Porthleven
Porthleven is situated in South-West Cornwall on the coast between Falmouth and Penzance, just off the A394 near Helston. Many people worldwide have seen the spectacular images of the 1989 storm, which blew waves completely over the top of Porthleven's clocktower on the seafront. Porthleven is a picturesque historic harbour village whose name derives from the Cornish meaning "Harbour in a level place". The village has had a very varied past having been a thriving fishing harbour with up to 160 boats catching pilchards from the vast shoals in Mount's Bay. Coastal schooners plied their trade importing ice from Norway for keeping the fish fresh as well as coal, limestone and timber and exporting tin, copper and china clay all of which were stored in buildings that still stand around the harbour.
These industries were supported by a flourishing boat building trade and Porthleven built boats were famous throughout the world up until its demise in 1977 when the shipyard was closed due to wood being replaced by glassfibre for the constructions of boats. Since then Porthleven has become a thriving artistic community with a number of excellent restaurants and pubs, most of which can be found around the harbour offering a stunning view over the sea.