history

Newlyn’s Early Harbour

Before the present harbour was built, Newlyn’s only shelter for fishing boats was the small granite quay at Newlyn Town. The quay offered protection for a maximum of forty small boats, while the rest of the fleet had to take refuge below the headland or, during easterly gales, seek shelter at St Michael’s Mount.

Newlyn Town itself was a small fishing community perched precariously on a cliff overlooking the Old Quay. It was one of three distinct, often hostile villages: Newlyn Town, Street-an-Nowan, and Tolcarne.

The Old Quay, known to exist since at least 1337, was a small curving structure made of massive granite blocks without mortar and topped with a parapet wall. It offered some protection from the prevailing winds due to its location on the western curve of Mount’s Bay. However, by the late 19th century, for the larger boats that replaced the pilchard fishery luggers, the Old Quay became inadequate.

Challenges of the Old Quay

Early Newlyn fishing boats, mainly luggers, primarily focused on pilchard fishing, typically found the Old Quay sufficient shelter. However, there were exceptions. Records mention a severe storm in 1738 that significantly damaged the quay. Repairs were made, but the Old Quay’s limitations became increasingly apparent.

Another ferocious storm in 1809 destroyed two boats anchored in the deeper waters of Gwavas Lake (a sheltered area) and damaged others. An easterly gale in 1809 forced a large fishing boat from its mooring onto the Green Rocks, resulting in the wreck of nine boats.

While most of Newlyn’s energy was directed towards fishing, there were exceptions. Records show a three-masted trading lugger, the Lark of Newlyn, captured by French privateers after the execution of Louis XVI in 1794.

The Need for a New Harbour

As Newlyn’s fishing industry relied less on pilchard and more on mackerel, herring and white fish, the boats got bigger. The Old Quay no longer had enough space, forcing many vessels to anchor in the Loja (Gwavas Lake) and unload their catch onto smaller boats for transport to shore. This inefficiency, coupled with the growing number of boats and the dangers posed by inadequate shelter, fueled the desire for a new harbour.

Despite several plans submitted to authorities, Penzance successfully lobbied against a new harbour at Newlyn, fearing a loss of trade.

The Reverend Lach-Szyrma and the Mount’s Bay Fishing Boats’ Mutual Insurance Club

The increasing number of accidents at sea due to the limitations of the Old Quay, along with the growing size of fishing boats, made the need for a new harbour critical. A crusade for a new harbour was led by Reverend Wladislaw Somerville Lach-Szyrma, vicar of St Peter’s Church (the local fisherman’s church) from 1874 to 1891.

Lach-Szyrma actively sought solutions to alleviate the hardships caused by fishing boat accidents. The sinking of two fishing boats in September 1879 led to the formation of the Mount’s Bay Fishing Boats’ Mutual Insurance Club, which provided financial support in case of lost lives or boats at sea.

The Mount’s Bay Fishing Boats’ Mutual Insurance Club was formed after a public meeting organized by Lach-Szyrma. The committee brought the communities of Penzance, Mousehole, Porthleven, and Newlyn together to seek out a solution to the growing issue of accommodating larger and deeper drafted boats..

The Sinking of the Jane and the Impetus for a New Harbour

The impetus for building a new harbour finally came after the sinking of the Jane in October 1880. A violent storm struck Mount’s Bay, and many Newlyn boats were caught unprepared, as they typically sought shelter in Penzance Harbour during such weather. The Jane’s sinking underscored the urgent need for a safe harbour in Newlyn. As the general population and industry grew accordingly, external influences also brought about fresh opportunities to the far south west of the country.