Percy ‘Powder’ Thurburn owed the National Trust lodge at the end of Frenchman’s Creek. He discovered the creek on one of his meanderings on the water and promptly asked the farmer if he could build a house on his land. He loved it’s remoteness and access to the sea. The farmer said yes and Percy lived many happy years there. Taking his boat, the Iron Duke to Portugal and back with his ceramics and bringing back the pine trees and eucalyptus trees planted by the house.
But he wasn’t always a lone boatman who likes to paint boats. Percy was born into a high society family in London and went to public school. He was expelled at the aged of 17 and brought back home. Uncomfortable with his high society life he shimmied sown the drainpipe and ran off to sea sailing tall ships and joining the navy. On his return he went back to London and again didn’t jell and so set off to Brixham in Devon where he raised a gun at a local preacher. He and his partner swiftly moved on down to Cornwall, where one day with his flotilla of boats he discovered Frenchman’s Creek and lived for the rest of his life. In his later years he taught young children how to fish and they wrote about him. His painting now sold in Sotherbys for thousands and his house given to the National Trust. In the 1930s novelist Daphne du Maurier sailed down Frenchman’s Creek on her honeymoon and no doubt met Percy who we think provided inspiration for her novel ‘Frenchman’s Creek.
Cruising along Frenchman’s Creek, Helford River Cruises, Cornwall
Join us on our Helford River Cruise and soak up the sights and sounds of the beautiful Helford River and creeks filled with sailing boats and birdsong. All our trips depart and return to Budock Vean Hotel. The boat trip times are around the high tide and so vary daily. We offer trips 7 days a week with up to 10 spaces, private charters available for up to 12 spaces. All trips can be cancelled with 24 hours notice and so you can book now with confidence. We use an open top boat and so if it’s raining you can choose to go ahead with raincoats and umbrellas, postpone to another day or have a full refund.
Kayaking along Frenchman’s Creek with Koru Kayaking
Check our our sister company Koru Kayaking who offer 2 hour stunning guided kayak adventures on the Helford River and Frenchman’s Creek and also from St Agnes, the coastline that inspired Winston Graham’s Poldark.
