duporth

[blitzbob]

hi all
had lots of happy times at duporth camp in cornwall. a very friendly centre. now it has been sold off to build flats. a sad end to a wonderful place.

bob

[Smileysal]

:( Is there anything left at Duporth at all? My old Ents Manager went there in 1992 after the 91 season at Devon Coast. Travelled down there to see him a couple of times, but never took any pics.

Put up a link a few months ago to the Restormel Council website. Now it looks like its going to be a retirement village. :'( :'(

Ive asked on Derelict places if anyones been down that way and could look in and get some pics, (if there's anything left :( )

Cheers,

:( Sal

[Smileysal]

Damm, just found this link to Midas Homes.

http://www.midashomes.co.uk/developments/overview.asp?dev_id=42

:( At least their leaving the Clock Tower and some of the other historic buildings on site. :) )

:) Sal

[blitzbob]

do you ever feel that your past is being taken away bit by bit. i took a lot of video all around the site. some very happy times. even cornwall is changing.
should i try pontins.

bob

[Havenmate 96]

Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum but when I found it I was so happy that someone else remembers Duporth. I was a guest there in 93, 94, 95 and worked there as a Havenmate in 96 and 97, it was the best site Haven had and holds fond memories for me as a guest and working my first season.
I last visited the site in May 2007 all blocks and chalets were gutted ready for demolition, (I have some pics of this), my parents went there to have a look about 6 weeks ago and they have now started building. The barn Bar, reception and the clock tower are staying as they are listed buildings along with the 2 original chalets opposite the take away (I think) You are right though a very sad end to a lovely place.:(
I also worked at Lyme bay 97-99 it was ok but had nothing on Duporth.

[skegred]

lt is a shame Duporth had to close the wife and l had a Great holiday there in 1996(could have been 97!!) ,l remember we used to walk to St Austell.

The Havenmates worked very hard,Gary in particular

l remember the Peacocks lovely to watch,it had a decent indoor/outdoor pool and there was a Sledge ride!!!!!

Andy

[mikeonions]

In the 70's Duporth was part of the Butlin Empire. It was in the small sites division that included the hotels but was marketed as Freshfields. When I was ents manager at Scarborough my chief redcoat, who took over from me as ents manager, Simon Hall, had started as a coat there and I had a redcoat transferred to me at Brighton from there in 1979, Andrew Jones.

After I left the business we often went there on holiday in the 80's and loved the site. Mike Raymond, with whom I had done two summer revues and two pantomimes, was the ents manager there on a couple of occasions. Very sad that it is no more.

[CurlyTherms]

i went to Duport in 1995 with our local tenants association and my mum. It is a lovely camp why do they keep shutting these camps down. I enjoyed the sledge ride and won the quiz 4 nights running in the old barn bar, which I cannot remember the name of.
Lovely scenery and the chalets and the food were really good.
we saw Bert Weedon there as it was the 60th birthday of the camp.
We went out every day, Cornwall is a beautiful place.

[Havenmate 96]

Andy/Skegred,

I can help you with your confusion over which year you went to Duporth, I think it was 95. Gary worked there that year along with Colin and Dolly (can't remember her real name) amongst others. I was a guest that year, and worked there in 96 and 97.
Your'e right the tabogan run was great.

Glad you had a good time there

Cheers
Dave

[skegred]

Thanks for that Dave,it must have been lan Carr Ent:Manager,it was a change from Butlins ,we really enjoyed it

Andy

[badger56]

First went to Duporth back in 96 with kids aged 2 4 7 and 9
we went back in 97, 98, 99, 2001, 2003 and 2005
I think up to 2001 there was the same resident band at the Charleston club, and the same guy doing the toboggan, archery etc, up till 2003, together with the same security man on the door there.
we loved the walk along the sealine and through the cave that took you to Charleston, and the walk along the cliff tops to the battery and down to the harbour
and you can imagine how many times I've gone down that tobaggan with all those young kids
and that freezing outdoor water slide and the arctic plunge pool
we didnt realise the camp had closed until we tried to book for 2007
The kids are still devastated
I have 3 girls who all meant to take their kids there
We went and had a sly look at the upturned caravans from the road side last year, but couldnt get up the cliffs from charleston due to a rockfall beyond the battery
Quite a few shops at Charleston are closed - they relied a lot on passing trade from the camp
I may stop off for one at the Rashleigh later this month, and, if the tides are ok who knows
For me the lasting memory will be that feeling of relaxation I got pulling to a halt on the carpark after a 5 hour drive, just being able to see the bay above or through the trees
nowhere else has ever chilled me the same
during our visits of 2003 and 2005 the camp was starting to be run down
Pity about the timing everyones after a holiday at home now with the recession and no-ones buying houses
maybe the spirit of the place is having a last laugh

[CurlyTherms]

hi all
had lots of happy times at duporth camp in cornwall. a very friendly centre. now it has been sold off to build flats. a sad end to a wonderful place.

bob

I have only been once but I had a smashing holiday there, the food was good, the weather not bad and the chalets very comfy. I saw Burt Weedon there as it was the 60th birthday of the camp.

