station was resited to remove a low road bridge. On Summer Sundays, Gunnislake station is the hub of a network of buses across Dartmoor as part of the Dartmoor Sunday Rover.
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