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Newlyn Harbour is situated on the west side of Penzance Bay and on England’s southwest coast, about 15 miles northwest of Lizard Point and 7 miles northeast of Land's End. This is principally a fishing port, but it accommodates leisure craft inside and it is also possible to anchor outside of the harbour walls during good conditions.

Newlyn Harbour is situated on the west side of Penzance Bay and on England’s southwest coast, about 15 miles northwest of Lizard Point and 7 miles northeast of Land's End. This is principally a fishing port, but it accommodates leisure craft inside and it is also possible to anchor outside of the harbour walls during good conditions.

The harbour provides good protection except during strong southeasterly conditions, which send an uncomfortable surge into the harbour. Newlyn is the locality’s port of refuge, offering safe access at all states of the tide, night or day, and in all reasonable conditions. The only exception is during strong south round to east winds, when its shallow waters can prove challenging. The harbour may still be approached during these conditions, but only as close to high water as possible.



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Keyfacts for Newlyn
Facilities
Water hosepipe available alongsideWater available via tapWaste disposal bins availableTop up fuel available in the area via jerry cansMini-supermarket or supermarket availableExtensive shopping available in the areaFuel by arrangement with bulk tanker providerSlipway availableShore based toilet facilitiesShowers available in the vicinity or by arrangementHot food available in the localityPublic house or wine bar in the areaMarked or notable walks in the vicinity of this locationPleasant family beach in the areaCashpoint or bank available in the areaPost Office in the areaInternet café in the areaDoctor or hospital in the areaPharmacy in the areaChandlery available in the areaMarine engineering services available in the areaBus service available in the areaBicycle hire available in the areaShore based family recreation in the area


Nature
Anchoring locationBerth alongside a deep water pier or raft up to other vesselsJetty or a structure to assist landingQuick and easy access from open waterNavigation lights to support a night approachUrban nature,  anything from a small town of more 5,000 inhabitants  to a large city

Considerations
Dangerous to enter when it is Beaufort force 6 or more from ESE, SE and SSE.Note: harbour fees may be charged

Protected sectors

Current wind over the protected quadrants
Minimum depth
2.5 metres (8.2 feet).

Approaches
5 stars: Safe access; all reasonable conditions.
Shelter
4 stars: Good; assured night's sleep except from specific quarters.



Last modified
May 6th 2020

Summary

A good location with safe access.

Facilities
Water hosepipe available alongsideWater available via tapWaste disposal bins availableTop up fuel available in the area via jerry cansMini-supermarket or supermarket availableExtensive shopping available in the areaFuel by arrangement with bulk tanker providerSlipway availableShore based toilet facilitiesShowers available in the vicinity or by arrangementHot food available in the localityPublic house or wine bar in the areaMarked or notable walks in the vicinity of this locationPleasant family beach in the areaCashpoint or bank available in the areaPost Office in the areaInternet café in the areaDoctor or hospital in the areaPharmacy in the areaChandlery available in the areaMarine engineering services available in the areaBus service available in the areaBicycle hire available in the areaShore based family recreation in the area


Nature
Anchoring locationBerth alongside a deep water pier or raft up to other vesselsJetty or a structure to assist landingQuick and easy access from open waterNavigation lights to support a night approachUrban nature,  anything from a small town of more 5,000 inhabitants  to a large city

Considerations
Dangerous to enter when it is Beaufort force 6 or more from ESE, SE and SSE.Note: harbour fees may be charged



HM  +44 1736 362523      info@newlynharbour.com     newlynharbour.com/      Ch.9, 12 & 16 [Newlyn Harbour]
Position and approaches
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Haven position

50° 6.182' N, 005° 32.564' W

This is the position of the light at the head of Newlyn's South Pier, Fl.5s10m9M.

What is the initial fix?

The following Newlyn Initial Fix will set up a final approach:
50° 6.182' N, 005° 31.618' W
This is ½ mile south of the Gear Rock, and a little over that distance due east of the harbour entrance.


What are the key points of the approach?

Offshore details are available in southwestern England’s coastal overview from Lizard Point to Land's End Route location
  • From the southeast, keep clear of the Mountamopus Shoal, which is located about 4½ miles from Newlyn and marked by a cardinal.

    • From the southwest, avoid Low Lee Rock, also marked by a cardinal.
        Vessels approaching from Penzance and Saint Michael's Mount should avoid the Gear Rock.
      • Approach from east, steering for the lighthouse at the head of the South Pier Fl.5s9M.


Not what you need?
Click the 'Next' and 'Previous' buttons to progress through neighbouring havens in a coastal 'clockwise' or 'anti-clockwise' sequence. Below are the ten nearest havens to Newlyn for your convenience.
Ten nearest havens by straight line charted distance and bearing:
  1. Penzance Harbour - 1 nautical miles NNE
  2. Mousehole - 1.2 nautical miles S
  3. Saint Michael's Mount - 2.7 nautical miles ENE
  4. Porthleven Harbour - 8.8 nautical miles E
  5. Mullion Cove & Porth Mellin - 12.1 nautical miles ESE
  6. Kynance Cove - 14.4 nautical miles ESE
  7. Cadgwith - 15.7 nautical miles ESE
  8. Helford River - 16 nautical miles E
  9. Gillan Creek - 17.4 nautical miles E
  10. Coverack - 17.9 nautical miles ESE
These havens are ordered by straight line charted distance and bearing, and can be reordered by compass direction or coastal sequence:
  1. Penzance Harbour - 1 miles NNE
  2. Mousehole - 1.2 miles S
  3. Saint Michael's Mount - 2.7 miles ENE
  4. Porthleven Harbour - 8.8 miles E
  5. Mullion Cove & Porth Mellin - 12.1 miles ESE
  6. Kynance Cove - 14.4 miles ESE
  7. Cadgwith - 15.7 miles ESE
  8. Helford River - 16 miles E
  9. Gillan Creek - 17.4 miles E
  10. Coverack - 17.9 miles ESE
To find locations with the specific attributes you need try:

Resources search

Chart
Please use our integrated Navionics chart to appraise the haven and its approaches. Navionics charts feature in premier plotters from B&G, Raymarine, Magellan and are also available on tablets. Open the chart in a larger viewing area by clicking the expand to 'new tab' or the 'full screen' option.

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What's the story here?
Newlyn Harbour
Image: Michael Harpur


Newlyn Harbour is situated on the west side of Penzance Bay, within a cove known as Gwavas Lake. The small port is formed by two long piers, north and south, which converge at a right angle to form a northeast facing entrance. It is marked by a prominent metal lighthouse standing on the head of the South Pier. Inside the entrance, the rectangular-shaped harbour runs in a northwesterly direction and is divided in two by the Mary Williams Pier, which has fishing boat berths on both sides. Within Mary Williams Pier are two pontoons with finger berths used by local boats and fishing vessels. Newlyn's principal industry is fishing, and more than 100 fishing vessels operate from the port, ranging from 6 to 37 metres in size. It is among the largest in the UK and it takes in one of the richest hauls. Like most of Cornwall's coastal towns, Newlyn is becoming an increasingly popular holiday destination, with many pubs and restaurants. As such, there is a wide variety of yachts and pleasure boats in the harbour area.


The southwest corner and the area inside the pontoons dries
Image: Michael Harpur


The harbour can handle visiting boats up to 24 metres LOA with draughts of up to 5.5 metres at MHWS and 5.2 metres at MHWN. Sections of the harbour have maintained depths from 1.9 to 2.4 metres, but a large portion of it dries, particularly so the southwest corner and inside the pontoons. The harbour authority is Newlyn Pier & Harbour Commissioners, which gives priority to the fishing fleet, but all efforts are made to accommodate leisure craft. As this is not main concern, however, it is important to contact them in advance of any planned visit VHF channels 9, 12, and 16 [Newlyn Harbour], Landline+44 1736 362523, E-mailinfo@newlynharbour.com, Websitewww.newlynharbour.com. The harbour office hours are 08:00 to 17:00 weekdays and 08:00 to 12:00 Saturday.


Visitors are typically accommodated on the outer fingers of the pontoon
Image: Michael Harpur


Upon contact, the harbourmaster will provide details of berthing possibilities, as well as vessel movements and general navigation matters in or near the harbours of Newlyn and Penzance. When available, berths are for an overnight stay only and are typically on the first three or four fingers of the pontoon lying southward of Mary Williams Pier. These all have a maintained depth of 2 metres LAT. Charges per night [2019] are: up to 8m £20 | 8m - 12m £25 | 12m and over £35. Multihulls attract an additional 50 per cent fee. It is important to note that preference is given to fishing vessels – yachtsmen may be asked to move in order to accommodate the very busy harbour operations.


How to get in?
Newlyn Harbour is situated on the west side of Penzance Bay
Image: Michael Harpur


Convergance Point Use southwestern England’s coastal overview from Lizard Point to Land's End Route location for seaward approaches. Keep a sharp eye out for pot marker buoys throughout this area.

South Eastern Approach The primary danger for vessels approaching from the southeast is the Mountamopus Shoal, located about 4½ miles from Newlyn and a mile southward from Cuddan Point. It is a rocky shoal patch, with some portions covered by as little as 1.4 metres of water, and is marked by a south cardinal, Q(6)+LFl.15s, on its southern edge.


