FOWEY
The Fowey Estuary has been the focus of long distance trade stimulated by Cornwall’s mineral wealth since the Bronze Age . Earthworks at St Catherine’s Point suggest it is the site of a cliff castle or defended promontory fort of Iron Age date which would have controlled and defended activity in the estuary. During the 6th century AD an enclosure or ‘ lann’ was established by a small religious community containing a small church, burials and dwellings. A site close to the present day church is indicated by a surviving place name of ‘Langorthou’. During the 12th century what had become the small fishing village of Fowey was gifted to Tywardreath Priory as part of a larger land package. The Priory set about issuing a formal town charter in 1190 and securing royal charters in 1316 granting a weekly market and two annual fairs. Place House was built at this time by the Priory as their headquarters within the town. It later became the seat of the Treffry family. The surviving building contains 15th and 16th century elements but was extensively rebuilt during the 18th and 19th centuries.
14th century Fowey replaced Lostwithiel as the principal port on the estuary. Its expansion was stimulated by the wars with France and Spain. Ships were requisitioned by the crown while others were equipped by landowners such as the Treffrys to seize ships with or without the Kings commission.
Its exposed location at the mouth of the estuary made Fowey vulnerable to attack and the town was destroyed by fire during invasions by
14th century Fowey replaced Lostwithiel as the principal port on the estuary. Its expansion was stimulated by the wars with France and Spain. Ships were requisitioned by the crown while others were equipped by landowners such as the Treffrys to seize ships with or without the Kings commission.
Its exposed location at the mouth of the estuary made Fowey vulnerable to attack and the town was destroyed by fire during invasions by
French, Spanish and other pirate ships in 1330, 1380 and 1457. Following the 1457 raid, blockhouses were built on either side of the estuary mouth. A chain spanned between them that could be raised to close the channel in times of need. St Catherine’s Castle was built in 1542 as one of the Henrician forts designed to defend the south coast. The gun platform is Victorian and reused during the Second World war.
The fishing industry expanded during the 17th and 18th centuries and the seine fishing companies developed large purpose-built fish cellars on previously undeveloped sites, expanding from the medieval quays along the river frontage to Caffa Pill.
The 19th century saw the rise the china clay industry and the extensive use of the port for the export of clay, the arrival of the railway, the growth of tourism and the development of the town as a residential resort By 1876 china clay exports from Fowey had overtaken those of the shallower, over-stretched St Austell Bay harbours. The inlet at Caffa Mill Pill was progressively reclaimed with the development of the railway and the Carn Point china clay docks to the north. The initial railway connection, completed in 1869, linked to the mainline at Lostwithiel and originally transported iron ore to the port, later diversifying to carry china clay and subsequently passengers. The railway was lost as part of the Beeching cuts of the 1960s.
The fishing industry expanded during the 17th and 18th centuries and the seine fishing companies developed large purpose-built fish cellars on previously undeveloped sites, expanding from the medieval quays along the river frontage to Caffa Pill.
The 19th century saw the rise the china clay industry and the extensive use of the port for the export of clay, the arrival of the railway, the growth of tourism and the development of the town as a residential resort By 1876 china clay exports from Fowey had overtaken those of the shallower, over-stretched St Austell Bay harbours. The inlet at Caffa Mill Pill was progressively reclaimed with the development of the railway and the Carn Point china clay docks to the north. The initial railway connection, completed in 1869, linked to the mainline at Lostwithiel and originally transported iron ore to the port, later diversifying to carry china clay and subsequently passengers. The railway was lost as part of the Beeching cuts of the 1960s.
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