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Fowey Entry from the Post Office Directory of Cornwall 1856

Fowey is a market town and shipping port, township and parish, situated 9 miles south from Lostwithiel and 9 south-east from St. Austell in the east division Powder Hundred and the St Austell Union. The harbour of Fowey is one of the finest in Cornwall, being easy of access and safe from the south-west gales; it is no uncommon thing to see foreign vessels in this harbour finding refuge, easily obtained by ships drawing not more than 16 to 18 feet of water. The town of Fowey is on the western side of the harbour and river of that name; the suburb and township of Polruan is on the eastern side, in the parish of Lanteglos and Liskeard Union; the harbour itself belongs to Lostwithiel. The harbour master who resides in Polruan, rents it off the corporation of Lostwithiel; besides this, any vessel, the owners of which or the majority of whom are resident in Polruan pay 17s per annum for anchorage and boats 1s per annum, while in each case the inhabitants of Fowey are exempt from this tax. The townsmen of Fowey have an historical reputation for being bold and intrepid, which they acquired in the wars of the Kings Edward 1 and 111 and Henry V. the trade is of a general character. The pilchard fisheries afford employment to a large number of the inhabitants here, and the fish and oil form a staple article of export. The Revs. J. Kempe and B.J. Treffry are the magistrates. The sessions are held to the Porcupine Inn, Tywardreath highway. The church is a noble edifice, with high square decorated tower, rebuilt in 1466; it has 6 bells, nave, aisle, chancel and organ; in it are some very old monuments and a marble effigy of John Johns, Esq. The living is a vicarage, in the gift of the Rev.E.J. Treffrey, M.A. worth £170 per annum, with residence and 6 ½ acres of glebe. There are chapels for Independents, Weslayans and Bible Christians; two free schools, one endowed by Shadrach Vincent, Esq, in the sum of £80 per annum, the other in £8 10s per annum, by John Johns, Esq. There are several charities : one by William Rashleigh, Esq., of Menabilly, to 16 poor widows in the town, 2s 9d per week and clothing, and 20s 6d at Christmas; Sawles’ Charity, 20 twopenny loaves and, by Capt. John Mein, £5 to the poor. One mile from the town, on the Lostwithiel road, is a curious ancient stone, bearing an inscription. The fairs are held on Shrove Tuesday, 1st of May and 10th of September. The population, in 1851, was 1,606.

Contributed by Sue Mutton

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