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River Tamar This colour indicates more information or an external link. Most photographs can be enlarged by clicking.
The Tamar was originally used to carry agricultural produce from the fertile valley slopes downstream to the markets of Plymouth and beyond and in return lime, manure, coal and 'dock dung' (sweepings from the streets of Plymouth) were imported to the many small quays along this stretch of the river. In the mid-19th century a fleet of sailing barges and schooners, locally manned and built in Calstock's 2 shipyards, carried ores downstream and returned with limestone from Plymouth and coke for burning it. With the development of local granite quarries larger craft including steamers from France, Germany, Italy and Russia were no uncommon sight at Kelly Quay. From Gunnislake to Cotehele Quay New Bridge Begun by Sir Piers Edgcumbe in Henry VIII's reign, on the site of previously existing weirs.
Morwellham Quay and Rocks
For information and more photographs, see
the website of the Morwellham and Tamar Valley Trust. 'Copy' The children's playing fields were just known to
locals as Copy, even as late as the 1960s. The name derives from the
fact that copper ores were once loaded on to ships at that location. Some
evidence still remains. The area contained swings, a paddling pool and a
large field for games of football etc. It was located to the right
of the Memorial Hall in the photograph below.
In the second half of the 19th century, "all along the
river bank from Ashburton Hotel at the west end of Calstock to the New
Bridge at Gunnislake" could be heard the "rattle of windlass, weighing of
anchor and the vibrating chatter of old winches". Towards the end of the 19th
market boats such as the "Ariel" & the "Empress" carried passengers every
day to Plymouth and brought back tourists as far as Weir Head.
Housewives in stiff white aprons waited to take parties to their cottages
for tea. Ship-building Shipbuilding was carried out by the Calstock &
Devonport Steam Packet Company, Lang & Co. and Goss & Sons, along
the lower Kelly waterfront and on the Devon bank, as described in
other sections of this website. An excellent source of information is James
Goss - A century of ship-building and life in the Tamar Valley,
by R. T. Paige. Unfortunately this is currently out of print, but
copies can sometimes be obtained on Ebay, or from booksellers such
as ABE Books Kelly Quays An illustrated description of the
Calstock waterfront in the 19th century can be found on the website of the
Tamar Valley AONB - click
here
to link. Tourist Information boards located on the
Quayside give similar information. The photograph below shows
part of one such board.
In the 19th century, the Tamar Coal, Manure and
General Merchandise Company used a rope-haul system to transport coal by
railway from
the Quay at Calstock up the steep slope to the area known variously as
Kelly, Kelly Incline or just Incline Station. In 1862, the Tamar
Coal, Manure, and General Mercantile Company (Limited) offered for
sale by auction, the recently-erected quays, limekilns, coal and
other stores, dwelling houses, offices, steam railway, extensive
river frontage and business goodwill. See this page for further
details. The Tamar, Kit Hill and Callington Railway Company (TKH&CR) was formed to construct a railway to
connect Callington and the mines to the quays at Calstock, where the
minerals could be loaded into barges on the River Tamar. Along the quays a variety of
ships were built & operated by local people. In the late 1800s, the ECMR terminus at
Williams Quay was leased by Vivian & Sons, smelters and coal dealers of
Swansea. Manure for the farms and coal for the mines was brought in
and ore exported. Sailing barges, carrying loads
of between 40 & 70 tons, were used for local cargoes. Manned by
crews of two, difficult meanders were negotiated with the use of 20 foot
oars and the easier stretches by 2 huge punting poles. Steam paddle
tugs often towed trains of 3 or 4 barges or schooners. In the 1890s there were about
20 cargo ships operating on the river. Captain Samuells owned the
"Naiad", the "Jacinte", the "Devonport" & the "Ticino". Others were
jointly owned by the captain of the vessel and members of the local
community. A Calstock-built ship might average between 150 and 300
tons carrying capacity.
The completion of the branch railway
line in 1908 brought the heavy river traffic virtually to an end,
but arsenic
still shipped from Calstock as late as 1930.
The Ferries The Bristol Mercury, dated 31 May 1898, the Eleanor of the Saltash, Three Towns, & District Steamboat Co., Ltd.
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External Sites Cornwall Family History Society
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Kelly's Directories
for 1893
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Information is being added to this website on a frequent basis. Come back again soon for more information about the river If you have details, photographs etc. which you would like to contribute, please use the 'Contact' link on the left.
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