Band of Brothers

Echoes on the Old Quay: A Musical Tribute to the Men of the Margaretha Maria

With nearly one thousand years of fishing history as a backdrop, what better place to record a song dedicated to fishermen? Dan Tolchard and Mark Richards using Dorian Arnold’s poignant adaptation put the song Band of Brothers to music and chose to perform the song at the end of the Old Quay as a fitting way to mark its release. With the fishing community being the tight-knit industry that is is, everyone involved has some connection with the loss of the beam trawler, Margaretha Maria that was the inspiration for the new arrangement. There is an additional video that provides more context and background to the story of the song and how it came to be recorded.

Reinforcing the West Slip

16,03,26 | Uncategorized

Attention has now turned to the many small but significant restoration jobs that now need completing before signing off with Historic England at the end of the month. One of these is the pinning and pointing of large edge stones in the western slip.

This small slip gives access to the Old Quay from the south. In southerly storms it would have faced the full force of heavy seas which would have poured up the slip and into the old harbour causing huge problems for any vessels moored there. Despite all the protection from the south pier, built in 1884, some of the edge stones in the slip have become forced upwards and outwards over the years.

This close-up of one of the larger edge stones shows just how much it had moved over the years. Even with protection from the South pier there is a considerable storm surge in the harbour in severe conditions

The current work includes re-positing and stapling key stones in place – a method used elsewhere in the harbour to secure the integrity of the stonework for hundreds of years.

Many of the stones at the working end of the Old Quay have been stapled together to prevent being moved in storm conditions. As far as is known, the ones in the photo were put in place after the quay was repaired and lengthened in 1732.

Forged iron staples were made to fit four of the stones in the slip. Holes some 6 inches deep were drilled to accommodate the staples before they were put in place prior to the final fixing.

The stales will prevent the stones from moving and preserve the integrity of the slip.

The tangs of the staples were positioned and an epoxy filler used to fix the staples in place.

Next to be drilled and fitted were pins and rings to be used to moor larger historic vessels that will, in future, makes use of the restored harbour. This is one of several mooring rigs made from recycled wrought iron by the good folks at nearby Pencarn Forge.

This photo from Penlee House & Gallery shows just how busy the Old Quay was at times with the lugger fleet – note also the large two-masted schooner against the quay!. Later this year, Mousehole hosts its bi-annual Sea, Salts & Sail festival – the Cornwall Maritime Trust has extended a welcome to any vessels headed for Mousehole to make use of Newlyn before or after the festival – so maybe we could see a sight like this again!

Using a similar photo as the basis for an AI animation to give some idea what the inside of the harbour would have been like in a sou’easterly storm – back when the south pier was a thing of the future!

Groundwork completed – on time!

10,03,26 | Uncategorized

The groundwork team from Symons have moved on to the final stages. While removing beach pebbles to get better access yet another hidden feature of the old quay was revealed!

One of these jobs was to install a new 5″ alkathene water supply and take a tee off for the old Fishermen’s Rest.

Buried out of sight is one of the largest stones used in the construction of the south slip. This huge stone has a 5″ diameter hole bored into it approx 12″ deep – what was its purpose?

We know from old paintings and photographs of the Old Quay that there were spaces made in the stone parapet to securely house tar barrels used to preserve the various timbers used on luggers.

While preparing the stonework another anomaly revealed itself – buried in between all those Cornish granite stones is a ;large piece of pumice tone! Where did this ancient piece of lava come from? Is there a connection between the the pilchard trade between Newlyn and Italy? A souvenir brought back from Vesuvius perhaps?

Despite looking at every stone used to construct the harbour over and over again ywet another mystery revealed itslef. At the end of the Old Quay is a large granite bollard, no doubt used to help bring luggers (being sail only) safely in and out of the harbour. Carved into the face of the stone are someone’s intials, the letters ‘S’ and ‘T’ can clearly be seen with a third, more worn letter unidentifiable.

Another feature that has caused much debate are what at first appear to be stone ‘steps’ protruding from the lower half of the parapet wall – the issue is, if these are steps were is the first riser? The height of the lower stone is too far off the ground for anyone to easily ascend?

A huge thanks must go to the Symons guys who have worked through fog, rain, sleet, gales of wind and even sunshine! Two, who have been on site from day one, James and Tony are seen here taking a well deserved tea break on one of the few days in the new year that promised sunshine all day!