Porthleven
The most southerly town in the UK Porthleven, was originally known as Port Leuan, began as a small hamlet in the cove. It continued to grow, consisting of fishermen, farm workers and miners and in the early 18th. century it was being recorded as Port Elvan (possibly from the saint St. Elvan) and at times as Torleven. The miners were mainly engaged in the lead mines near Loe Bar and at its height there were 24 working within 6 miles of Porthleven.
During the early part of the 19th century the (what is now the outer) harbor was built and this was the basis for the Porthleven of today. The first ship to discharge its cargo here was (possibly) the Norwegian vessel Charlotte Joanne in 1815. The ship was carrying timber for the Wendron mines.
1855 saw Harveys of Hayle, a major engineering and shipping company, lease the harbor and construct the inner basin to provide shelter for vessels during bad weather. This brought about an increase in the number of vessels using the port from the baltic and in particular those from Norway.
The building (with the clock tower) that dominates the entrance to the harbor is the Bickford-Smith Institute. The building stands on the site of the old Fishmongers Arms an ancient alehouse where legend has it that the pub cat was so terrified by the weather that it jumped through the window into the sea and drowned.
Ship Inn was used by smugglers and tunnels from the caves from the west of the harbor led to Methleigh manor, these are now blocked off. The contraband was stored under the floor of the manor kitchen.
