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Polperro

Polperro photos (281 available)

Old photo of Polperro

Polperro maps (2 available)

Old map of Polperro

Polperro books (12 available)

Polperro memories

My Grandmothers memories

Polperro, The Pilchards Inn 1907

My great-grandfather and g.grandmother lived and worked at The Pilchards Inn, they had three children my grandmother used to tell me about how they kept chickens and ducks in the garden and how she met Daphne Du'Maurier and Alfred Hitchcock whilst in cornwall making a film, thats not bad for passing trade! I cant wait to visit Polperro and sit a while in The Pilchards Inn to remember my wonderful grandmother in a place that was very close to her heart.
Contributed by Jane MacCallum

Cornwall memories

My Grandmothers memories

Polperro, The Pilchards Inn 1907

My great-grandfather and g.grandmother lived and worked at The Pilchards Inn, they had three children my grandmother used to tell me about how they kept chickens and ducks in the garden and how she met Daphne Du'Maurier and Alfred Hitchcock whilst in cornwall making a film, thats not bad for passing trade! I cant wait to visit Polperro and sit a while in The Pilchards Inn to remember my wonderful grandmother in a place that was very close to her heart.
A memory of Polperro contributed by Jane MacCallum

Summer Fete

Pelynt, Trelawne House 1901

I remember visiting Trelawne House during the annual fete, in what I assume must have been the summer as it was warm and the sun was shining. There were copious amounts of cakes and cream teas with a never-ending supply of tea on tap, served in cups with handles through which you could never fit your finger! I seem to remember spending hours, well at least minutes, in trying to hook ducks out of a paddling pool. I was only 9 at the time and haven't had a chance to revisit the house since I left with my family early in 1989.

Summer High Tides

I used to hire the Council deck chairs and beach floats on East Looe beach and rake and clean out the beach tents as a student summer job. On the high tides when the tents were removed the sea would break against the promenade wall. After each wave the kids would identify any exposed silver coins lost by 'visitors' in the tents when they changed into their swimmers, jump over the railings to pick them up and clamber back up before the next wave broke. There were mishaps but the return was often greater than the 6d obtained from a none-returned deck chair ticket or the 3d for an empty drink bottle. Recycling in its earlier form!
A memory of Looe contributed by John Tyler

Extracts From Polperro & Cornwall books

Polperro, the Harbour 1888

Built in a narrow gully in cliffs 400 feet high, this was once a smuggling village. Many of the fishermen’s cottages looking towards the harbour were built in three storeys, the ground floor being used for storing and salting their catches of fish. The living quarters and bedrooms were reached by an exterior flight of stone steps.
An extract from from"Times Gone By".

Polperro, the Harbour 1888

Built in a narrow gully in cliffs 400 feet high, this was once a smuggling village. Many of the fishermen’s cottages looking towards the harbour were built in three storeys, the ground floor being used for storing and salting their catches of fish. The living quarters and bedrooms were reached by an exterior flight of stone steps.
An extract from from"Countryside Poems".

Polperro, the Harbour 1888

The two significant features in this photograph are the nets drying over the sea wall and the way in which the fishing boat is being handled. The sails are raised, but the vessel needs to be controlled more tightly in order to leave harbour safely. She must not be dashed against the rocks close to her port side, nor against the harbour wall to starboard. Each man takes water pressure on the oars, thus easing the craft gently around the exit. The boat is possibly a Fowey- registered gaffer. Fowey
An extract from from"Picturesque Harbours Photographic Memories".

Polperro, the Harbour 1888

Fewer than six miles from Fowey, Polperro is first recorded as being a fishing village in 1303. This picture was taken before the construction of the counter pier; this was built so that the entrance to the harbour could be closed off with timber baulks during bad weather. The boat is a Polperro sprittie.
An extract from from"Victorian and Edwardian Maritime Album".

Polperro, Harbour 1901

Polperro is arguably the most picturesque fishing village in Cornwall, and it has long been a favourite with artists and day trippers. Smuggling was important in days gone by. Here, the fishing fleet is home, packed behind the breakwater. The crane (centre right) was used to position long timbers across the harbour entrance to provide shelter during rough weather; today a swinging gate performs the same function.
An extract from from"Cornwall County Memories".