A New Era for Our Maritime Heritage

The last few weeks have seen serious progres down the old quay as the heavy machinery arrived to dig a channel for the new water and electricity supply. Once the old cast iron water pipe and heavy-duty electric cable were removed a channel was dug to allow for a new connection T’d off from the harbour’s private water supply and a new connection made to take power from the SWEB junction box at the top of the Narrows access road..

The original Statement Heritage report on the importance of the Old Harbour and the role the Old Quay has played was the catalyst for action in bringing this historically important part of the harbour back into use. Last week, Newlyn resident Chris Miners and Jeremy Chadburn both from English Heritage came to inspect the progress being made and offer further guidance on the ongoing work to repair and re-instate stonework and install new services for the benefit of potential users like the Cornwall Maritime Trust and the Mounts Bay Lugger Association who will be making much more use of the facility in the future along with fishermen servicing the smaller boats in the fleet. The addition of quayside water and electricity will make all this possible.

In the meantime, John Edwards and his swing shovel has been hard at work making good the groundwork for the new water and electric services ably assisted by Steve from Newlyn’s very own waste removal experts, E-Waste Cornwall. Always good to see local players involved in important projects to preserve the character and heritage of the area while at the same time bringing something new by way of a fully functioning quay facility!

Sue Lawler

The magnetic pull of Newlyn’s harbour endures. Following in the footsteps of countless artists before them, painters still travel from around the world to offer a fresh interpretation of the iconic quay. This living tradition is perfectly illustrated by Dave and Sue Lawler who had traveled all the way from South Australia to join Linda Thornton, and Jane Godden in a plein air workshop with local artist Vicky Norman to paint the very same views that have inspired artists for centuries.

The day’s most difficult task was translating the brilliant, neon quality of wet seaweed at low tide onto canvas. It’s precisely this kind of challenge that Vicki excels at.

As the designated Artist in Residence for the Cornish Maritime Trust, Vicki has become the official storyteller for their flagship boat, the historic lugger Barnabas. She has vividly chronicled the boat’s journeys for several years, a highlight being the documentation of its epic voyage to Scotland to be fitted with custom-made Scottish pine masts.

Discover more about Vicki and her  work here.

A few days later and another group of artists get the chance to paint in the footsteps of the greats of the Newlyn School and the likes of Gotch and Harvey. This is the first time the group, with three members having flown across the Atlantic from Atlanta, have actually met up in person. They have been working together via Zoom for the last two years, painting and critiquing each others work online. Over the weekend they were able to paint views of the Old Quay with a traditional lugger, the Softwing run by Cornwall Maritime Trust moored against the centuries old harbour wall.

Two views of the Old Quay by Harold Harvey.

The award winning Barnabas and the Cornish Maritime Trust are a key part of the old quay restoration project and an essential component of its future. The old harbour will not only serve to provide a home and working port from which to operate these amazing working examples of Cornish maritime history but will also allow the working boats of today to use the space and facilities. In time we envisage a centre for the miantenace and restoration of traditional sailing vessels but for now, here are a few words on what the Old Quay has meant for Rob Dowell when he accepted the award in the Barnabas’ spiritual home:

“Thank you Community”

“People often ask, ‘Rob, what’s your favourite experience or memory of a sailing event’ and my reply is generally, that the crew had fun, that they returned soundly and that boat was tied back safely on her mooring. For me, that was Friday night as we reflected over recent events, in the comfort of Newlyn’s Fisherman’s Arms! I cannot thank our sailing crew and community enough, for supporting this memorable day. A special thanks also to @HannahCunliffe from National Historic Ships UK for driving 6 hours south to ‘sail and dip the lug’ and then present us with the stunning NHS operational flagship pennant and plaque. To Esme Page for creating the exposure for this event and getting around 50 guests, including the mayor, town clerk and Greg Martin down to the Old Quay. To Newlyn Harbour Commissioners for their support and Newlyn Old Quay Restoration project. And lastly, to the past generations of CMT sailors who had the passion to save Barnabas, so that we could experience one of the oldest traditional vessels under sail.”

Rob McDowell Cornwall Maritime Trust

All much needed work to repair, restore or replace the existing ironowork down the old harbour has now been completed. Once local blacksmiths at Pencarn Forge had made the mooring rings and repaired or forged new handrail ironwork it was down to Dave and young Finley from JT Fabrications based in Newlyn Coombe to fit the quay ladders they had constructed and put the corroded or broken handrails back into working order.

The ladders have been given the same 3-coat protection used on windfarm installations so should last a life time!

The mooring rings have been put in place at an angle to allow mooring lines from the boats to move freely.