CHARLESTOWN, CORNWALL

'Charlestown' (Cornish: ''Porthmeur'') is a working port near St Austell, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. Charlestown developed from what was in the late 18th century the fishing village of 'West Polmear'.

Contents

Geography

Economy

Culture

Education

Administration

History

External links

Geography

Charlestown is approximately 2 miles (3.2km) from St Austell town centre. The two towns are barely separated, but Charlestown has remained relatively unchanged by the development of the much larger town of St Austell.
There are deposits of china clay in the area. Particles of china clay in the sea near Charlestown give it a turquoise-blue colour. The same colour is imparted to flooded china clay quarries. [1]

Economy

The port is used by local fishermen, and about three times a month for the export of china clay.



The harbour and two (pebble) beaches (one on either side of the harbour entrance) are owned by Square Sail, a company which owns and sails a small fleet of tall ships, including ''Kaskelot''. One or two of these can often be found at anchor in the harbour, and are frequently open for tours. The best-known tall ship to regularly visit the port was the ''Maria Assumpta'' - first launched in 1858 and was the world's oldest working square-rigger. The ''Maria Assumpta'' was very popular with tourists and locals alike. In May 1995 she ran aground and broke up on the north Cornish coast, like so many before her, with the loss of three of her sixteen crew.
Charlestown is a popular tourist destination. Attractions are the architecture, the sea, and the Charlestown Shipwreck, Rescue and Heritage Centre.

Culture

Charlestown harbour has several times been disguised as other historic ports, such as Bristol Harbour, for film and television productions. For example, it has ''starred'' in ''Poldark'', an adaptation of Jane Austen's ''Persuasion'' and films such as the 1993 version of ''The Three Musketeers''. The sequence set in Alderney in the film ''The Eagle Has Landed'' was filmed in and around the harbour and the adjacent beach.
Charlestown Rowing Club is based in the village.

Education

Charlestown Primary School is a one form entry primary school situated between Charlestown village and Carlyon Bay. It currently has 211 children on role. In 1999 the school was awarded Beacon Status to work in partnership with other schools sharing good practice. In May 2002 the school achieved Healthy Schools Status. The school's declared aim is to "Promote the highest standards of work and behaviour and to provide opportunities for success for all children in a caring environment of mutual trust, respect and harmony."

Administration

Charlestown is unparished. It is within the borough of Restormel.

History

Charlestown grew out of a small fishing village called West Polmear. It was developed in the Georgian era (specifically from 1791 to 1798) as a new town, and named after local landowner Charles Rashleigh who had a hand in its design. It was built to facilitate the export of china clay from the region's quarries and, to a limited extent, still serves that purpose today. In 1790 the settlement was known as West Polmear and had a population of 9 people, this had swelled to 3,184 by 1911.

External links

★ Square Sail who own the harbour and a fleet of working tall ships

★ Photographs of St Paul's parish church, including shots of the interior and stained glass windows

★ Information about the Shipwreck, Rescue and Heritage Centre

★ Charlestown Rowing Club who race traditional Cornish Pilot Gigs.

★ Three pictures of the Maria Assumpta (one under full sail, and two of her run aground and sinking in 1995)

★ A flooded china clay quarry near St Austell

★ Cornwall Record Office Online Catalogue for Charlestown

★ Charlestown Primary School

★ IMDb pages for productions mentioned:

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★ Persuasion (1995)

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★ The Three Musketeers (1993)

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★ Poldark (1975)