Charlestown, Cornwall |
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Charlestown, near St Austell in Cornwall is an amazingly pristine, unspoilt example of a late Georgian working port. It was constructed between 1791 and 1801 by Charles Rashleigh, after whom it is named, a member of the local landowning family, in response to the growth of the local mining industry. Originally built to export copper and import coal, Charlestown was soon being used for the export of China Clay. It was designed by John Smeaton, the man responsible for the Eddystone Lighthouse. In 1790 the settlement was known as West Polmear and had a population of 9 people, this had swelled to 3184 by 1911 in its heyday. By the 19th Century various associated businesses were established in sheds and warehouses around the harbour such as pichard curing, shipbuilding, brick making and lime burning. Charlestown harbour has several times been transformed into historic ports like Bristol for film and television productions. It has starred in an adaptation of Jane Austen's "Persuasion" and films such as "The Three Musketeers" (1993 version), “The Voyage of Charles Darwin", the "Onedin Line" “Hornblower” and "Poldark" have all had some scenes shot here. A company called Square Sail own and operate a fleet of tall ships, one or two of which can often be found at anchor in Charlestown harbour, and are sometimes open for tours. The best-known tall ship to regularly visit the port was the Maria Asumpta, launched in 1858 and was the world's oldest working square-rigger. The Maria Asumpta ran aground May 1995 and broke up on the north Cornish coast, with the loss of three of her sixteen crew. |
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