Charlestown

Charlestown grew out of a small fishing village but was transformed in 1791 by Charles Rashleigh who begin the construction of a harbour and dock.

The port was built to facilitate the transport of copper from nearby mines. Crinnis Hill Mine to the east of the village exported some 40,000 tons of copper ore between 1810 and 1813. As the local mines became exhausted and their output dropped, the port was used to export china clay from the region’s quarries until very recent times (the last commercial load leaving in the year 2000).

The port is now owned by the Square Rigger company that runs sailing ships from the harbour. There are cafes, pubs, galleries, an antique centre, the Shipwreck & Heritage Centre and a few classy restaurants.

To this day the port remains unspoiled and retains much of its Georgian character. This unique combination has led to Charlestown being a popular location for film and television locations, including Doctor Who, Poldark, Hornblower, Mansfield Park, Alice in Wonderland, The Eagle Has Landed and many more.