Editing Gweek

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country =                  England
| static_image_name =        DSCN0609GweekEastBank.JPG
| static_image_caption =     The east bank of the river, viewed from the quay
| coordinates = {{coord|50.096|-5.209|display=inline,title}}
| official_name =            Gweek
| cornish_name =             Gwig
| population =               581
| population_ref =           (United Kingdom Census 2001)<br>  667 (2011 Census)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11124083&c=Gweek&d=16&e=62&g=6409845&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1489335596670&enc=1|title =parish population 2011|accessdate=12 March 2017|publisher=Office for National Statistics |work= Neighbourhood Statistics}}</ref>  
| civil_parish =             Gweek
| unitary_england=           [[Cornwall Council|Cornwall]]
| lieutenancy_england =      [[Cornwall]]
| metropolitan_county =      
| region =                   South West England
| constituency_westminster = [[Camborne and Redruth (UK Parliament constituency)|Camborne and Redruth]]
| post_town =                HELSTON
| postcode_district =        TR12
| postcode_area =            TR
| dial_code =                01326
| os_grid_reference =        SW705268
}}

[[File:DSCN0599Gweek Village Hall.JPG|thumb|Gweek Village Hall]]
'''Gweek''' ({{langx|kw|Gwig}}, meaning ''forest village'') is a [[civil parishes in England|civil parish]] and village in [[Cornwall]], England, United Kingdom. It is situated approximately three miles (5&nbsp;km) east of [[Helston]].<ref>Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 203 ''Land's End'' {{ISBN|978-0-319-23148-7}}</ref> The civil parish was created from part of the parish of [[Constantine, Kerrier|Constantine]] by boundary revision in 1986. The name ''Gweek'' is first recorded as ''Gwyk'' in 1358 and is derived from the [[Cornish language|Cornish]] word ''gwig'', meaning "forest village", cognate with the [[Welsh language|Welsh]] ''gwig'' and [[Old Breton]] ''guic''.<ref>Weatherhill, Craig (2007) ''Cornish Place Names and Language''. Ammanford: Sigma Press</ref> Gweek village has a pub, the ''Black Swan'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blackswangweek.co.uk |title=The Black Swan}}</ref> and a shop. The village is also home to the [[Cornish Seal Sanctuary]].

Gweek lies within the [[Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty]] (AONB). Almost a third of Cornwall has AONB designation, with the same status and protection as a National Park.

==History==
Gweek is at the head of navigation of the [[Helford River]]. It has been a port since Roman times and thrived in the Tudor period, with its own Customs House.<ref>Scolding, Bill (2006) ''Five Walks around Constantine: heritage, landscape, wildlife''. Constantine, Kerrier: Constantine Enterprises Company {{ISBN|0-9552816-0-1}}</ref> In the 13th century, the townspeople of Helston bought the rights to the port of Gweek.<ref>Le. Messurier, B. and Luck, L. (1998) Loe Pool and Mount's Bay. No. 12 in The National Trust Coast of Cornwall series of leaflets</ref>

During the mining boom, a tin-smelting [[blowing house]] operated at the quayside.<ref>Barton, D. Bradford (1969) ''A History of Tin Mining and Smelting in Cornwall''; revised edition. Cornwall Books, reprint 1989 {{ISBN|1-871060-03-6}}; p. 20 fn</ref>

In Lewis's ''Topographical Dictionary of England'' published in 1848, the village was described as:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=50994 |title='Gunthorpe - Gyhirn', A Topographical Dictionary of England (1848), pp. 360-62|accessdate=2007-07-04}}</ref>
<blockquote>''GWEEK, a small port, in the [[hundred of Kerrier]], W. division of Cornwall, 3½ miles (E. by S.) from Helston. The pilchard-fishery is carried on extensively, 200 boats being employed in taking the fish, which are cured in the various creeks and coves within the limits of the port. In addition to the fishery, the chief trade consists in the exportation of copper-ore, corn, moorstone, and oysters, and the importation of timber, coal, and limestone.''</blockquote> <!-- DELETED MATERIAL ABOUT BOATYARDS AND OTHER COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES - WIKIPEDIA IS NOT A LINK FARM NOR AN ADVERTISING MEDIUM-->

In an August 1880 edition of [[The Cornishman (newspaper)|The Cornishman]] newspaper, Gweek (along with [[Porthleven]]) was described as a prominent seaport, supplying coal, lime, timber, slate, etc to the neighbouring mines and inhabitants. Timber was unloaded from ships at Merthen Hole and floated up-river to Gweek on barges. The western wharf was owned by [[Basset family|Mr Basset]] of [[Tehidy]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Nix|title=All About|work=The Cornishman|issue=111|date=26 August 1880|page=8}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=A Rival Company At Gweek |work=The Cornishman |issue=271 |date=20 September 1883 |page=4}}</ref>

==Musical activities==
Gweek has a [[silver band]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gweeksilverband.org.uk |title=Gweek Silver Band}}</ref> which performs locally and provides music at some Anglican services in the Gweek Mission Church. The band also organises a yearly "band week". This starts with a concert of three local brass bands in a field overlooking the [[Helford River]]. Afterwards, there is a pig roast with stalls and entertainment and at the end of the week a clay pigeon shoot.

The [[Cornwall Fiddle Orchestra]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cornwallfiddleorchestra.com/index.htm |title=Cornwall Fiddle Orchestra website |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929082812/http://www.cornwallfiddleorchestra.com/index.htm |archivedate=2007-09-29 }}</ref> was formed in 2007 by fiddle player Hudson Swan. He was a member of Scottish band, [[The Tannahill Weavers]] but now lives in Cornwall and works as a violin teacher for the Cornwall Music Service.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=499 |title=Cornwall Music Service |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930014714/http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=499 |archivedate=2007-09-30 }}</ref> The orchestra rehearses weekly at Helston School.

==Antiquities==
[[File:The Tolvan Holed Stone - geograph.org.uk - 879659.jpg|thumb|The Tolvan Holed Stone]]
The three-cornered [[Tolvan holed stone|Tolvan Holed Stone]] is an unusual megalith. It is about 800 metres  north of Gweek behind Tolvan Cross Farm.

==In literature==
Gweek is featured in ''[[The Meaning of Liff]]'', a book by [[Douglas Adams]] and [[John Lloyd (producer)|John Lloyd]], being used as a noun meaning "A coat hanger recycled as a car aerial". A passage in [[Charles Kingsley]]'s novel ''[[Hereward the Wake (novel)|Hereward the Wake]]'' features Gweek and its neighbouring woods. Kingsley received some of his education at nearby Helston Grammar School.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Helston Grammar School|work=The Cornishman|issue=122|date=11 November 1880|page=5}}</ref>

==References==
{{Portal|Cornwall}}
{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

==External links==
* [http://www.gweekinfo.co.uk/ The Village Website of Gweek]
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[[Category:Civil parishes in Cornwall]]
[[Category:Ports and harbours of Cornwall]]
[[Category:Villages in Cornwall]]