Restoration Blog
Restoration information, news and photos
Reviving the Old Harbour
The harbour, first recorded in the 11th century, in its current form dates to rebuilding in the 1730s. The current structure is identified as belonging to a collection of similarly constructed quays dating to the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The distinguishing characteristic of quays of this period in south and west Cornwall is the use of a distinctive engineering tradition of vertically coursed battered drystone masonry, probably developed from and related to smaller scale Cornish hedging techniques. Pounded by heavy seas the vertically laid stones channeled the force of the water upwards thereby reducing the impact on the overall defensive structure.
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...
Ironwork by Pencarn Forge
Much of the existing ironwork idates back well over 150 years and in some places is damaged or missing, with the old harbour being no exception. The handrails, mooring rings and ladders were all made from wrought iron which meant the restoration work has had to be as...
‘Barnabas’ Award Highlights Importance of Lugger Heritage and Quay Restoration
'Barnabas' Award Highlights Importance of Lugger Heritage and Quay RestorationStairway to heaven! A bold staircase takeover for 143 year old Barnabas in the elegant Royal Thames Yacht Club as she celebrates her win!Dave Need holds the stunning (and very weighty)...
Heavy lifting down the Old Quay
With Easter looming and the expected return of vessels to their morrings in the Old Harbour work has been carried out on several fronts - from weeding to welding!The top of the Old Quay parapet is being prepared ofr re-pointing with the removal of years of vegetation...
A step in the right direction.
Once the new ladder ironwork has had the mounts fixed in place, the ladders will go away to have a three-part protective finish applied using the same technology that protects wind farm platforms. In the meantime, two more ironwork jobs remain. The repair of damaged...
Pre-installation of new steel ladders.With the corroded or broken ladders now safely removed and the old fixings cleaned off, the quay stones were marked out ready for positioning the new ladders. Pilot holes were drilled to position the ladder handrail bases.Built at...