Fishing boat passing Low Lee Rock east cardinal Newlyn bound
Image: Nilfanion via CC ASA 4.0


South Western Approach Vessels approaching from the southwest should avoid Low Lee Rock, with 2.1 metres of water over. It lies ⅓ mile east by northeastward of Penlee Point and has the 'Low Lee' east cardinal marker buoy moored about 150 metres eastward of the rock, Q(3)10s. Likewise, Carn Base, ⅓ mile northwestward, has 2.3 metres of water over it.


The Gear Rock isolated danger beacon as seen from the shore at high water
Image: Michael Harpur


North Eastern Approach Vessel approaching from Penzance and Saint Michael's Mount will have the Gear Rock very much in their path. The Gear dries to 1.9 metres and lies ¾ mile northwest of the harbour. It is marked by an isolated danger beacon Fl(2)10s and at night the green sector of the North Pier light (238°-248°) clears the Gear. Those intending on hugging the shore from Penzance should note Dog Rock off the Promanade, with 0.3 metres of water over it. This lies inside of the Gear and ⅓ mile to the northeast of the harbour entrance.


Newlyn Harbour as seen from the southeast
Image: Michael Harpur


Initial fix location From the initial fix, steer for the prominent metal tower on the head of the South Pier, ¾ mile west. The tower is 10 metres high, coloured white with a red bottom band, and at night it exhibits a light, Fl.5s, that can be seen for 9 miles.


Newlyn Harbour as seen from the south
Image: Michael Harpur


Haven location Anchor a couple of hundred metres outside the harbour walls in Gwavas Lake according to wind and conditions. Keep well clear of the harbour fairway and carry a bright riding light, as there are frequent fishing boat movements at night and any moderate riding light will struggle to be visible against the background shore lights of the town.


Saint Michael's Mount seen through the entrance
Image: Michael Harpur


Alternatively, turn into the harbour's 47-metre wide northwest facing entrance and berth as directed by the harbourmaster. There is a speed limit of 3 knots within the harbour. The usual berths are at the end of the Newlyn Harbour pontoons, which are best addressed by steering for the head of the Mary Williams Pier after the 1.5-metre patch extending from North Pier has been passed. A red spar buoy will be seen in the water and this marks the end of a slip. Keep well clear of the area to southwest and south of Mary Williams Pier as it all dries at low water.


Why visit here?
Newlyn, first recorded as Nulyn in 1279, then Lulyn in 1290, takes its name from the Cornish words lu meaning 'fleet' and lynn or lydn meaning 'pool'. Conjoined as Lulyn it means 'pool for the fleet of boats'. This perfectly describes the use of Gwavas Lake, which is an area of relatively calm water in Mounts Bay situated outside the current harbour area of Newlyn. The name Gwavas is itself a conjunction, derived from the Cornish gwaf meaning winter, and bos meaning abode.


Boat Adrift – by Charles Napier Hemy
Image: Public Domain


The natural protection afforded by Gwavas Lake led local fishermen to use the area as their preferred landing site and somewhere a boat could safely be left afloat. It was most likely first used for seasonal fishing by local farmers and smallholders. As with many other coastal Cornish villages, it probably began as a 'cellar settlement', where a cluster of fish cellars and net lofts developed around the landing beach. In the case of Newlyn, it was the conjunction of three small fishing settlements that were previously separated by bodies of water entering the harbour area: Tolcarne, derived from Tal Carn, meaning 'brow of the rocks'; Street-an-Nowan, from Steet-an-Awan, meaning 'river street', as the Newlyn River passes through the town to the sea; and Trewarveneth, meaning 'farm/manor on the hill'.

Hauling in Lobster Pots – by Charles Napier Hemy
Image: Public Domain
None of these settlements came to be recorded in the 1086 Domesday, as all were within the manor of Alverton, which was the original manorial centre of the area. Alward and tun comprise a personal name combined with the word for 'town' to indicate it was a Saxon called Alward’s settlement. The manor was recorded as the largest of the whole Land’s End peninsula, extending from Penzance to Mousehole. Alas for Alward, however, he was soon to be dispossessed by the Norman conquerors. During Alward’s time and that of the new Norman lords, the settlements, landing rights and most of the properties of the area were owned by the Manor of Alverton.

The first record of Newlyn’s quay comes from 1437, when indulgences were offered by the church in return for contributions towards its 'repairing and maintaining of a certain quay or jetty for forty boats'. The quay was originally constructed in the reign of Henry VI and renewed in the time of James I. John Leland observed in 1540 that Newlyn was... 'a pretty fisher town in the west part of Mount’s Bay lying hard by the shore'. But references to Newlyn are scarce as it remained largely anonymous in historic records until the 18th century. Before the fishing of pilchards grew into an industry, the size and status of the harbour remained inferior to those of its near neighbours. In fact, one of the harbour's most important historical connections was entirely overlooked for four centuries, and it largely remains so to this day. This occurred in 1620, when the Mayflower visited.


