Retew village history documented in new book

Author Michael Ford has released a new book, ‘The history of Retew and its people’, documenting the history of a Cornish village that was destroyed by industrial activity.

Retew was evacuated in the 1960s after English China Clays informed residents that the area would be excavated for quarrying. The displacement forced villagers to move to nearby locations, such as Meledor, often at short notice.

The book details the social fabric of the village, including its local economy driven by farming, china clay mining, and a mill that produced underwear. Ford, who grew up in the village, shares personal anecdotes about the community's unique characters and lost traditions, such as annual carnivals and chapel fetes.