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.

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 faithfull as possible, where feasible, to the originals. Today, there is just one foundry in the UK that produces wrought iron – re-working salvaged iron from a scrapped Victorian bridge in the north east! They were able to supply the bar used to repair the damaged handrails.

These pictures show the extent of the damage and general wear that some of the existing ironwork was suffering.