Description

SW 62 SE
3/35

GUNWALLOE
Former pilchard net fishing cellars and winches at approx 50 and 70m to southeast at SW 654 225

(Formerly listed as Former pilchard net fishing cellars and winches at approx 50 and 70m to south at SW 654 225)

22.9.75

GV II

Seine net barking cellars with temporary and seasonal accommodation for fisherman,
now roofless. Circa 1803, extended circa 1840's and again before 1874 and
including 3 iron winches to south. Serpentine rubble walls some dressed granite
sills and lintels and some wooden lintels. Scantle slate roof removed circa
1950's. Original building gable ends standing but brick chimneys on seaward
gable fallen.
Plan: original 2 room plan building, right (partition removed) originally with
workroom left, with large fireplace surviving and possibly net store, right,
with accommodation over but floor since removed. Extended by single storey lean-to
at left after 1840 (not shown on tithe map) and this room was widened before 1874.
Main hearth flue adapted for iron copper for barking nets probably at the same time
and further barking cauldron fitted to former workroom of building circa 1920's.
2 storeys. 1 and 2 window south front. Original symmetrical, but without front
doorway, 2 window front at right; and later extensions at left with ground and first
floor windows adjoining original left-hand gable end. 2-window openings at
left-hand gable, with brick jambs, ground floor one wider. Wide ground floor doorway
and window opening over at right-hand original gable end. Further doorways at
ground and first floor rear of extension, roughly midway; presumably to allow
independent access to first floor store.
Interior retains much evidence of former use: large fireplace with granite lintel
in former workroom; outer brick walling of Seine net copper and sloping brick
floor in left hand part and trough in floor of workroom near hearth. Another
flue in far left gable end. Some ceiling beams survive in left hand room otherwise
only sockets remain indicating former beam positions. Mortar remains at window
jambs of building suggest deep frames of either vertical or horizontal sliding
sashes.
Winches circa late C19 are of cast iron and are fairly complete including drums,
bearings, cogs and ratchets. The one nearest the building was salvaged from the
steam coal carrying steamship, Branklow, wrecked at Gunwalloe in 1890. It is said
that much coal was salvaged but that it burned through the local iron grates.
The winches were used to haul the Seine boats part of the way up the cliff to
protect them from the sea between fishing sessions, and the Seine nets themselves,
of great lengths, and said to last up to 60 years if barked and repaired annually,
were hauled in using large wooden manually-operated capstans also up on the cliff.
The capstans don't survive, only circular impressions of where they once stood.
'A pilchard fishery was established at Gunwalloe in 1803, ... referred to as the
Alert pilchard seine ... this eligible concern comprises 2 compleat seans, with
Boats and all other necessary materials, a large loft or buildings for the seaners
to lodge in during the season, and a Capstan & Rope compleat. Extracted from
CORNISH SEINES AND SEINERS by Cyril Noall, also the course of much of the other
information.

Listing NGR: SW6538322578

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26598200

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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