Mousehole
Encyclopedia
Mousehole is a village and fishing port in Cornwall
, United Kingdom
. It is situated approximately 2½ miles (4 km) south of Penzance
on the shore of Mount's Bay
.
The village is in the civil parish of Penzance. An islet
called St Clement's Isle lies 400 metres offshore from the harbour entrance.
, was until the 16th century one of the principal ports of Mount's Bay
. Before its decline as a major commercial centre, Mousehole also had a number of fairs and markets, including the charter for a market on Tuesdays, with a fair for three days at the festival of St Barnabas, granted to Henry de Tyes in 1292. Mousehole, like many communities in Mount's Bay, fell within the authority of the Manor of Alverton; all early charters, fairs etc. associated with Mousehole are associated with this manorial estate.
Mousehole, like Penzance, Newlyn
, and Paul
, was destroyed in the 1595 raid on Mount's Bay
by Spaniard Carlos de Amésquita
, the only surviving building being the 'Keigwin Arms', a local pub. Outside the Keigwin Arms (now a private residence) is a plaque with the wording "Squire Jenkyn Keigwin was killed here 23rd July 1595 defending this house against the Spaniards".
had been available in Mount's Bay for many years, a new lifeboat station at Penlee Point
, on the outskirts of the village, was opened in 1913. On 19 December 1981 the entire lifeboat crew of eight was lost
during an attempted rescue in hurricane-force winds. The lifeboat was moved to Newlyn
in 1983 but continues to be known as the 'Penlee Lifeboat'.
Since then, Mousehole has seen an increase in second home
ownership and a corresponding decline in resident population. The village’s historic harbourside hotel, The Lobster Pot – in the 1930s a guest house run by Wyn Henderson, friend to poet Dylan Thomas
– was replaced by modern luxury apartments. It was in the Lobster Pot in 1938 that Dylan Thomas spent his honeymoon, after marrying Caitlin Macnamara
at Penzance register office.
Mousehole hosts a vibrant variety of festivals and community activities. It is known for its Christmas
illuminations
, created each year to raise money for charity. Since 1981, every December 19 the lights have been turned off in memory of the victims of the lifeboat disaster. Tom Bawcock's Eve is a unique celebration held on December 23 each year to celebrate the ending of a famine in the 16th century by local resident Tom Bawcock
. This festival is the inspiration behind the book The Mousehole Cat
by Antonia Barber
and the associated television productions. This festival is also the origin of 'Star Gazey Pie
', a mixed fish, egg and potato pie with fish heads protruding through the pastry. Mousehole also holds a small maritime festival every two years called 'Sea, Salt and Sail'.
is believed to be the last part of Cornwall where the Cornish language
was spoken as the community language. Dolly Pentreath
, the last recorded speaker (but arguably not the very last) is often reported as being from Mousehole and there is a memorial to her in the village. In fact, she was from the nearby parish of Paul (historically the church town
and mother community for Mousehole).
A year after Dolly Pentreath died in 1777, Daines Barrington
received a letter, written in Cornish and accompanied by an English translation, from a fisherman in Mousehole named William Bodinar stating that he knew of five people who could speak Cornish in that village alone. Barrington also speaks of a John Nancarrow from Marazion
who was a native speaker and survived into the 1790s.
William Carvosso
, the Methodist, and Joseph Trewavas
VC were also born in Mousehole.
, writer of many modern and urban fairy tales, set his novel The Little Country in the village of Mousehole.
The Mousehole Cat
, a childrens book written by Antonia Barber
and illustrated by Nicola Bayley, was also set in of Mousehole and based on the legend of Tom Bawcock
and the continuing tradition of Tom Bawcock's Eve.
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It is situated approximately 2½ miles (4 km) south of Penzance
Penzance
Penzance is a town, civil parish, and port in Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom. It is the most westerly major town in Cornwall and is approximately 75 miles west of Plymouth and 300 miles west-southwest of London...
on the shore of Mount's Bay
Mount's Bay
Mount's Bay is a large, sweeping bay on the English Channel coast of Cornwall in the United Kingdom, stretching from the Lizard Point to Gwennap Head on the eastern side of the Land's End peninsula. Towards the middle of the bay is St Michael's Mount...
.
The village is in the civil parish of Penzance. An islet
Islet
An islet is a very small island.- Types :As suggested by its origin as islette, an Old French diminutive of "isle", use of the term implies small size, but little attention is given to drawing an upper limit on its applicability....
called St Clement's Isle lies 400 metres offshore from the harbour entrance.
History
Mousehole, along with MarazionMarazion
Marazion is a civil parish and town in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated on the shore of Mount's Bay, two miles east of Penzance and one mile east of Long Rock.St Michael's Mount is half-a-mile offshore from Marazion...
, was until the 16th century one of the principal ports of Mount's Bay
Mount's Bay
Mount's Bay is a large, sweeping bay on the English Channel coast of Cornwall in the United Kingdom, stretching from the Lizard Point to Gwennap Head on the eastern side of the Land's End peninsula. Towards the middle of the bay is St Michael's Mount...
