The earliest settlers in Veryan, who left traces, were tribes from the Bronze Age. Carne Beacon, not far from Carne beach, is one of the largest burial mounds or ‘barrows’ in Britain. Later came the Iron Age Celts who in turn left their traces in the ‘ringarounds’, the barely discernable remains of their circular forts.
In recent, more peaceful, times the main occupations of the parishioners have been farming and fishing – and perhaps a little smuggling. Certainly, in the eighteenth century, the English authorities felt it necessary to base a Revenue team in the local fishing village of Portloe to try and deter illicit trading with the Channel Islands and France a few hours sailing directly to the South. 