Cornwall’s maritime
The port of Falmouth, situated in Britain’s Western Approaches, is Cornwall’s largest town and home to the county’s maritime heritage. Falmouth has come along way since 1600 when it consisted of just two houses, a smithy and an alehouse, but when Sir Walter Raleigh stayed with Sir John Killegrew at Arwenack House, he was so impressed with its geographical features that he recommended that the site should be developed as a port.
Falmouth duly became home to the Packet Ship service which sailed to the Mediterranean and the Americas from 1688 to 1852 carrying mail and goods. These world wide links across the seas led to the development of a substantial maritime industry in Falmouth and its surrounds, with families passing down generations of skills in the art of boat building.
For nearly 300 years Falmouth remained one of the principle ports of the world, where during the mid 1800s it was not an uncommon site to see 350 ocean-going sailing ships at anchor in the Carrick Roads at any one time. Today, Pendennis is at the forefront of Falmouth’s maritime services and employs many local craftsmen whose roots extend back into a proud history of Cornish shipbuilding.
website