Newlyn's Old Harbour - can anyone answer the question?

The Old Harbour, possibly more correctly called Gwavas Quay, was first referenced in 1435. There are records to say that it was rebuilt in that year by Breton stonemasons. The sketch above, thought to have been drawn in the early 1900s, includes the now long-gone cottages seen on the left that once overlooked the slip below.

This photo, the earliest found to date, shows a slate-roofed building on the quay of the Old harbour- the seaward side appears to be a part of the harbour wall...

both this...

and this photo show the quay after that slate-roofed building fell into disrepair.

Over the years, more and more stone was taken from the old harbour wall - allegedly used by local builders constructing new homes in Newlyn in the early and mid-1900s. Eventually, in the 1950s, a group of Newlyn artists fearing the total destruction of this centuries old harbour wall brought it's plight to the attention of Historic England who then designated the harbour wall as a Grade II* listed building.

 

Later, in the 1960s, a blockwork building (painted white) was constructed, roughly where the original building existed - thought to be built for the quarry supervisor overseeing the loading of the stone boats on the South Pier.

The question is this, who built it and why?

Update. It seems the building was constructed from blocks supplied by Penlee quarry for the purpose of providing an office base for managing the visiting 'stone boats' on the South Pier.

Elaine Bawden has provided more definitive information on who and why the building came to exist: Here you go Laurence, the opening ceremony of the Fisherman’s Rest down at the old Harbour in Newlyn, exact date not known (probably early 60’s to coincide with Mayor Beckerleg’s term of office) from my late Dad’s (Nim Bawden) photo collection. Despite his advancing years Dad could still put names to most of these faces, they are Newlyn fishermen who would have used the building on a regular basis.

Front Row (maybe names can be added fo the rest)

Third from left - Mr Nicholls, nickname ‘Cabbage’

Fourth from left - Will Hall ‘Willets’ from Mousehole.

Fifth from left - Possibly owner of the Mayflower, dad not sure of his name?

Sixth from left - Penzance Mayor Alfred Beckerleg (1964 - 1966)

Seventh from left - Tommy Barr

Behind Will Hall to his right in the second row wearing a flat cap is Nicky Nowell (Great Grandad of Jack Nowell), then Donald Swanson, Dick & Rolf Payne.

Dad recalled that the Fisherman’s Rest was blessed by the local vicar at the opening ceremony but it was not consecrated. This makes sense as ‘consecration’ is the setting aside of land or buildings for sacred use in perpetuity. Usually land or buildings are only consecrated following a written request to the Bishop called a Petition for Consecration. The consecration can only be undertaken by a Bishop using a particular form of liturgy. This would have been well reported at the time but I can find no confirmed records of a consecration of the Fisherman’s Rest as a place of worship.

Fisherman's Rest - Tuesday 24 February 1891 “Fisherman’s rest” and reading-room was opened in Newlyn town in premises of the property of Mr, Stephen Hichens. In response to an invitation from the Vicar of St. Peter’s, a meeting was well attended on Saturday night to discuss ways and means for starting this desirable Club, and thirty of those present consented to become members. It is to be hoped the Institution will prove a great success. The Cornishman newspaper dated Thursday 13 July 1939 reports the following;

FISHERMAN'S REST, NEWLYN. The report of the Housing Committee, presented to Penzance Town Council on Monday, stated that the committee considered the position with regard to the future uses the Fisherman's Rest situated at the bottom of Church Street, Newlvn. having regard to the fact that the houses immediately adjoining this property are subject to demolition under the provision of the Housing Act. 1936, and resolved that the owner of the Fisherman's Rest be advised as to the legal position, i.e., that the demolition orders, having become operative, cannot be revoked.

Success as MMO increase MLS for Crawfish

 

We did it! After taking a voluntary lead on increasing the minimum landing size for Crawfish two summers ago, the MMO has announced they'll be harmonising the crawfish reference size via a licence condition. From 1 January 2024 the crawfish minimum landing size will increase from 95 to 110 mm in English waters of ICES area 7 for both EU and UK vessels

This was, in part, due to the sheer number of you who showed up to the crawfish workshop they hosted in Newlyn last month. Many thanks for your cooperation with our campaign for this policy change.  The MMO opened a two-week consultation on a potential seasonal closure of the crawfish fishery. The closure would seek to prohibit the retaining and landing of crawfish in English waters of ICES area 7 for all UK and EU vessels using all gear types. The MMO is proposing the following potential closure periods for consideration: No closure Mid December 2023 to 31 May 2024: This would provide the greatest protection to crawfish. 1 January 2024 to 31 May 2024: This would allow fishing for the Christmas market. 1 January 2024 to 31 March 2024: This would align with the French (Brittany) crawfish closure.

The consultation is now closed but the results are expected to be revealed next month, in accordance with the publication of the first six fisheries management plans.

Putting Fishing on the Food Agenda

Local fish on the plate

Blue Foods: Seafood as a Solution

This event is the first in a three-part series examining seafood as a solution to the economic, environmental and societal challenges posed by food production. 

Reflecting on the UK Government Food Strategy and its core objective “To deliver a sustainable, nature positive, affordable food system” this initial event will discuss how fisheries and seafood can contribute to a ‘food-revolution’. We will explore fisheries through a food-production lens to facilitate policy engagement.

