Charlestown Shipwreck & Heritage Centre

Charlestown - The many and varied exhibitions to be found here reflect village life in Charlestown, it's history, shipwrecks and the once thriving China Clay industry. The exhibitions show a tremendous range of maritime history.

Charlestown is a Georgian port which has remained relatively unspoilt and undeveloped, reflecting how many West Country ports and fishing coves looked prior to development. Quaint granite cottages nestle into the countryside, rural farms remain untouched by modern developments and lush green fields almost merge with the sea.

Two hundred years ago, West Polmear as it was then known, was a tiny fishing village with no harbour, only three cottages and the local people made a living from catching pilchards.

The mines and China clay pits in St. Austell flourished during the latter part of the 18th century, thus the need for a local port being able to offer security from the weather and suitable unloading facilities, became obvious to a local businessman by the name of Charles Rashleigh.

Charles Rashleigh with the aid of Smeaton's plans (a famous designer of lighthouses and harbours), began the mammoth task of constructing the harbour. The outer arm was completed first to shelter shipping and the inner piers were finished in stages after the rocks had been blasted away and manually cut and removed.

In addition to the harbour, Rashleigh built a gun battery to protect the village and this was used by the 'Huer' or look-out man. He could spot shoals of fish and alert the village, guiding the boats to the fish once they had put to sea. The name of the village was changed in honour of Mr Charles Rashleigh and became Charles' town.

Chronological History of Charlestown

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1790	. Charlestown known as West Polmear . Population 9 fishermen and their families . Outer quay built
1792	. Excavation of an inner dock
1793	. Shipwright's yard established . Small vessels launched
1794	. Port leat cut from Luxulyan . Number of houses built
1799	. First dock gates erected. . Name of Charles's Town first used, after Charles Rashleigh
1804	. Charlestown's first iron foundry opened . First Sunday School formed
1824	. Second smelting house opened
1825	. Ownership of Charlestown changed from the Rashleighs to Crowders . First full survey and inventory of Charlestown land
1851	. Rashleigh Arms built . St Paul's Church completed
1864	. Proposal to enlarge harbour and bring in a branch rail line
1873	. Dock extended in length
1885	. Charlestown foundry changed ownership
1887	. Pumps were used as severe drought caused both leat ponds to dry up
1890	. New dock gates fitted
1891	. Dock lit by oil lamps, following 3 drownings . The 'Great Blizzard' closed Charlestown Road and dock . Mount Charles cooper's strike
1892	. Re-sale of Charlestown considered . Gales washed away part of outer basin wall
1893	. Approximately 6,000 tons of cliff fell on eastern beach
1895	. Charlestown Infants School opened . Vicarage built for St Paul's Church
1920	. Gas main laid for street lighting
1925	. Charlestown Road first surfaced with tarmac
1935	. Foundry purchased by English China Clays
1940	. Foundry engaged in war contracts . War evacuees sent to village . Bomb dropped on village, first in Cornwall . Dock taken over for fitting out mine sweepers
1948	. Dock gates removed for repairs
1971	. New dock gates fitted
1976	. Shipwreck and Heritage Centre opened
1981	. Shipwreck and Heritage Centre enlarged and restaurant built
1986	. Charlestown sold to Charlestown Partnership; several changes of ownership since
1992	. John and Rita Kneale purchase the Shipwreck and Heritage Centre
1993	. Port purchased by Square Sail Shipyard Ltd.
Present	. Port of Charlestown used as a location for several films and television programmes.

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