Unloading the boats, Newlyn Harbour – by Harold Harvey
Image: Public Domain


In August of that year, ships the Speedwell and the Mayflower set sail from Southampton bound for Virginia. However, the Speedwell was not a good ship and it soon started to take on water, forcing both vessels to run to Plymouth for repairs. At this time, an outbreak of cholera was sweeping through the city, so they made a hurried effort of patching up the Speedwell and were on their way as quickly as they could be. The hasty repairs proved unreliable and by the time they reached the Isles of Scilly, the vessel was taking on water again. With the uncertain seas of winter approaching, the Speedwell was deemed unseaworthy and not capable of the crossing, and so should return for further repair work. Some of the passengers from the Speedwell then boarded the Mayflower, and fearing the fresh water may have been contaminated in Plymouth, they thought they should refresh it. For this reason, and to replenish their supplies, the Mayflower came into Newlyn. Since then, people have been under the misguided belief that it was Plymouth, on 16 September 1620, that the Mayflower departed for the New World. In truth, it was from Newlyn’s old quay.

Between The Tides – by Walter Langley 1901
Image: Public Domain
Newlyn finally took off in the 18th century, when it became a centre of the seine fishery, and the town prospered behind it, landing, curing and marketing pilchards. The pilchard industry was in the hands of merchants and dealers, and required significant infrastructure investment in fishing equipment and substantial 'industrial' fish cellars. It is believed that Newlyn had eight or nine seines in operation during the second half of the 18th century. Locals later built luggers to pursue pilchards with nets, 'drifting' or 'driving', as it was known, which attracted fish merchants to the port. By the middle of the 19th century, Newlyn held more drift boats than any other Cornish port, and the Newlyn, or Mount's Bay, lugger was a distinctive design, distinguishable from those of St Ives or Falmouth.

A guidebook from this time described Newlyn as a 'colony of fishermen, with narrow paved lanes, glistening with pilchard scales in the season – with external staircases, and picturesque interiors'. Growth was spurred on from the 1830s by increased access to markets, especially London and Bristol, enabled by steam-packets that called at Hayle. In 1866 Penzance was finally linked to London on a through line, providing yet another boost to Newlyn. For the first time, the railway made it possible to transport fresh fish to London and other major markets in a day. In April 1868, the West Briton reported: 'All day long the fish were being carried from Newlyn to Penzance, and kept the roads, streets and railway station very busy... No less than five thousand baskets of fish were rapidly despatched by three specials, and the mail train, on Friday; and mackerel which that morning swam in shoals seven or eight miles S.W. of the dreaded Wolf Rock were sold in Billingsgate early on Saturday morning.'


The Old Slip Newlyn – by Harold Harvey, 1908
Image: Public Domain


Before the 19th century, the name of Newlyn referred only to the literal 'fleet pool' anchoring area near the old quay. By the latter end of the 19th century, the Old Quay was enclosing too small a haven for the level of activity at what was a prodigious fishing port. To help improve accessibility and safety, it was itself enclosed by the Victorian piers. The South Pier was completed in 1885 and the North Pier was built the following year and extended in 1892. This, in turn, helped to boost Newlyn’s fortunes as commodities such as coal could now be exported from Cornwall’s shores. This century also saw the extraction of copper from Penlee Quarry, shipped from the port that became known as Newlyn.


Never Morning Wore To Evening – by Walter Langley 1894
Image: Public Domain
The brisk fishing trade brought opportunistic east coast fishing fleets into Newlyn. Termed Yorkies by the locals, their indifference to the observance of the Sabbath day led to large-scale unrest in 1896. The strictly Methodist Newlyn men would not fish on a Sunday, which left the Monday market wide open to the less pious Lowestoft fishermen. This volatile situation exploded in May of that year, when the local fishermen retaliated by seizing non-Cornish vessels and throwing their catch overboard. Thee days of rioting and violence ensued and the upheaval, known as the Newlyn Riots, was only finally quelled when the combined forces of the police, the army and the crew of a Royal Navy destroyer entered the fray.


Newlyn, Catching Up With The Cornish Telegraph – by Walter Langley
Image: Public Domain
Perhaps unlikely, it was, however, a colony of artists, founded by Stanhope Forbes, that began to keep some of the town's more unruly youngsters out of mischief. The Newlyn School of Art was established here around the 1880s, its artists drawn to the picturesque village, with its quays and harbour, and the grandeur of the cliffs and moorland scenery towards Land's End. The key element, though, was the clear local light that is created by a southerly, ocean-facing peninsula, three parts surrounded by the sea. At first, the greyness in the atmosphere helped their depiction of subtleties in tone, with part of their creed being the subordination of colour to tone-gradation at the time. It was in this way similar to Barbizon School in France, where artists fled Paris to paint in a purer setting that emphasised natural light.