. Before its decline as a major commercial centre, Mousehole also had a number of fairs and markets, including the charter for a market on Tuesdays, with a fair for three days at the festival of St Barnabas, granted to Henry de Tyes in 1292. Mousehole, like many communities in Mount's Bay, fell within the authority of the Manor of Alverton; all early charters, fairs etc. associated with Mousehole are associated with this manorial estate.
Mousehole, like Penzance, Newlyn
Newlyn
Newlyn is a town and fishing port in southwest Cornwall, England, United Kingdom.Newlyn forms a conurbation with the neighbouring town of Penzance and is part of Penzance civil parish...
, and Paul
Paul, Cornwall
Paul is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated two miles south of Penzance and one mile south of Newlyn.The village of Paul is represented on Penzance Town Council...
, was destroyed in the 1595 raid on Mount's Bay
Battle of Cornwall
The Battle of Cornwall was a Spanish raid in Cornwall in 1595 during the Anglo-Spanish war of 1585-1604. It was the only attempted Spanish raid of the area since Fernando Sánchez de Tovar's destruction of English coastal towns in the 14th century.-Landings:...
by Spaniard Carlos de Amésquita
Carlos de Amésquita
Carlos de Amésquita was a Spanish naval officer of the 16th century. He is remembered for an action whilst on a routine patrol, known as the Battle of Cornwall, during the Anglo-Spanish War 1585–1604....
, the only surviving building being the 'Keigwin Arms', a local pub. Outside the Keigwin Arms (now a private residence) is a plaque with the wording "Squire Jenkyn Keigwin was killed here 23rd July 1595 defending this house against the Spaniards".
Twentieth century
Although a lifeboatLifeboat (rescue)
A rescue lifeboat is a boat rescue craft which is used to attend a vessel in distress, or its survivors, to rescue crewmen and passengers. It can be hand pulled, sail powered or powered by an engine...
had been available in Mount's Bay for many years, a new lifeboat station at Penlee Point
Penlee Lifeboat Station
Penlee Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution search and rescue operations for Mount's Bay in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The lifeboat station was opened at Penlee Point in Mousehole in 1913 but was moved to Newlyn in 1983...
, on the outskirts of the village, was opened in 1913. On 19 December 1981 the entire lifeboat crew of eight was lost
Penlee lifeboat disaster
The Penlee lifeboat disaster occurred on 19 December 1981 off the coast of Cornwall, in England, UK. The Penlee Lifeboat went to the aid of the coaster Union Star after its engines failed in heavy seas...
during an attempted rescue in hurricane-force winds. The lifeboat was moved to Newlyn
Newlyn
Newlyn is a town and fishing port in southwest Cornwall, England, United Kingdom.Newlyn forms a conurbation with the neighbouring town of Penzance and is part of Penzance civil parish...
in 1983 but continues to be known as the 'Penlee Lifeboat'.
Since then, Mousehole has seen an increase in second home
Second home
Second home may refer to:* Vacation property* Pied-à-terre* Second Home , an album by Marié Digby...
ownership and a corresponding decline in resident population. The village’s historic harbourside hotel, The Lobster Pot – in the 1930s a guest house run by Wyn Henderson, friend to poet Dylan Thomas
Dylan Thomas
Dylan Marlais Thomas was a Welsh poet and writer, Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 11 January 2008. who wrote exclusively in English. In addition to poetry, he wrote short stories and scripts for film and radio, which he often performed himself...
– was replaced by modern luxury apartments. It was in the Lobster Pot in 1938 that Dylan Thomas spent his honeymoon, after marrying Caitlin Macnamara
Caitlin MacNamara
Caitlin Thomas , née Macnamara, was the wife of poet and writer Dylan Thomas. Their marriage was a stormy affair, fuelled by alcohol and infidelity, though the couple remained together until Dylan's death in 1953. After her husband's death she wrote the book Leftover Life to Kill, an account of her...
at Penzance register office.
Mousehole hosts a vibrant variety of festivals and community activities. It is known for its Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
illuminations
Illuminations (festival)
Illuminations are secular Autumn festivals of electric light held in several English cities, towns and villages, in particular:*Blackpool *Matlock Bath*Mousehole*Walsall.-Blackpool Illuminations:...
, created each year to raise money for charity. Since 1981, every December 19 the lights have been turned off in memory of the victims of the lifeboat disaster. Tom Bawcock's Eve is a unique celebration held on December 23 each year to celebrate the ending of a famine in the 16th century by local resident Tom Bawcock
Tom Bawcock
Tom Bawcock is a legendary character from the village of Mousehole, Cornwall. He appears to have been a local fisherman in the 16th century. According to the legend, one winter had been particularly stormy, meaning that none of the fishing boats had been able to leave the harbour...
