Porthleven
Porthleven
| |
|---|---|
 Porthleven Harbour | |
  Porthleven Location within Cornwall | |
| Population | 3,094 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | SW6225 |
| Ceevil pairish |
|
| Unitar authority | |
| Ceremonial coonty | |
| Region | |
| Kintra | Ingland |
| Sovereign state | Unitit Kinrick |
| Post toun | HELSTON |
| Postcode destrict | TR13 |
| Diallin code | 01326 |
| Police | Devon an Cornwall |
| Fire | Cornwall |
| Ambulance | Sooth Wastren |
| EU Pairlament | South West England |
| UK Pairlament | |
Porthleven is a toun, ceevil parish an fishin port in Cornwall, Unitit Kinrick, near Helston. It is the maist sootherly port on the island o Great Breetain[1] an wis oreeginally developed as a harbour o refuge, when this pairt o the Cornish coastline wis recognised as a black spot for wrecks in days o sail. Nearbi Loe Bar wis pairticularly infamous, wi swimmers an surfers being warned aff the aurie tae this day.
History an geografie
[eedit | eedit soorce]Historically an for local-govrenment purposes, Porthleven wis includit athin the toun bundaries o nearbi Helston. Efter years o growth, it nou haes its awn toun cooncil. Its population in 2001 recordit bi the UK census was 3,190.[2]
Includin tourists an surfers wad swell that number considerably. Porthleven haes exploitit its location an exposur tae pouerful swells tae become ane o the best-kent an heichlie-regardit surfin spots in Breetain. Waves regularly exceedin 2 metres break on the shallae reef that wis shaped bi blastin the harbour. Due tae the prevailin wasterly winds it wis vera easy for a ship unner sail tae become entrapped athin the bay an be cast up on the rocks which made up the sma fishin coves o Mullion, Kynance an the Lizard.
Arguably, Porthleven's maist recognisable biggin is the Bickford-Smith Institute which is next tae the pier an harbour entrance. Wi a touer o aboot 70 fuit in heicht, it haes the appearance o a kirk but currently is uised as a snooker club an hooses the toun cooncil offices. It featured (alang wi various ither scenes frae the toun) as the incident room in an episode o the TV detective series Wycliffe.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution stationed a lifeboat at Portleven in 1863. A boat hoose wis built at Breageside frae whaur the boat wis taken tae the water on a carriage. A new boat hoose on the wast side o the harbour entrance wis opened in 1894 wi a slipway tae mak launchin easier. The station wis closed in 1929 as the neighbourin stations at The Lizard an Penlee haed been equipped wi motor lifeboats that coud cover the whole o Mount's Bay. The slipway wis dismantled an the boat hoose saw uise as a store for a while but haes syne become the Shipwreck Centre museum.[3]
Notable residents
[eedit | eedit soorce]Porthleven wis the birthplace o the Victorian theologian an releegious writer Pender Hodge Cudlip.
Porthleven wis the hame toun o the Dambusters' Commandin Officer, Guy Gibson, an there is a road named in his memory. Umwhile motor racin driver Chris Craft - who competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race for ower a decade, including a third-placed finish in 1976, as well as twa races in Formula Ane - wis born in Porthleven.
Twinnin
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References
[eedit | eedit soorce]- ↑ Cornwall Online - The Lizard Peninsula Guide
- ↑ "Cornwall County Council - Districts - Kerrier - Parish Population Statistics - 2001". Archived frae the original on 25 Mey 2006. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ↑ Leach, Nicholas (2006) [2000]. Cornwall's Lifeboat Heritage. Chacewater: Twelveheads Press. pp. 37–38. ISBN 0-906294-43-6.
Freemit airtins
[eedit | eedit soorce]- Porthleven at Curlie
- Porthleven Sithney Guisseny Twinning Association Archived 2011-10-03 at the Wayback Machine
- Porthleven Old Cornwall Society Archived 2011-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
- Cornwall Record Office Online Catalogue for PorthlevenArchived 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine