St Anthony's Monastery

St Anthony-in-Meneage is a small coastal village on the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall, set between the Helford River and Gillan Harbour. The parish church, dedicated to St Anthony, stands on a medieval site with parts dating back to the 12th century. Nearby Dennis Head was once a Celtic fortress and later a Royalist stronghold during the Civil War. The South West Coast Path winds along both sides of Gillan Creek, crossing it on stepping stones at low tide. The area forms part of the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with tidal waters and ancient settlements nearby. The church itself is a Grade I listed building, featuring a 15th-century granite tower and a font decorated with angels and Latin inscriptions. Folklore tells of a Norman nobleman who, after being saved in a storm, vowed to build the church in thanks to St Anthony. A grange once stood beside the churchyard, linked to Tywardreath Priory, though no traces remain today. The nearby Bosahan estate was once a grand 19th-century house, rebuilt in Elizabethan style with local stone and Doulting stone dressings. Today, visitors find a quiet rural landscape with a historic church, coastal paths, and remnants of past fortifications. The stepping stones across Gillan Creek offer a low-tide crossing, while Dennis Head provides views over Falmouth Bay. The area retains a sense of history, from medieval church architecture to the ruins of ancient strongholds. Even the gardens of Bosahan, once praised as the most Cornish of all Cornish gardens, occasionally open to the public. The village remains a peaceful retreat within one of England’s most scenic coastal regions.