Lack of Cornish interest sees some salty tales off to Eyemouth Museum

Despite trying for several years since the Pilchard Works Museum closed down in 2006, Nick and Mithe Howell have now found a new home for some of the more significant artefacts that once made up an historic collection of Cornish fishing paraphenalia. For many years British Cured Pilchards and then the museum were the only surviving remnants of the huge Cornish Pilchard industry that have seen thousands of tons of 'Salacche Inglese' exported to Italy since the 16th Century! The collection of fishing and processing items has now been broken up, proceeds from the forthcoming sale at David Lay's will help contrubute to the cost of new seating in Newlyn Fishermen's Mission.

Many of the items from the museum can now be seen at Penlee House Museum and Gallery in Penlee Park, Penzance - with a reminder to all that admission is free on Saturdays! The current exhibition of paintings focusses on both Newlyn and its near neighbour Mousehole - which includes the original artwork by Nicola Bayley for the Mousehole Cat - well worth seeing in order to appreciate the intracacy of her work!

The Eyemouth Museum will now provide a permanent home for major Pilchard Works artefacts including the giant net-making machine and examples of the Victorain pilchard presses.