Serpentine Factory Poltesco

While resident in the area I was given a story about the demise of the factory which I visited many times but I cannot vouch for its accuracy.
The factory specialised in large serpentine objects with elaborate and highly polished finishes. In particular very grand fireplaces were produced for big houses. According to the story that i received in Cadgwith, the factory received a very large order for a chateau in France. All production and all assets were geared to this task and eventually a barge was hired to transport the fireplaces. En route the barge was lost, possibly in a storm and all its cargo lost which was uninsured. The loss was too much for the little factory and it had to close. I cannot give a date for this event but it was suggested about the turn of the century.