A short history of Polkerris - Fishing, Smuggling, Du maurier & Doomwatch

Polkerris is a tiny hamlet situated between Fowey & Par in St Austell Bay.

In the 17th Century the pilchard industry turned Polkerris into a thriving village based on the with several village shops a post office and a school. At one time the Polkerris fish cellars were the largest on the South Coast and the building that many mistake for an old fort was known as the "fish palace" which was erected in the Stuart times. It was a thriving business for the local land owners The Rashleigh family and it was estimated that at its peak 20 million fish were caught every year in St Austell bay.

Although Cornwall is famous for smuggling and wrecking. Polkerris was used as a base for the coastguard with The Rashleigh Inn being used to house coastguard's and a lifeboat.

The Preventative Service

Up the road form the Inn is a row of old cottages built by the unpopular Preventative Service to house the riding officers whose job was to patrol the cliffs on horse back to discourage smuggling. As in other seaside places they had to be housed together for their own safety.

In 1859 Polkerris was chosen as the earliest lifeboat station on St Austell Bay. It remained one until 1922 when it was transferred to Fowey where it still remains in active service.

The original Polkerris pub was known as The General Elliot after the defender of Gibraltar. It was badly damaged by storms in 1915 and along with two cottages had to be demolished. The coastguard had been vacated in 1906 and the building became the new pub. It was renamed The Rashleigh Inn in the 1950's.

Some parts of the building are 300 years old with additional parts added in the 1950's & 1970's. The boathouse area is now the bar area and the bay area actually covers the slipway.

Needless to say the pub is reputed to be haunted by a coastguard, an old lady and even a cat. These claims have been investigated by journalists from the St Austell Voice who were firmly convinced that they did see an apparition and unexplained movements of furniture and lights switching themselves on and off. (Those spirits eh!)

Doomwatch, Poldark & Daphne Du maurier

Polkerris has been featured as a location for films and TV production including Doomwatch and Poldark as well as a location for various fashion shoots.
The local surrounding area was a great inspiration for Daphne Du maurier who wrote and lived in nearby Menabilly House which featured heavily in her famous novel "Rebecca".

During Daphne Du maurier week, the famous literary festival - which is held in Fowey every May, the local tourist office runs organised walks long the cliffs from Fowey to Polkerris.

On 25th May 2009 the R.N.L.I. are commemorated 150 years of the Fowey Lifeboat - with a fantastic Polkerris Fun Day

Need directions to get to the Rashleigh Inn, Polkerris? - click here