It’s never too late to fact check and in the past couple of days I’ve had some surprises. For instance I arbitrarily chose the Helston area for the home of my character Lt. Christopher Penrose, RN, in On A Lee Shore. I was fiddling round with maps yesterday and discovered that there’s a National Trust property called the Penrose Estate just to the south east of the town. I’m assuming that I sort of knew that but it’s so deeply buried in my internal hard drive that I didn’t know I knew it, if you know what I mean.
The other thing I know I didn’t know! 🙂 Another character in the story is a Spanish lieutenant called De Torres who falls foul of the pirates, is rescued by the navy and repatriated. That’s in 1718/1719. I like to conjecture what happens to characters after I’ve done with them and in De Torres’ case he must have done pretty well for himself. In 1733, a Rodrigo De Torres was a Lientenant General and was put in charge of the returning treasure fleet. Not his fault at all that it most of it was wrecked on the Florida Keys on the way home. Poor De Torres, what a rough life.
Speaking of maps I was amused by the one below, and in particular by the description of the men of Cornwall in the legend at the bottom.
“The Men are Strong and boifterous, great Wreftlers & Healthy” Click to embiggen.
What a fabulous map. Helston, I’ve been there a few times on my travels in Cornwall. It’s a beautiful part of the country ( Cornwall) Falmouth, Penzance with the famous Admiral Benbow Pub with the smuggler on the roof. And in Chapel Street there is the hotel where they first heard the news of Nelson’s victory. Ooh, I want to go back now. 🙂
Penrose is a very old Cornish name I believe. I adore Cornwall.
Cornwall is super. We have friends just outside Helston who have turned part of their house into a medieval hall complete with minstrel’s gallery – it’s where they keep all their armour. [they are professional reenactors]. Brilliant place for a party!
What a stunning map. Great find! I’m amazed at by the amount of time I can spend researching, especially historical information.
I have one story that I shelved when I woke up to the fact that I was seriously considering learning Russian so I could read the archaeological reports. I decided it was unhealthy 🙂
Maps are wonderful resources. I got the one above from this site.
What a wonderful coincidence – makes it all the more realistic. And it is a beautiful map.
🙂 they are somehow validating.
I have today off and am editing. Only about 10 pages to go!!