. This festival is the inspiration behind the book The Mousehole Cat
The Mousehole Cat
The Mousehole Cat is a children's book written by Antonia Barber and illustrated by Nicola Bayley. Based on the legend of Tom Bawcock and the stargazy pie, it tells of a cat who goes with its master on a fishing expedition in rough seas. The book has won awards, including the 1991 British Book...
by Antonia Barber
Antonia Barber
Antonia Barber is an English author of the books for children and adults. Barber resides in Kent and Mousehole, Cornwall. Her award winning book, The Mousehole Cat has been made into an animated film and is being adapted as a stage musical. Her real name is Barbara Anthony...
and the associated television productions. This festival is also the origin of 'Star Gazey Pie
Stargazy pie
Stargazy pie is a Cornish dish made of baked pilchards, along with eggs and potatoes, covered with a pastry crust. Although there are a few variations with different fish being used, the unique feature of stargazy pie is fish heads protruding through the crust, so that they appear to be gazing...
', a mixed fish, egg and potato pie with fish heads protruding through the pastry. Mousehole also holds a small maritime festival every two years called 'Sea, Salt and Sail'.
Notable residents
PenwithPenwith
Penwith was a local government district in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, whose council was based in Penzance. The district covered all of the Penwith peninsula, the toe-like promontory of land at the western end of Cornwall and which included an area of land to the east that fell outside the...
is believed to be the last part of Cornwall where the Cornish language
Cornish language
Cornish is a Brythonic Celtic language and a recognised minority language of the United Kingdom. Along with Welsh and Breton, it is directly descended from the ancient British language spoken throughout much of Britain before the English language came to dominate...
was spoken as the community language. Dolly Pentreath
Dolly Pentreath
Dolly Pentreath, or Dorothy Pentreath was probably the last fluent native speaker of the Cornish language, prior to its revival in 1904 and the subsequent small number of children brought up as bilingual native speakers of revived Cornish.She is often stated to have been the last monoglot speaker...
, the last recorded speaker (but arguably not the very last) is often reported as being from Mousehole and there is a memorial to her in the village. In fact, she was from the nearby parish of Paul (historically the church town
Churchtown, Cornwall
In Cornwall, the churchtown is the settlement in a parish where the church stands, for example,*Churchtown Mullion,*Churchtown Redruth,*Churchtown St Hilary,*Churchtown St Merryn,*Churchtown St Minver,*Gorran Churchtown,*Gulval Churchtown,...
and mother community for Mousehole).
A year after Dolly Pentreath died in 1777, Daines Barrington
Daines Barrington
Daines Barrington, FRS was an English lawyer, antiquary and naturalist.Barrington was the fourth son of the first Viscount Barrington. He was educated for the profession of the law, and after filling various posts, was appointed a Welsh judge in 1757 and afterwards second justice of Chester...
received a letter, written in Cornish and accompanied by an English translation, from a fisherman in Mousehole named William Bodinar stating that he knew of five people who could speak Cornish in that village alone. Barrington also speaks of a John Nancarrow from Marazion
Marazion
Marazion is a civil parish and town in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated on the shore of Mount's Bay, two miles east of Penzance and one mile east of Long Rock.St Michael's Mount is half-a-mile offshore from Marazion...
who was a native speaker and survived into the 1790s.
William Carvosso
William Carvosso
William Carvosso was an early Wesleyan leader in Cornwall, England. He was converted to Christianity at age 21 and went on to become a Class Leader in the Wesleyan Connexion and a prominent figure of the church. Towards the end of his life he roamed all over Cornwall preaching...
, the Methodist, and Joseph Trewavas
Joseph Trewavas
Joseph Trewavas VC CGM was a British) recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
VC were also born in Mousehole.
Literary associations
Charles de LintCharles de Lint
Charles de Lint is a Canadian fantasy author and folk musician. He is also the chief book critic for The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction....
, writer of many modern and urban fairy tales, set his novel The Little Country in the village of Mousehole.
The Mousehole Cat
The Mousehole Cat
The Mousehole Cat is a children's book written by Antonia Barber and illustrated by Nicola Bayley. Based on the legend of Tom Bawcock and the stargazy pie, it tells of a cat who goes with its master on a fishing expedition in rough seas. The book has won awards, including the 1991 British Book...
, a childrens book written by Antonia Barber
Antonia Barber
Antonia Barber is an English author of the books for children and adults. Barber resides in Kent and Mousehole, Cornwall. Her award winning book, The Mousehole Cat has been made into an animated film and is being adapted as a stage musical. Her real name is Barbara Anthony...
and illustrated by Nicola Bayley, was also set in of Mousehole and based on the legend of Tom Bawcock
Tom Bawcock
Tom Bawcock is a legendary character from the village of Mousehole, Cornwall. He appears to have been a local fisherman in the 16th century. According to the legend, one winter had been particularly stormy, meaning that none of the fishing boats had been able to leave the harbour...
and the continuing tradition of Tom Bawcock's Eve.