History made!

Making it happen!

Enjoy this sequence of photos recording the event to make history come alive – all made possible due to the efforts of the project team together with financial and practical support from Historic England and Newlyn Harbour.

History in the making

This historic photograph, taken in 1888, shows how sailing fishing boats used the beach off the Old Quay to anchor – or kedge. At the time it was taken, the North Pier was still under construction and the rapidly growing fleet of pilchard luggers was taking full advantage of the protection from the weather offered by the the new South Pier.

Wind the clock forward 138 years to July 2026 and the Cornwall Maritime Trust, now based in the Old Harbour, organised a Party on the Beach to re-create such a scene. What is even more remarkable is that the CMT’s Barnabas could even be in the is old photo as she was built some 145 years ago in 1881!

Party on the beach - the stage is set

Newlyn Old Harbour Brought to Life with Inaugural ‘Boats on the Beach’ Event

On Thursday, 2 July 2026, the newly restored Newlyn Old Harbour was transformed into a vibrant scene from the town’s fishing past during the inaugural ‘Boats on the Beach’ event. Organised by the Cornish Maritime Trust (CMT), the celebration drew members of the community, local artists, and visitors to witness a fleet of more than 25 historic working boats kedged onto the beach beneath the harbour’s granite walls.

The display featured a range of traditional vessels, from smaller craft to the 60ft 1878 Lowestoft drift netter Gleaner, the 1911 Looe dipping lugger Guide Me, and the 56ft pilot cutter Pegasus. The event served as the first realisation of a long-held vision shared by the Cornish Maritime Trust and the Newlyn Old Harbour Restoration Project: to see the harbour filled once again with traditional working vessels.

Attendees partied to live music from the bluegrass band Flats & Sharps aboard the 145-year-old lugger Barnabas, along with local seafood and drinks. The event was attended by the Lord-Lieutenant of Cornwall, Col. Sir Edward Bolitho, and the Mayor of Penzance, Cllr Andy Law, both of whom commended the collaborative efforts of the volunteers and agencies involved in the restoration and the event’s success.

The day also served as the launch of the Cornish Maritime Trust’s fundraising campaign to renovate ‘The Fisherman’s Rest’ on the Old Quay. The project aims to transform the building into a Maritime Heritage Community Hub, providing a dedicated space for schools, community groups, artists, and musicians to engage with Newlyn’s rich maritime history. Organisers reported that the event successfully raised an estimated £2,000 toward their £7,000 target.

A huge ‘thank you’ must go out to the band of regular volunteers who made it possible along with the invaluable financial and historic architectural support from Historic England and the local businesses that carried out the more technical construction and restoration work.

Final Forging

22,06,26 | Uncategorized

As the project to reclaim the Old Harbour in Newlyn nears completion one final forging still needs to be made. Using wrought iron salvaged from old chain the final forging was finally carried out by Sanny Fey at Pencarn Forge, Canonstown near Hayle. The forging would be an exact copy pf the other handrail ends – known in the trade a a ‘monkey tail’.

The process begins with a length of round wrought iron. Counter-intuitively, the forger first has to estimate the length of bar needed and beat it into a square cross-section using a foot operated stamp. This is then put through the stamp again using it to beat along the length of each edge which then creates an eight-sided bar. That then allows each edge to be beaten again to form a round taper. Then its time to fire up the forge so that the tapered bar can be beaten into a curl – firstly using the anvil to begin the shaping repeatedly going back to the hot coals to stop the bar from cooling and then using a former held in a vice – all the time checking the curl of the monkey tail over the car template. JT Fabrications are due to weld on the end as they have done to the other refurbished handrails as ca be seen in the photo above.

Lugger restoration in the Old Harbour

19,06,26 | Uncategorized

Historic lugger Ripple arrives in the Old Harbour

Damaged in a severe storm last year, the 136 years old St Ives lugger Ripple has been brought alongside the Old Quay for repairs.

During storm Eowyn that blasted through Newlyn in January 2025 the Ripple lost her fore mast. Owner, John :ambourn then spent many months sourcing some suitable timber to repait the damaged mast while the boat lay against the North Pier in Newlyn. With the Old Quay refurbishment completed and with water and electricity available on the quay, John decided to bring the Ripple into the old harbour for a refit and the installation of the repaired mast.

With the advent of a big Spring tide this week, the boat was brought up ahead prior to the work being carried out.

Taking full advantage of the workboat Obervargh currently in the harbour lifting out the old quay fenders the boat was pressed into service to pick up the repaired mast from alongside the ice works.

The Obervagh headed for the old harbour an hour before high water at 7pm with the mast held aloft.

With highwater fast approaching and, despite the limited draft of the workboat, time was of the essence for skipper Jeremy to come alongside the Ripple and lower the mast in place.

Right on high water the mast was successfully lifted across the deck and above the mast step.

Where several willing hands help with the lowering of the mast in its final resting place.

The future of the Old Harbour is bright! Thanks to Nick Howell, a dedicated team of volunteers, and local tradespeople, the historic site is officially secure. With financial backing from NHPC and Historic England, this collaborative effort ensures that many more vital restoration projects will follow.

Next week will see an influx of classic sailing and work boats spending a few days in the Old Harbour before getting in festive mood at this year’s Sea, Salts & Sail Festival dpwn the coast in Mousehole!