Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding was a major industry in the Port of Padstow in 19th & early 20th centuries. There were several small family run yards along the foreshore as can be seen in the photographic records that exist. Our museum is fortunate to have a fine selection of the specialist tools used by these craftsmen. It is interesting to note that many of the older properties in the town made use of the off-cut wood to form frame works and roof trusses.
Many of the ships built here in the 19th century plied their trade to Canada and North America transporting emigrants and cargo returning with timber and other cargoes. There are many accounts of their voyages, one in particular is the fascinating story of the wreck of the Jane Lowden. In today's modern way of shipbuilding there are firms that build small vessels in GRP, another forms of construction.