Fishing capital of the West
The fishing port of Newlyn lies in the western corner of Mount's Bay adjacent to Penzance. The bustling harbourside and the narrow back streets and cobbled courtyards of Newlyn offer the visitor a refeshing glimpse of a genuine Cornish community. Newlyn's many attractions include an art gallery and an award winning fisheries museum, as well as several pubs of character, cafes, restaurants and a good range of shops.
The Port of Newlyn
Fishing has been the mainstay of Newlyn for hundreds of years. Today, the port's fish market handles £20 million worth of fish annually. Near the market is the Newlyn Iceworks built in 1903. The North and South Quays of the harbour were constructed at the end of the 19th century. For much of that time the harbour also served the nearby Penlee Quarry, from where rock was taken to Newlyn's South Quay and loaded onto vessels. The quarry once employed 200 men, but is now closed. In 1980 an extensive new development the Mary Williams Pier, was opened by her Majesty the Queen. In 1988, Princess Diana opened a new market building. Newlyn holds a special place in the international art world. During the final decades of the 19th century, young English painters, such as Stanhope Forbes, Frank Bramley, John Miller and Norman Garstin settled in Newlyn. In the village's picturesque streets they found a homegrown equivalent to the villages of Normandy and Brittany where they had been influenced by a vividly realistic form of painting. Famous Newlyn School paintings include Forbes's Fish Sale On Newlyn Beach and The Health of The Bride, and Bramley's powerful and still significant A Hopeless Dawn depicting the despair of those who have lost loved ones at sea. The more famous works are in major collections, but 'Newlyn School' paintings can be seen at Penzance Museum and Art Gallery. Today, Newlyn faces potentially ruinous restrictions to its fishing industry and for many fishermen the future seems bleak. But Newlyn still has a vigorous and diversified fleet and a resilient fishing community. For the visitor, Newlyn exemplifies Cornwall at its most authentic.
The Rosebud Memorial Garden
The Newlyn fishing boat, the Rosebud, symbolised the spirit of Newlyn people of the 1930's who fought to save the heart of their community from being swept away by an official proposal to demolish large numbers of traditional cottages. Local opposition to the plan was vigorous and well-organised and reached a climax in 1937 when the Rosebud, with a crew of Newlyn fishermen, sailed all the way to Westminster Pier to lobby Parliament. The national publicity that was generated and the ill wind of the Second World War saved some parts of old Newlyn from demolition. There is a Rosebud Memorial Garden above the St. Peter's Hill car park.
The Ordnance Survey Mark
Everywhere in Britain starts from the end of Newlyn's South Pier. Even Ben Nevis and Snowdon, our highest mountains, are measured from the Newlyn Tidal Observatory, the insignifcant little building next to the harbour. In 1915, Newlyn was selected as the Ordnance Survey datum point, the mean sea level from which all heights throughout Britain are calculated. Wherever you are, Newlyn has the measure of you.
The Penlee lifeboat station
Located just along the coast towards Mousehole, has a heroic and tragic history.
Mousehole Penzance The Pilchard Works The Coastal Footpath Trereife House & Gardens
Newlyn Art Gallery Newlyn Society of Artists