MEVAGISSEY PARISH RECORDS

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Depression and Bank Failure

With the war upsetting trade and the failure of the fishery for several years, the town experienced some depression in the early part of the 19th century. The collapse of a local bank, that of Philip Ball and Son, in 1824, did not help the situation. The bank, in Church Street, behind the Ideal Cafe, had commenced operations in 1807 and issued its own notes. .

Recovery Though always subject to good and bad times, the fishery seems to have made some recovery in the second half. There was a revival in the export trade of pressed pilchards (fermades) to Mediterranean countries. In the l880s a factory was established in the town for canning and preserving sardines and pilchards, the canning being done by hand. Between 1889 and 1890 a new outer harbour was constructed, enclosing some 101 acres of water, but unfortunately it was completely destroyed in the great blizzard-Of March, 1891. The harbour was built again with reinforced materials in 1897, and the old pier of 1774-6 was also greatly improved. By 1906, as well as smaller boats used for catching shell-fish and all varieties of hook-fish and a few seines-though their number had greatly diminished;-.-the port possessed 30 large pilchard drivers. With the improved harbour facilities, trade grew: imports being coal, salt and general goods; exports, pilchards and pilchard oil. Other businesses and trades were also thriving up to the First World War. There were boat-builders (e.g., Frazier and Roberts), sail (Lelean), coopers and rope-makers (Robins). A ropewalk is still in existence between the Coastguard Station and Battery Terrace. A miller was still busy and the mill worked by a water wheel was on the site of the present Midland Bank (now a cafe') and Labour Exchange; the Leat which served it ran down the west side of the valley from the main stream. Markets were held regularly and old inhabitants recall the standings that were erected in Market Square for the display and sale of goods.. In 1895 the Mevagissey Electric Supply Company provided the town with electricity, and since lighting by this method succeeded that by oil (the use of gas not intervening), it is believed that this was one of the first places in the country to have electricity. At about the same time, communications were improved with St. Austell by the setting-up of regular horse bus services.

Mevagissey Inner Harbour 2006