Departure Of The Fleet – by Walter Langley 1896
Image: Public Domain


In later times, the notion of a common ideal dissipated somewhat, but the interest of the 'Newlyn School' attracted a regular band of artists, who in various ways assimilated and expressed the picturesque influences of the place. Its rise was so rapid that in 1895 Cornish philanthropist John Passmore Edwards built and donated the Newlyn Art Gallery to the town's artists. Many of their works were inspired by the day-to-day life of the harbour – the fishing, the comings and goings of the fleet and the anxious wait of families who watched for the boats to return safely home. This has left a legacy of art that records the comings and goings, fishing activities and people of this harbour around the turn of the 20th century like few others.

Newlyn artisan copperwork
Image: Public Domain
Alongside the men of brush and paint came master craftsman JD Mackenzie, who in 1890 was more interested in the copper being mined from Penlee Quarry. He founded a class of artistic metalwork and was joined two years later by John Pearson, a member of the Guild of Handicraft. Mackenzie opened Newlyn Art Industries in a large granite warehouse, from where the famous Newlyn Copper was developed. Although similar to mainstream copper work, it took on local themes and a distinctive identity of its own. As poor weather and seasonal fluctuations brought enforced periods of inactivity, local fishermen trained to create domestic and decorative copperware. They created some of the most outstanding work in the arts and crafts tradition, which is now highly prized by collectors, all as an alternative source of income.


Newlyn, or Mount's Bay, Lugger in the harbour today
Image: Michael Harpur


Until the 1960s, the main catch at Newlyn remained its pilchards, but by then the shoals had largely disappeared and become less popular with consumers. During the 1970s, mackerel helped to improve the fortunes of the harbour, leading to the opening of the Mary Williams Pier by The Queen in 1980.


The old pier, or quay, where the Mayflower's pilgrims would have landed
Image: Michael Harpur


Today, Newlyn is very much a working port and one of the UK's premier fishing ports. Newlyn has the second largest fleet in the country and its £20 million annual catch is the highest earning in all of the UK. In 2004, copper production was re-established by Michael Johnson, who has been recognised as the leading artisan in the UK. Bespoke copper, bronze and brass work from the finest industrial arts coppersmiths is once again produced here, making art as important to Newlyn’s future as it was to its illustrious past.

Another view of the old pier/quay
Image: Michael Harpur


There is ample opportunity to see this at the copperworks and at The Newlyn Art Gallery, which exhibits cutting-edge contemporary art. The Newlyn School of Art offers inspiring courses and painting holidays to this day. The harbour's South Pier is also a place of national Maritime importance. It carries the Ordnance Survey's Datum point, from which all heights in the United Kingdom are measured. A brass bolt on the pier is the benchmark for the whole of the UK and all heights are referenced to this point. You can still step onto the Old Quay today. A plaque there reads: ‘To the memory of Bill Best Harris 1914 – 1987 Historian and son of Plymouth, whose researches indicated that the MAYFLOWER 16 – 8 – 1620 docked at the Old Quay Newlyn for water and supplies, making it the last port of call in England. The water supply at Plymouth being the cause of fever and cholera in the city. Let debate begin.


Boats alongside the visitor pontoon
Image: Michael Harpur


From a boating point of view, being accessible at all states of the tide, Newlyn is a popular stopover point for boats en route for the Isles of Scilly or for crossing the English Channel to Brittany. It is also the only harbour of refuge in Mounts Bay, and if it gets rough suddenly with a groundswell running or with onshore winds, no attempt should be made to enter any of the bay's other harbours; Newlyn is the only safe option. Its all-tide access is particularly useful for passage making, so it is possible to make the most of the tides or if you are intent on an early start. Likewise, it makes a great location to stock up on provisions, just like the Mayflower did four centuries ago. With its authentic charm and ambitious spirit, Newlyn is well worth a visit of itself.


What facilities are available?
Water, showers and toilets are available by arrangement at the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen, on the North Pier, which welcomes all mariners. Bins can be found on quays, with diesel fuel available from the North Quay pipeline, minimum of 50 gallons (227 litres). Petrol by jerry and camping gas can be found at Penzance. There is a slipway for trailer launches on Harbour Road via prior consultation with Harbour Commissioners.

Newlyn and Penzance have a good number of engineering and marine specialists, primarily serving the fishing fleet. They can take care of most boating issues, and the Harbourmaster will generally advise. The Harbour Office is situated on the right-hand side approaching the entrance to North Quay. The harbour will provide a drying-out facility only in emergencies.

