Charlestown Dock

 

As many more ships used the harbour and local businesses began to flourish, the population grew bringing the need for more cottages, a hotel, inn, chapel and eventually a church.

 

Although many of the industries of the time are now non-existent in the area, Charlestown still remains a working port and has found itself a place on the tourist map. The charm and appeal of the village and it's grade two listed harbour still attract thousands of people every year to visit this historical part of Cornwall.

The pilchards shoals would visit Cornish waters at the end of the summer so the fishermen would prepare themselves during July, ensuring the nets and boats were ready.

1n 1847, 122,000,000 fish were exported from Charlestown. The end of the 19th century saw the beginning of the decline of the fishing industry and today only a couple of small fishing boats still operate from the port.

 

Unknown to the English potters at the beginning of the 18th century, china clay and china stone were found in Cornwall. Once the clay was ready for marketing, it had to be shipped out of the county.

 

Plan of The Shipwreck Centre building
when it was still being used as a clay dry.

The roads were inadequate and the railways non-existent until the latter half of the 19th century. With the construction of the harbour by Charles Rashleigh, Charlestown became the only shipping outlet for the St Austell area. In 1876, Charlestown shipped over 34,000 tons of clay and china stone to both foreign and domestic ports.

Also in 1813, 3792 tons of copper were shipped in the space of 4 months on 49 separate ships from the Crinnis mine alone.