| The Rame Peninsula is often known locally as "The Forgotten
Corner". It is bounded by water on 3 sides: the rivers Lynher and Tamar
and by Plymouth Sound. It is the south eastern-most part of South East Cornwall
lying just across the border with Devon and the City of Plymouth. The name
Rame means "The high protruding cliff, the ram's head" and Rame
Head can be seen from many miles and has been a landmark for sailors for
thousands of years. Right at the top of Rame Head, some 320 feet above sea
level, lies the ruined chapel of St. Michael. The chapel, which was licensed
for Mass in 1397, is believed to stand on the site of a much older Celtic
hermitage. From 1486 Plymouth paid a watchman to maintain a beacon here
to warn sailors and to inform the city of approaching important ships. The
return of the Newfoundland fishing fleet used to be signaled from here during
the 16th century and in 1588 the Spanish Armada was also sighted sailing
up the channel. Today a coastguard station is still positioned on Rame head
and the views of the approaches to Plymouth Sound, Wembury Bay, Great Mewstone
Island, Polhawn Cove and the sandy beaches of Whitsand Bay remain as stunning
as ever. Nearby lies Rame Church first consecrated in 1259 and dedicated
to St Germanus. |
