More information : (SX 037518) Charlestown (NAT)
(SX 039515) Charlestown Docks (NAT) (1)
Charlestown harbour village, originally the hamlet of West
Polmear, was built by Charles Rashleigh at the close of the
18th century for the export of china clay. The harbour was
excavated between 1792 and 1798 from plans by John Smeaton.
The village, see plan, is essentially the same now as conceived by Rashleigh and is designated a conservation area. The harbour still trades in china clay.
In 1908 clay slurry was brought from Carclaze (see SX 05 SW 4) directly to Charlestown by stone ware pipes where it was dried and stored in rock-cut bins. A tunnel below the bins was used for loading clay onto a tramway for its discharge through chutes on the quay onto ships. The tunnel entrance on the harbour side is still visible.
The granite harbour piers and quays and the single lock gate to the inner basin are listed by the DOE (HHR). About five acres
of china clay floors are shown on the 1842 tithe map. The clay
was traditionally exported in large casks, the staves for which were made in Charlestown. This form of packing died out gradually after 1914, but one cooperage still existed up to
1939. Casks were also used for the export of pilchard caught by
the two seines operated from Charlestown harbour.
Rashleigh's foundry is still in use (see SX 05 SW 16). (2-5)
In 1790 the settlement was known as West Polmear and had a population of 9 people but due to development of the harbour and village, the population had increased to 3184 by 1911. The 'new town' comprised a ribbon settlement which follows Charlestown Road down to the harbour, with port anxillary businesses including pichard curing, shipbuilding, brickmaking and lime burning being centred around the harbour area. (6-8)
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