The Archavon Project

We set up The Cornish Way with the aim of creating the best little self catering business in the far west.

For the last five years we have managed the business from both Tregiffian and the north west.

But we’ve always known that to do it properly we have to be where the action is at – west of Penzance.

For both of us life is about to take a big leap. Significant change is imminent.

And here’s the story…

From June 8th The Cornish Way will be based in St Just, the most westerly town in Britain.

The ancient performance space (thanks to Historic Cornwall).

The ancient performance space (thanks to Historic Cornwall).

But it’s not as easy as simply moving west.

We bought Archavon, our house on Market Street, St Just in October 2013.

It wasn’t an obvious purchase.

Archavon certainly isn’t pretty. It came with its own problems.

Not the prettiest house!

Not the prettiest house!

But it has a great location. Slap bang in the centre of the characterful former mining town that clings to the edge of Britain.

It backs onto the Plen an Gwarry – an ancient monument where miracle plays were performed of old, and indeed recently as well.

Archavon, from the PLen

Archavon, from the Plen

The Plen is the heart of the mad, exciting Lafrowda festival too.

In fact it’s the centre of the universe.

We needed to make Archavon tenable quickly for our top friend Dom to move into when his tenancy ran out on his flat above what is now The Square pizzeria and sandwich deli.

The initial work involved removing all the upstairs walls and moving the living space upstairs.

We'll have those walls out please.

We’ll have those walls out please.

It looked great when it was done, but we really should have started with the roof, and maybe a hint of insulation.

Upstairs - a great space, filled with light.

Upstairs – a great space, filled with light.

We’ve learnt from our errors, and Dom has put up with Archavon’s foibles. Now it’s time to put it right.

Charly Griffiths at Studio West Architects designed the ever popular New Forge Cottage for us back in 2009, and he has put pen to paper again to draw the office that will take up half of Archavon’s small garden.

But before we get excited about new buildings, the house needs some love.

Our old friends The Cornish Builders, Nick and Ben Rawlinson and Colin Bates will be here on June the 8th to start work on the old girl.

First job is to replace the roof.

Next up we’ll insulate the outside of the house and slate hang the top half.

The back bedroom needs to be tanked, insulated and redecorated.

Then for good measure we’ll lose the conservatory and move the front door.

Easy!

Hopefully we’ll have some of that done by Lafrowda 2015 on 18th July.

Then.

When the job is complete we’ll launch ourselves headlong into creating the business we want.

A small holiday lettings company offering the best service and local knowledge.

We don’t want to be a Cottages 4 You, or even an Aspects.

We plan to look after a maximum of a dozen cottages for owners, plus New Forge and the house that started it all off in 2000, that’s Myn Tea.

We’ll offer fantastic properties, superior knowledge, and great value, to guests.

We’ll be there for owners, optimising their occupancy to ensure that their precious homes are looked after and loved. Much of that will involve helping our audience realise just how wonderful a break in the far west can be in winter.

We won’t be cheap, but we’ll be bloody good.

To me that’s what value is all about.

The Cornish Way. Here’s to its next stage!

Here's how we hope to look by the autumn.

Here’s how we hope to look by the autumn.

2 comments

  1. What an adventure for you both but looking good and will come to see later.
    So good for business to be on hand

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