Guarding The Ship Inn Porthleven Cornwall
by Terri Waters
Title
Guarding The Ship Inn Porthleven Cornwall
Artist
Terri Waters
Medium
Photograph - Digital Art
Description
The 17th century Ship Inn at Breageside, Porthleven, which is built on a rock overlooking the outer harbour was believed to be a notorious meeting place for smugglers. It was formerly known as the Ship Tavern.
While renovating a room with slate slab floors in 1955 workmen uncovered an ancient kitchen grate. The old fireplace had a lintel measuring 6ft 6in by 1ft 8in which was complete and in a well preserved condition with the fittings all in working order. Clay pipes and two flat-irons were also found.
Porthleven harbour, one of the most southerly ports in England was developed in the early 19th century as a safe harbour for ships caught in stormy seas. There are relics of shipwrecks to be found in the harbour today including the two cannon recovered from the 44 gun frigate HMS Anson which went down near Loe Bar in 1807 reportedly drowning 130 people. The two canons can be seen on the quayside.
The construction of Porthleven harbour was a major engineering achievement involving French prisoners from the Napoleonic Wars. One of these prisoners is said to haunt the Ship Inn. The granite pier and quays were constructed by 1825 but it was still an open harbour. The harbour was purchased in 1855 by Harvey and Co of Hayle in Cornwall, who built the inner harbour which was completed in 1858. The huge timbers (baulk) that seal the inner harbour in storms are still in use today.
Today the importance of the Port has diminished but local fishing boats, leisure boats, angling and coastal trips operate from Porthleven harbour.
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September 7th, 2013
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