[Stevehopps]

I visited Duporth every year as a kid from 1976 (the heat wave broke the day we got there !! until 1985) Can anyone remember the site as it was in 1976 ? The manor house was there then, I think it was demolished in the late 80`s we had great fun running around the house at night. The pool was not covered there was no water slide and the toboggan run was just a lawn in front of the house. If you explored the grounds you would come accross An old blocked up cave and dried up pond, but this was covered up when they built the toboggan run, and a large stone table hidden away in the bushes. We used to play for hours in the grounds of duporth and never came to any harm. We used to stay the same two weeks of august every year and quite often used to meet the same people staying at the camp year after year and to this day still keep in touch. The camp used to have a compitition between the rebels and royals anyone remember this or am i showing my age. In the mid 70`s the camp manager was called Barny who used to shout at us if we walked around with hands in our pockets !! I could go on - happy memories

[Joy Renshaw]

It is sad - was a Red Coat there in 1978.

Joy

[Joy Renshaw]

Hi ! Yes I was a Red Coat at Duport in 1978 - it was a truly lovely camp - great fun and in a lovely spot! Very sad that it has now gone.

[Joy Renshaw]

First went to Duporth back in 96 with kids aged 2 4 7 and 9
we went back in 97, 98, 99, 2001, 2003 and 2005
I think up to 2001 there was the same resident band at the Charleston club, and the same guy doing the toboggan, archery etc, up till 2003, together with the same security man on the door there.
we loved the walk along the sealine and through the cave that took you to Charleston, and the walk along the cliff tops to the battery and down to the harbour
and you can imagine how many times I've gone down that tobaggan with all those young kids
and that freezing outdoor water slide and the arctic plunge pool
we didnt realise the camp had closed until we tried to book for 2007
The kids are still devastated
I have 3 girls who all meant to take their kids there
We went and had a sly look at the upturned caravans from the road side last year, but couldnt get up the cliffs from charleston due to a rockfall beyond the battery
Quite a few shops at Charleston are closed - they relied a lot on passing trade from the camp
I may stop off for one at the Rashleigh later this month, and, if the tides are ok who knows
For me the lasting memory will be that feeling of relaxation I got pulling to a halt on the carpark after a 5 hour drive, just being able to see the bay above or through the trees
nowhere else has ever chilled me the same
during our visits of 2003 and 2005 the camp was starting to be run down
Pity about the timing everyones after a holiday at home now with the recession and no-ones buying houses
maybe the spirit of the place is having a last laugh

Yes I was a Red Coat there in 1978 - smashing place and such good fun. I had the time of my life and it is sad that it no longer exists. Great message for from you "maybe the spirit of the place is having the last laugh!"

[the senor]

I recall the manager there as been David Jelfs and I also think they had a manager there called Graham Simonds. The regional director for Haven South West was also based there David Howitt?(last I heard David was the south west tourist board guru.
Sorry its gone but so did Devon coast,incidently the same two mangers worked there as well. Perhaps he should have been called David Jinxed.
Actually he was a lovely guy and is probably still running a park some where in the South west.

These places just dont make enough profit to remain in the big companys portfolios. When they get bought up by smaller guys they cant afford to pay the banks. See Gordon Brown for details.

[Smileysal]

I don't suppose he was the Manager at some point at both Sussex Coast and Dovercourt Bay was he? lol.

I don't suppose anyone has any pictures of Duporth after it had closed, and before they'd started the new build? Would still be good to see it.

[the senor]

I don't suppose he was the Manager at some point at both Sussex Coast and Dovercourt Bay was he? lol.

I don't suppose anyone has any pictures of Duporth after it had closed, and before they'd started the new build? Would still be good to see it.

No but I do know he worked in a team with Alan Catton who used to run Dovercourt b4 moving to mill Rythe. I cant think of any connection with Sussex Coast other than he was in the same reion when Sussex had the great hurricane that blew the roofs off the buildings...yeap David Jinxed alright.

[Havenmate 96]

Hi everyone, sorry I haven't been on for a while, but I think I may have just worked out how to upload some very sorry pictures of Duporth taken in May 2007. I know some of you have been wanting to see some, here we go (if this doesn't work I appologise and will try again)
Oh bugger!! have managed to put them in an album aptly titled "Duporth" but can't for the life of me figure out the BB code text thing to get the pics on a thread, sorry. If you know how to could you explain it to me and I will put them on.
thanks

Dave

[Smileysal]

Hi Dave,

If you've put the pics on photobucket, then go to the album (or pictures when you find them lol). Find the one you want, then left click on the bottom link (IMG) then right click, copy, then come back onto here, right click again, then paste it onto here.

HOpe that helps a little?

:) Sal

[Grant]

I worked at Duporth in the early 80s as a Greencoat.... was fun made many good friends unfortunately lost contact with most of them... what i would like to know is does the main house still excist? as i believe even when i was there
it was foundation unstable.... i do remember my room... room with a half round window... and ofcourse the history of the place... i believe but corrct me if im wrong that the place was home of the Hamiltons... from Lady Hamilton, Lord Nelson... many happy memories...

[Rusty Chelt]

Hi everyone, I was just surfing one of the search engines for Duporth to see if there was any forums or memories regarding this great holiday village and I came across this thread. I just had to join the forum and say hello. My family and I have great memories of this place mainly from 1977 to 1984 (always the Wimbledon fortnight and we used to meet up with the same crowd most years from different parts of the country) plus with the odd day return after this and a week in 1994 (or 93) and a mid week break in what I think was its last season.

I have a lot of pictures of Duporth (Duporth Beach looking down from the steps is my computer Desktop picture) including a few official camp photos of the Green Coats and a few programs. Yes I do remember the Rebels and Royals during the period of the late 70’s and early 80’s. The character and the history of Duporth made this holiday village very special.

Does anybody remember Len Barrett’s Disco in the Barn Bar in the early 80’s?