£14.99
Paul Walkey
Publication Date: 2021
Format & Edition: Paperback, Second Edition
Pagination: 136 Pages, 169 Illustrations
Condition: New
Genre: Watersways & Shipping
Status: In Stock
White Gold Carriers: China Clay Ships’ of the Past from Par, Fowey & Charlestown Volume 2. This revised edition covers the period from the 1950s to the 1990s and provides a brief history of how these ports changerd to meet the growing demand for clay. Includes details of some of the thousands of ships that carried part of Cornwall away.
The ‘world changing’ Cornish china clay industry is well documented. Having a valuable and much in demand commodity was one thing, but having the means of getting it to where it was needed was another. The infrastructure of Cornwall at the time dictated that there was only one method available, this was by ship.
In its infancy this was achieved by shipping china clay in small quantities from many small ports such as Looe, Porthleven, Germoe and even St. Michaels Mount. As demand increased four ports in the St. Austell Bay area eventually became ‘dedicated’. They were Charlestown, Par, Fowey and Pentewan.
The shipping that carried the clay around the UK and rest of the world came in all types and sizes.