Mousehole in West Cornwall

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Mousehole
West Cornwall

There are very few places that can be found in the United Kingdom that have retained their original character and charm in the way that the tiny fishing village of Mousehole has.

Mousehole (pronounced "Mowzel") is one of Cornwall's most picturesque hamlets; a stunning collection of yellow-lichened houses, built from the local finely grained Lamorna granite, huddled together around the inner edge of the harbour - protected from the force of the sea coming across Mounts Bay by two sturdy breakwaters.

Mousehole is a very attractive tourist destination. A small and very safe beach is located in a sheltered part of the harbour which is popular with families, particularly those with small children- an ideal location for family days out, with safe bathing, quite literally at your feet.

St Clement's Isle - a small rocky islet once the home to an ancient hermit lies just offshore of the harbour wall. A few hundred yards along the coast from the village lies a huge cave which - so some people say - gives rise to the name of the village (Mouse Hole!).

Car parking in the village is extremely limited with very narrow roads. Visitors to Mousehole are advised to park on the outskirts of the village and to walk in.

Dylan Thomas (1930) described Mousehole as ' the loveliest village in England', a title that remains true to the present day.

Mousehole developed around its harbour (and of course the fishing fleet that sustained it) appearing in the record books as an important fishing port from as early as 1266, in fact, part of the south quay originates from 1390 - possibly the oldest pier in Cornwall. The fishing industry has declined drastically over the last 100 years, but a few fishing boats maintain the long heritage and tradition of a working harbour, whilst the majority of vessels now lying at anchor are pleasure craft.

Dolly Pentreath, or Dorothy Pentreath (baptised 1692, died December 1777) was reputedly the last fluent native speaker of the Cornish language.

Many accounts claim that she was the last person who spoke only Cornish, whilst others (probably based on the works of Daines Barrington), maintain that she could not speak a word of English until the age of twenty. Whether or not this is correct, Cornish was her first language.

As you walk towards the harbour from the car park, you will pass the house where she lived - marked by a plaque. A memorial to her is to be found in the churchyard in nearby Paul - a small village just above Mousehole.

During the winter months, sturdy wooden beams are used to close the harbour entrance, keeping the force of the sea at bay and protecting the village.

In the past, villagers have suffered from the effects of winter storms - one of these events is commemorated annually shortly before Christmas on "Tom Bawcock's Eve" where a monstrous fish pie is baked and consumed by the patrons of the Inn on the quayside. This event, which becomes a major village party, attracts visitors from both the surrounding district and from all over the world.

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