-History

--Early Settlements

Originally Porthleven was a marshy cove fed by a stream which marked the boundary of the Breage and Sithney parishes. There was a shingle bar at the mouth of the cove which rather like a miniature version of Loe Bar.

Porthleven was not a very important place as at the time the Cober valley was navigable as far as Helston. The continual silting up of of the Cober valley estuary however led to the formation of the Loe Bar sandbank. This resulted in the Cober valley and Helston being cut off from the sea, probably during the 12th century. By the 14th century a small hamlet of fishermen settled around the cove which is now Porthleven.

During the 1700's the fishermen in Porthleven were joined by farmworkers and miners, many of whom worked in the silver & lead mines in Penrose Estate near Loe Bar.

--HMS Anson Tragedy

The 44 gun frigate, HMS Anson was shipwrecked at Loe Bar in 1807 and reportedly 130 people were drowned. Without this Tragedy, Porthleven wouldn't be the place it is today - as it gave rise to "for constructing a harbour, in Mounts Bay in the county of Cornwall". Porthleven was chosen because if its central location in Mounts Bay. The Act established the Porthleven Harbour Company that was responsible for building, maintaining and operating the the harbour.

--The Harbour

The construction of the harbour was a tremendous and dangerous engineering achievement. The shingle bar with its stone bridge at the mouth of the south west facing valley had to be removed so ships could enter. Napoleonic War prisoners were used but the construction took 14 years and was not completed until 1825.

The granite pier and quays were constucted by 1825 but it was still an open harbour. The harbour was purchased in 1855 by Harvey and Co of Hayle in Cornwall, who built the inner harbour which was completed in 1858. The huge timbers (baulk) that seal the inner harbour in storms are still in use today. The population of Porthleven increased to well over 1000 by 1858.

 --Porthleven today

Today, Porthleven is a town with a thriving tourist industry, and is a lovely traditional cornish harbour - unspoilt from the aforementioned tourist industry. If holiday resorts arent your thing, then you will love Porthleven.

-Tourism in Porthleven

 --Why visit Porthleven

Porthleven, Cornwall, remains unspoilt and is still a thriving local community rather than a holiday resort. Virtually all of the shops & restaurants are open all year round and all West Cornwall's towns and attractions are a short drive away.

In short, Porthleven has everything you would want from a seaside holiday - Great food, lovely unspoilt beaches, a bustling fishing harbour and lots of attractions nearby!

--Where to stay?

http://www.abovebeachcottages.co.uk offers a wide range of lovely cottages around the Porthleven harbour and seafront. Take your pick, and enjoy your holiday in the seaside utopia of Porthleven!

--About Above Beach Cottages