Cornish village fights to save historic fishing cove from threat of developers

‘Time is ticking away,’ says fisherman of bid to save 17th century buildings

The Cadgwith Fishing Cove Trust has started a crowdfunding appeal to raise money towards the purchase of the black and stone buildings in the centre of the image (Luke Pavey/Frank Films)

A Cornish village is fighting to save three historic buildings that, if sold to developers, could spell the end of a fishing fleet that has plied the waters off the Lizard Peninsula for hundreds of years.

Cadgwith Fishing Cove Trust is fundraising to save the buildings dating back to the 17th century that are still used by local fishermen but are now up for sale in what is described as Cornwall’s last full-time fishing cove.

The community has been offered first refusal on all of the buildings – which are used to store fishing equipment and process the catch as well as housing an art gallery and shops selling fresh fish – but must now raise £300,000 to prevent them being listed on the open market.

The fishermen who use them fear they could be sold to private developers and converted into holiday lets, housing or commercial space, putting the future of Cadgwith’s eight-strong fishing fleet in jeopardy.

Brett Jose, one of four trustees with the Cadgwith Fishing Cove Trust, said time was running out to find the money.

“Without these buildings for the fishermen there wouldn't be any fishing boats on that beach, we can’t run that fleet without having that infrastructure behind us,” he told The Independent.

“These buildings have been here since the 17th century, they were the original buildings in the cove, and they have always been used for fishing. There were more there that have already been turned into restaurants and cafes.

“If they end up on the open market, that means anyone with the right sort of money can buy them, and that is happening to many other coves around Cornwall.”

If the project is successful, there are hopes to use part of the buildings as a small museum to educate people about the fishing industry (Luke Pavey/Frank Films)

The council is raising a loan to buy one of the buildings but the future of the other two buildings could be in doubt. A campaign set up on the Crowdfunder website has so far raised more than £20,000.

The Cadgwith Cove Fishing Trust said anything raised above the £300,000 target would be used to repair the buildings.

Extra money could be spent on better facilities for fish processing, such as a filleting room, a cold room and more space for crab and lobster picking (Luke Pavey/Frank Films)

Mr Jose, a fisherman in the cove, said engravings on the beams of the buildings were an important piece of the county’s history that marked days over the past 100 years when the fleet had achieved a particularly impressive catch of pilchards.

Today’s fishermen, who largely catch grey mullet, have continued that tradition.

“Time is ticking away, so we want to secure them as soon as we can before a better offer comes on the table or the seller has had enough of waiting,” Mr Jose said.

“The owners are really understanding and they want to see these buildings kept for the cove, but time is running out.”