Newlyn has a post office, laundry facilities, banks, supermarkets, shops, pubs and restaurants, which are easily accessible from the harbour. Being a working port, its pubs and restaurants all serve fresh catch of the day. Penzance can be reached on foot from Newlyn along a wide promenade and also by bus and taxi. Penzance has a mainline train station and buses to Newlyn and the rest of Cornwall.


With thanks to:
eOceanic





Newlyn Harbour, Cornwall, England.
Image: eOceanic thanks Michael Harpur


Newlyn Harbour entrance as seen from inside
Image: eOceanic thanks Michael Harpur


RNLI lifeboat is stationed in Newlyn Harbour
Image: eOceanic thanks Michael Harpur


The old pier where the Mayflower's pilgrims would have landed
Image: eOceanic thanks Michael Harpur


The old pier where the Mayflower's pilgrims would have landed
Image: eOceanic thanks Michael Harpur


The town of Newlyn overlooking the pontoons
Image: eOceanic thanks Michael Harpur


Newly or Mounts Bay Lugger
Image: eOceanic thanks Michael Harpur


Newlyn or Mounts Bay Lugger in the harbour
Image: eOceanic thanks Michael Harpur


Newlyn or Mounts Bay Lugger in the harbour
Image: eOceanic thanks Michael Harpur




Newlyn Aerial


About Newlyn

Newlyn, first recorded as Nulyn in 1279, then Lulyn in 1290, takes its name from the Cornish words lu meaning 'fleet' and lynn or lydn meaning 'pool'. Conjoined as Lulyn it means 'pool for the fleet of boats'. This perfectly describes the use of Gwavas Lake, which is an area of relatively calm water in Mounts Bay situated outside the current harbour area of Newlyn. The name Gwavas is itself a conjunction, derived from the Cornish gwaf meaning winter, and bos meaning abode.


Boat Adrift – by Charles Napier Hemy
Image: Public Domain


The natural protection afforded by Gwavas Lake led local fishermen to use the area as their preferred landing site and somewhere a boat could safely be left afloat. It was most likely first used for seasonal fishing by local farmers and smallholders. As with many other coastal Cornish villages, it probably began as a 'cellar settlement', where a cluster of fish cellars and net lofts developed around the landing beach. In the case of Newlyn, it was the conjunction of three small fishing settlements that were previously separated by bodies of water entering the harbour area: Tolcarne, derived from Tal Carn, meaning 'brow of the rocks'; Street-an-Nowan, from Steet-an-Awan, meaning 'river street', as the Newlyn River passes through the town to the sea; and Trewarveneth, meaning 'farm/manor on the hill'.

Hauling in Lobster Pots – by Charles Napier Hemy
Image: Public Domain
None of these settlements came to be recorded in the 1086 Domesday, as all were within the manor of Alverton, which was the original manorial centre of the area. Alward and tun comprise a personal name combined with the word for 'town' to indicate it was a Saxon called Alward’s settlement. The manor was recorded as the largest of the whole Land’s End peninsula, extending from Penzance to Mousehole. Alas for Alward, however, he was soon to be dispossessed by the Norman conquerors. During Alward’s time and that of the new Norman lords, the settlements, landing rights and most of the properties of the area were owned by the Manor of Alverton.

The first record of Newlyn’s quay comes from 1437, when indulgences were offered by the church in return for contributions towards its 'repairing and maintaining of a certain quay or jetty for forty boats'. The quay was originally constructed in the reign of Henry VI and renewed in the time of James I. John Leland observed in 1540 that Newlyn was... 'a pretty fisher town in the west part of Mount’s Bay lying hard by the shore'. But references to Newlyn are scarce as it remained largely anonymous in historic records until the 18th century. Before the fishing of pilchards grew into an industry, the size and status of the harbour remained inferior to those of its near neighbours. In fact, one of the harbour's most important historical connections was entirely overlooked for four centuries, and it largely remains so to this day. This occurred in 1620, when the Mayflower visited.


Unloading the boats, Newlyn Harbour – by Harold Harvey
Image: Public Domain


In August of that year, ships the Speedwell and the Mayflower set sail from Southampton bound for Virginia. However, the Speedwell was not a good ship and it soon started to take on water, forcing both vessels to run to Plymouth for repairs. At this time, an outbreak of cholera was sweeping through the city, so they made a hurried effort of patching up the Speedwell and were on their way as quickly as they could be. The hasty repairs proved unreliable and by the time they reached the Isles of Scilly, the vessel was taking on water again. With the uncertain seas of winter approaching, the Speedwell was deemed unseaworthy and not capable of the crossing, and so should return for further repair work. Some of the passengers from the Speedwell then boarded the Mayflower, and fearing the fresh water may have been contaminated in Plymouth, they thought they should refresh it. For this reason, and to replenish their supplies, the Mayflower came into Newlyn. Since then, people have been under the misguided belief that it was Plymouth, on 16 September 1620, that the Mayflower departed for the New World. In truth, it was from Newlyn’s old quay.

