Porthleven

Storm at Porthleven 3 March 2019

  The important fishing community of Porthleven recorded many shipwrecks over the centuries. One of the most important was that of the HMS Anson, c. Lydiard, in December 1807 when over 100 sailors and civilians were drowned. Having sailed from Falmouth on Christmas Eve 1807 for the Black Rocks, she was ordered to act as a look-out Frigate at the entrance to the English Channel Fleet. She was overtaken by a particularly violent W to SW storm which forced her off her Station and to seek shelter in Mounts Bay, South Cornwall.

It appears that she mistook Lands End for the Lizard Peninsula and bore-up for, thinking that they were heading for Falmouth. Reports as to her journey up the west coast of the Lizard Peninsula are contrary. For some time the captain and officers pondered her exact location, doubtless looking for a safe haven and with waves sweeping over the masts they found themselves forced onto the Loe Bar. It was reported that she had sent out a ships boat ahead carrying an anchor ready to discharge it into the sea to help stay her,  but she was swamped. On coming into contact with the Loe Bar she turned broadside on and the masts fell onto the sloping pebbles at the Bar which washed away under the pressure of their feet, as there was an exodus of men, women, and children onto the stony ground still washed by huge waves. Many were drowned but rescuers managed to save some of the  crew and passengers by their brave actions.

Captain Lydiard was drowned and the most senior officer to survive was Lieut. Gill. The number of officers and crew were diminished in a short space of time but there were some who survived were either taken, or made there own way to Helston. Some of the crew gave accounts of the wreck which were later challenged. Almost a century later divers made expeditions to the wreck and several large cannon were recovered.

FEBRUARY 2017

Below- A Sunday morning visit to Porthleven11.12.16

Below- February 2016

STORM IMOGEN PLAYS ROUGH AT HIGH SPRING TIDE 8.2.2016

PORTHLEVEN 2005                                                        

 PORTHLEVEN LIME KILN -BUILT 1814

PORTHLEVEN 2015

 On 2nd February 1904 an unannounced sea surge 8 feet higher than normal hit the Scillies, and later hit Porthleven Harbour causing damage to the inner harbour. In January 1924 a similar destructiver tidal wave hit the Loe Bar and Porthleven causing a water level over 7 and a half feet higher than normal in the Loe Pool. It caused flooding into Coronation Lake at Helston as well as bringing in huge quantities of sand which blocked the Pool drainage requiring the mine adit to be cleared before the water level dropped.

2016- HARBOUR

GOOD FRIDAY- GOOD WEATHER 25.3.2016