Welcome to the Fowey Harbour Heritage Society Website
Fowey harbour, which includes the communities of Fowey, Bodinnick and Polruan, has been a significant international trading port since the medieval period and is still a working port today, exporting china clay. Our aim is to encourage you to explore the area and find out more about the places and people that have contributed to its heritage.
Promoting the heritage of the Fowey harbour area
The Society introduces you to the rich and varied history of Fowey harbour and what you can see today by:
- Organising talks
- Publishing an annual journal
- Presenting our annual heritage awards
- Providing heritage grants to local organisations
- Promoting guided walks
- Working with other societies on heritage projects
Programme of talks 2024/25
The programme of talks for 2024/25 is as follows;
All on Saturdays at 2pm.
14 Sept. From Travellers to Tourists, the Story of Pre-1914 Visitors to Cornwall. Louis Turner. Fowey Town Hall.
12 Oct. The Battle of Lostwithiel -1644, Parliament's Greatest Defeat. Tony Smith. Fowey Town Hall.
9 Nov. The Cornwall Memory Game. Merryn Threadgould. Fowey Town Hall.
There will be no talk in December
11 January. Daphne du Maurier's Cornwall. Lynn Goold. Polruan Village Hall.
8 Feb. Tammy Blee's Cabalistic Agency - Cornish Witchcraft and Folklore. Jason Semmens. Fowey Town Hall.
8 March. Some Stories about Cornish Church Building with Special Reference to the Fowey Area. Joanna Mattingly. Fowey Town Hall.
12 April. Crossing the River - The History of the Fowey Ferries. Chris Bradish. Whitecross Village Hall
http
214_350276531.pdf (pdf)
28/7/2024
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1/5/2021
Crossing the River - The History of the Fowey Ferries
Whitecross Village Hall, Bodinnick.
12 April 2025 2pm
Cost: Free for FHHS members, £10 for non members.
Contact: All enquiries to Hon. Sec, Kath Pearce, on 07977 572268 or via Ticket Tailor https://buytickets.at/foweyharbourheritagesociety/1369893
Passage across the River Fowey has always been essential. In this talk the history of the Bodinnick and Polruan ferries will be explored, a tale of changing ownership, duels, diamonds and bankruptcies. Some notable incidents will be described.
The earliest mention of the Bodinnick ferry is 1344. In 1478 custody of the ferry was granted to John Davey, “Yeoman of the King’s Chambers and valet to the King’s crown”. Ownership subsequently passed to Lord Mohun of Bodinnick (through whose grounds the famous Hall Walk passes). It was used to transport Royalist troops during the Civil War, 1642-1651. Mohun’s fortunes declined and the ferry rights were purchased by Governor Pitt of Boconnoc (Diamond Pitt) in the 1720’s. The ferry rights were then assigned to the Passage House Inn in Bodinnick, now called the Old Ferry Inn. Successive landlords hired local boatmen to run the ferries, In 1963 the ferry rights were purchased by Toms and Sons of Polruan, who continue to run the ferry.
The first mention of the Polruan ferry is in 1534 by John Leland who crossed from Fowey by “the trajectus”, the origin of the ferry is undoubtedly much older. The original ferry was a rowing boat, a motorboat was introduced in 1912. In 1993 the ferry rights were purchased by Toms and Son.
Chris Bradish is a Fowey resident, a retired surgeon and a keen local historian.
