IN continuing research into the professional footsteps of my late great great grandfather, Thomas Hickes, surveyor to the Turnpike Trust, I have compounded the actuality of the root of a name on the Flushing landscape, and worthy of general interest and comment before I publish elsewhere.
Thomas had been a student of Macadam and knew his craft well, thus of the footsteps I have been looking at are the landing points for roadstone quarried on The Lizard and shipped around to Flushing, from where it seems to have been taken overland.
A local name that has been insistent is that of Gozon (sic) sounds like, spells like. This is the inlet in the Carrick Roads situated just around from Trefusis Point and which I believe forms the estuary to the fresh water stream that comes to the Waterings at Mylor.
I soon found that it was a manhole that had been broadened by ninth century tin miners working over a geological fault, and that its actual nickname would have been spelt Guzzone and is the joining up of Guz being the RNs flag later WT code for Devonport, and Zone speaking for itself.
It is certain that it is a phrase coined by RN square rigger men post Trafalgar turning to piracy, and was used as a recognition signal drawing a line between St Anthony's light, i.e. Zone Point, and Guz zone that the privateers could sail under the guns at Pendennis, or St Anthony's and reach safe haven. The Guzzone gives good room on the right tide for a small pinnace to have landed for fresh water for the benefit of Copinger perhaps, a known user of the anchorage.
P G Remington Hickes, West Street, Penryn
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