AS ML5 DEADLINE LOOMS: “WE HAVE HEARD NOTHING”

It was promised in parliament on 13 July this year. After several postponements, Mark Harper, secretary of state for transport, finally met with Mike Cohen, the chief executive of the NFFO, on 25 October. The much-anticipated meeting was touted by the minister’s office as evidence that he was ‘listening’ to the many concerned politicians and industry representatives who were raising, in particular, the fast-approaching deadline for the ML5 medical certificate, but also the many Notices of Prosecution over the use of PFDs, the Under-15m Safety Code and other issues.

However, several weeks after the meeting, which in theory heralded a new approach and relationship, the following is the entire public statement about the meeting and the issues discussed that Fishing News has been able to obtain from the Department for Transport: “A Department for Transport spokesperson said: ‘The secretary of state recently had a productive meeting with the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations, during which he reiterated the government’s commitment to continue engagement on key issues like the health of people in the fishing industry.’

“Background: there is not a one-off review; MCA is keeping all matters relating to medical certification under continuous review, and will keep ministers and key stakeholders informed where potential issues are identified.”

That is it. In full. There is no actual comment from the minister himself, despite this being requested by FN, nor any detailed response from the MCA itself, in spite of the fact that the then maritime minister, Baroness Vere, was also present, along with a large group of officials.

Mike Cohen told Fishing News: “If this sort of thing did not happen with such depressing regularity, I would say that it is unbelievable that there are still problems with medical certification in the inshore fleet.

“It should be obvious to any intelligent observer that stress and anxiety caused by the rules have already caused far more harm to the health and wellbeing of fishers than they were ever likely to prevent. Not only that, but there are clear and obvious solutions available, some of them written into the regulations themselves. But here we are. Still.

“The government has said that few people have been refused a medical certificate. Hundreds have failed their initial assessment, however, and have been subjected to an opaque appeals process that has often resulted in them being presented with unworkable restrictions.

“The government has said that fitness certificates are necessary because fishermen who get ill at sea will put at risk the lives of others who go to rescue them. No one has produced any evidence to show that this actually happens, however.

“Moreover, the hundreds of thousands of people who go to sea on private boats every year don’t need medical certificates. Surely, of the point is to prevent the lifeboats from having to rescue sick mariners, the same rules should apply to everyone. Perhaps the government leaves yacht owners alone because they are all in peak physical fitness and never get ill.

“When I met with secretary of state for transport Mark Harper on 25 October, I made him aware of all the problems that medical certification is causing. He did not agree with every concern that the fishing industry has expressed but, crucially, he acknowledged that the regulations were having unintended consequences. “He agreed to re-examine their operation and the most problematic aspects of the medical standards. This was a very positive step – but a month on we have heard nothing more, and the time is now very late.

“Earlier this month, my colleague Charles Blyth called for a pause in the implementation of the regulations, while their problems are resolved. The MCA’s response has again been silence.

“Sometimes, when you say nothing, you send a very clear message. I don’t think I like the message the MCA is sending to fishermen here.

“Awareness and agreement are worthless without action. The growing burden of regulations on the small businesses in our inshore fishing fleet and the impact of that constant pressure on the lives of the people who work in it are inexcusable. Those in power cannot claim to be ignorant of the consequences of their decisions. They must act now to undo at least some of the harm they have caused.

“Lord Davies is now the minister responsible for maritime issues at the Department for Transport. His relationship with the fishing industry is a clean slate. If he opens it by pausing the implementation of these misguided regulations, reviewing their operation, and listening to fishermen, he will get off to a very good start indeed.”

Full story courtesy Fishing News.

Monday morning's market end-to-end with fish!

With a sky like that, you just know the odd shower will catch people out today..

youcan barely see the auction floor this morning with big trips of hake from the netters...

like the Ocean Pride...

Ajax...

Ygraine...

Stelissa...

and Britannia V...

along with plenty of pollack...

and haddock...

the odd bonito...

while the beam trawlers put ashore their usual mic of fish including these red mullet...

turbot...

and brill

this big conger is full of roe - known locally as chittlings....

there's still a few John Dory to be had if you know where to go...

no sign of the sun just yet...

at this time of year, the bulk of any beam trawl trip usually consists of three species of fish, plaice

Dover sole...

and monk...

inshore boats target the likes of grey mullet...

bass...

jigged squid...

and the odd herring...

while the lcal crabbers are still seeing the odd mediterranean octopus in the ir pots...

with some settled weather over the weekend the bluefun tuna boats were out in force, three good sized fish were landed...

and carefully checked over by the MMO...

and just for the record, the first Blue fin tunas landed to Newlyn were from Elle V SS697 on September 23rd, the second was landed on the 27th caught by my Milky and Reg fishing from a catamaran  - their fish (above) weighed in at 238kg (525lbs) and was 101 inches long!..

the very best of inshore fish just shine, like these bass...

and red mullet...

there was hardly room to move in Zone 3 of the market...

with some 7st boxes tightly packed with fish...

and plenty of dogs, the bane of netters' lives...

looks like these guys will be washing boxes from dawn to dusk...

they come from all over...

after several centuries on the seabed, this old anchor now reveals its method of construction...

St Georges up on the slip...

the safe working area indicated for the cane.