Between The Tides – by Walter Langley 1901
Image: Public Domain
Newlyn finally took off in the 18th century, when it became a centre of the seine fishery, and the town prospered behind it, landing, curing and marketing pilchards. The pilchard industry was in the hands of merchants and dealers, and required significant infrastructure investment in fishing equipment and substantial 'industrial' fish cellars. It is believed that Newlyn had eight or nine seines in operation during the second half of the 18th century. Locals later built luggers to pursue pilchards with nets, 'drifting' or 'driving', as it was known, which attracted fish merchants to the port. By the middle of the 19th century, Newlyn held more drift boats than any other Cornish port, and the Newlyn, or Mount's Bay, lugger was a distinctive design, distinguishable from those of St Ives or Falmouth.

A guidebook from this time described Newlyn as a 'colony of fishermen, with narrow paved lanes, glistening with pilchard scales in the season – with external staircases, and picturesque interiors'. Growth was spurred on from the 1830s by increased access to markets, especially London and Bristol, enabled by steam-packets that called at Hayle. In 1866 Penzance was finally linked to London on a through line, providing yet another boost to Newlyn. For the first time, the railway made it possible to transport fresh fish to London and other major markets in a day. In April 1868, the West Briton reported: 'All day long the fish were being carried from Newlyn to Penzance, and kept the roads, streets and railway station very busy... No less than five thousand baskets of fish were rapidly despatched by three specials, and the mail train, on Friday; and mackerel which that morning swam in shoals seven or eight miles S.W. of the dreaded Wolf Rock were sold in Billingsgate early on Saturday morning.'


The Old Slip Newlyn – by Harold Harvey, 1908
Image: Public Domain


Before the 19th century, the name of Newlyn referred only to the literal 'fleet pool' anchoring area near the old quay. By the latter end of the 19th century, the Old Quay was enclosing too small a haven for the level of activity at what was a prodigious fishing port. To help improve accessibility and safety, it was itself enclosed by the Victorian piers. The South Pier was completed in 1885 and the North Pier was built the following year and extended in 1892. This, in turn, helped to boost Newlyn’s fortunes as commodities such as coal could now be exported from Cornwall’s shores. This century also saw the extraction of copper from Penlee Quarry, shipped from the port that became known as Newlyn.


Never Morning Wore To Evening – by Walter Langley 1894
Image: Public Domain
The brisk fishing trade brought opportunistic east coast fishing fleets into Newlyn. Termed Yorkies by the locals, their indifference to the observance of the Sabbath day led to large-scale unrest in 1896. The strictly Methodist Newlyn men would not fish on a Sunday, which left the Monday market wide open to the less pious Lowestoft fishermen. This volatile situation exploded in May of that year, when the local fishermen retaliated by seizing non-Cornish vessels and throwing their catch overboard. Thee days of rioting and violence ensued and the upheaval, known as the Newlyn Riots, was only finally quelled when the combined forces of the police, the army and the crew of a Royal Navy destroyer entered the fray.


Newlyn, Catching Up With The Cornish Telegraph – by Walter Langley
Image: Public Domain
Perhaps unlikely, it was, however, a colony of artists, founded by Stanhope Forbes, that began to keep some of the town's more unruly youngsters out of mischief. The Newlyn School of Art was established here around the 1880s, its artists drawn to the picturesque village, with its quays and harbour, and the grandeur of the cliffs and moorland scenery towards Land's End. The key element, though, was the clear local light that is created by a southerly, ocean-facing peninsula, three parts surrounded by the sea. At first, the greyness in the atmosphere helped their depiction of subtleties in tone, with part of their creed being the subordination of colour to tone-gradation at the time. It was in this way similar to Barbizon School in France, where artists fled Paris to paint in a purer setting that emphasised natural light.


Departure Of The Fleet – by Walter Langley 1896
Image: Public Domain


In later times, the notion of a common ideal dissipated somewhat, but the interest of the 'Newlyn School' attracted a regular band of artists, who in various ways assimilated and expressed the picturesque influences of the place. Its rise was so rapid that in 1895 Cornish philanthropist John Passmore Edwards built and donated the Newlyn Art Gallery to the town's artists. Many of their works were inspired by the day-to-day life of the harbour – the fishing, the comings and goings of the fleet and the anxious wait of families who watched for the boats to return safely home. This has left a legacy of art that records the comings and goings, fishing activities and people of this harbour around the turn of the 20th century like few others.

