Back in April 2023 on a trip to Cornwall we took a diversion on our way home, to see an impressive viaduct, the Treffry Viaduct, near the village of Luxulyan. This caused a secondary diversion into the small ancient church in Luxulyan. That, by chance, led me to the name of Silvanus Trevail, a man who is memorialised in that church by a stained glass window. That in turn led me to finding out who he was and writing a little about him.
So now, in January 2025 I found myself looking at this impressive edifice on the headland at Newquay, wondering, after what I found out about Mr. Trevail, if he built this hotel. Which it turned out that he did.
This is the Headland Hotel.
It sits in a formidable location above Fistral Beach, commanding sea views from almost every window.
Fistral Beach is best known for surfing. Its west-facing aspect exposes it to Atlantic swells ensuring consistent waves suitable for surfing. The beach is the venue for major international surfing competitions and a competition suite for judges and competitors has been built at North Fistral along with a surf museum. Wikipedia
The waves didn't look that impressive to me until I spotted the rubber coated men on top, it was only then that I realised why this beach is so famous amongst surfers in Britain.
I am not sure The Headland, has ever been described as beautiful, but then Victorian architecture has long fallen out of favour.
Later in the day of our trip to Newquay we were looking for somewhere to eat near our hotel, when we spotted this, the former railway hotel, opposite the railway station. On closer inspection it seemed to have a blue plaque. I always make a point of reading blue plaques.
What a surprise? Two Silvanus Trevail buildings in one day. Lunch in one and supper in the other.
In December 1877, the local newspaper reported that the owner, had commenced building the hotel, near Newquay railway station.
In January 1879 the hotel was completed and it officially opened on 7 April 1879. It was the first in a string of hotels designed to appeal to the renewed interest in Cornwall as a winter resort for the middle classes. In 1931 the original modest two storey gabled building was altered beyond recognition to the current symmetrical art-deco style building. The Hotel is recognised as a historic building and is recorded on The Historic Environment Record of Cornwall.
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