Porthleven history on into Cornwall Guide

Porthleven from the air

History of Porthleven

1811
A survey shows Porthleven as having 63 dwellings mainly inhabited by fishermen and miners with a population of 220.

1825
Porthleven Harbour is completed after fifteen years. The construction had suffered many difficulties.

1842
St Bartholomew's Anglican Church was built.

1863
Porthleven acquired its first lifeboat, the Agar Robartes 30 feet with 6 oars.

1866
Porthleven Coastguard Station was built and stored the Rocket Lifesaving Apparatus (RLA). The apparatus was in use for 60 years and saved 104 lives.

1870
Porthleven Harbour had 150 boats.

1877
The volunteer R.S.A. was formed

1879
The population of Porthleven had grown to 1,259.

1883
The Chapel in Fore Street was built costing £3,720.

1884
On the 26th January 1884, during a severe gale, the Austrian - Hungarian barque Cviet was deliberately run aground 328 yards (300 metres) east of Porthleven in an attempt to save her crew after the ship became uncontrollable during the storm. She was carrying a cargo of logs. Three crew lost their lives and are buried at Porthleven Church. 600 tons of logs were salvaged.

1891
Porthleven was affected by the great blizzard

1882
New lifeboat Charles Henry Wright, 34 feet with 10 oars

1894/5
A new lifeboat station was built at a cost of £1,500.

1897
Porthleven Harbour had 127 boats

1900
New lifeboat John Francis Wright. 25 feet self righting. First shout was 29th December 1900 to Polykarp of Grinstead, in a severe storm.

1908
The first mail cart to Porthleven was in April 1908.

1912
A huge fire occurred in the fish store. The fire brigade attended from Helston with their horse drawn fire appliance.

1913
Porthleven harbour was busy receiving coal steamers, vessels carrying cement, bricks and timber.

Kitto's boatyard was commissioned to build two wooden motor vessels for the Hudson Bay Fur Trading Company. The Fort Churchill was completed in July 1913 and the Fort York a year later.

1926
New lifeboat, Dash, the last replacement lifeboat.

1929
Porthleven Lifeboat Station closed.

1957
Porthleven Harbour had only 2 boats

1978
On the 12th December 1978 a huge storm caused mountainous seas that swept away the whole of the harbour road. Two policeman and their vehicle were swept into the harbour and drowned.

1989
In December a hurricane hit Porthleven. Granite blocks on the harbour road were tossed around like toys and the Institute and its clock tower were pounded by mountainous waves.

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