Newlyn artisan copperwork
Image: Public Domain
Alongside the men of brush and paint came master craftsman JD Mackenzie, who in 1890 was more interested in the copper being mined from Penlee Quarry. He founded a class of artistic metalwork and was joined two years later by John Pearson, a member of the Guild of Handicraft. Mackenzie opened Newlyn Art Industries in a large granite warehouse, from where the famous Newlyn Copper was developed. Although similar to mainstream copper work, it took on local themes and a distinctive identity of its own. As poor weather and seasonal fluctuations brought enforced periods of inactivity, local fishermen trained to create domestic and decorative copperware. They created some of the most outstanding work in the arts and crafts tradition, which is now highly prized by collectors, all as an alternative source of income.


Newlyn, or Mount's Bay, Lugger in the harbour today
Image: Michael Harpur


Until the 1960s, the main catch at Newlyn remained its pilchards, but by then the shoals had largely disappeared and become less popular with consumers. During the 1970s, mackerel helped to improve the fortunes of the harbour, leading to the opening of the Mary Williams Pier by The Queen in 1980.


The old pier, or quay, where the Mayflower's pilgrims would have landed
Image: Michael Harpur


Today, Newlyn is very much a working port and one of the UK's premier fishing ports. Newlyn has the second largest fleet in the country and its £20 million annual catch is the highest earning in all of the UK. In 2004, copper production was re-established by Michael Johnson, who has been recognised as the leading artisan in the UK. Bespoke copper, bronze and brass work from the finest industrial arts coppersmiths is once again produced here, making art as important to Newlyn’s future as it was to its illustrious past.

Another view of the old pier/quay
Image: Michael Harpur


There is ample opportunity to see this at the copperworks and at The Newlyn Art Gallery, which exhibits cutting-edge contemporary art. The Newlyn School of Art offers inspiring courses and painting holidays to this day. The harbour's South Pier is also a place of national Maritime importance. It carries the Ordnance Survey's Datum point, from which all heights in the United Kingdom are measured. A brass bolt on the pier is the benchmark for the whole of the UK and all heights are referenced to this point. You can still step onto the Old Quay today. A plaque there reads: ‘To the memory of Bill Best Harris 1914 – 1987 Historian and son of Plymouth, whose researches indicated that the MAYFLOWER 16 – 8 – 1620 docked at the Old Quay Newlyn for water and supplies, making it the last port of call in England. The water supply at Plymouth being the cause of fever and cholera in the city. Let debate begin.


Boats alongside the visitor pontoon
Image: Michael Harpur


From a boating point of view, being accessible at all states of the tide, Newlyn is a popular stopover point for boats en route for the Isles of Scilly or for crossing the English Channel to Brittany. It is also the only harbour of refuge in Mounts Bay, and if it gets rough suddenly with a groundswell running or with onshore winds, no attempt should be made to enter any of the bay's other harbours; Newlyn is the only safe option. Its all-tide access is particularly useful for passage making, so it is possible to make the most of the tides or if you are intent on an early start. Likewise, it makes a great location to stock up on provisions, just like the Mayflower did four centuries ago. With its authentic charm and ambitious spirit, Newlyn is well worth a visit of itself.

Other options in this area


Click the 'Next' and 'Previous' buttons to progress through neighbouring havens in a coastal 'clockwise' or 'anti-clockwise' sequence. Alternatively here are the ten nearest havens available in picture view:
Coastal clockwise:
Mousehole - 0.8 miles S
Perpitch - 18.1 miles WSW
Higher Town Bay - 18.5 miles WSW
Windmill Cove - 18.9 miles WSW
Old Town Bay - 19.5 miles WSW
Coastal anti-clockwise:
Penzance Harbour - 0.6 miles NNE
Saint Michael's Mount - 1.7 miles ENE
Porthleven Harbour - 5.5 miles E
Mullion Cove & Porth Mellin - 7.5 miles ESE
Kynance Cove - 8.9 miles ESE

Navigational pictures


These additional images feature in the 'How to get in' section of our detailed view for Newlyn.


















































Newlyn Aerial



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Add your review or comment:


Richard Gurney wrote this review on May 17th 2019:

There are NO DOGS allowed in the harbour area (whether by land or sea); this is due to the fact that the harbour is mainly involved in the food (fish) industry and there is a local bye law banning them.

Average Rating: *****


David Lovelock wrote this review on Jul 18th 2019:

The very friendly and helpful harbourmaster will usually arrange for portable diesel containers to be filled. There is water available on the visitors' pontoon. Berthing for visiting yachts is limited and it is wise to contact the harbourmaster (most almanacs have his mobile phone number) before approaching the harbour. At least one berth is reserved for boats under 9m LOA. If you have any dogs or cats on board you will be refused entry, no exceptions.

Average Rating: Unrated

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