Conserving Cornish harbours - Revision history

Designing Buildings at 08:22, 23 December 2020

2020-12-23T08:22:58Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:22, 23 December 2020
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	* Fisher Associates, Ports and The Historic Environment, Lymington, 2014.		* Fisher Associates, Ports and The Historic Environment, Lymington, 2014.

−	[[Category:Conservation]]	+	[[Category:Conservation]] [[Category:DCN_Commentary]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:DCN_Report]] [[Category:DCN_Research,_Development_and_Innovation]]

Designing Buildings at 13:34, 25 January 2020

2020-01-25T13:34:29Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:34, 25 January 2020
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	* Future of seaside towns.		* Future of seaside towns.
	* Seashaken Houses: A lighthouse history from Eddystone to Fastnet.		* Seashaken Houses: A lighthouse history from Eddystone to Fastnet.
		+	* Waterfronts Revisited: European ports in a historic and global perspective.

	= External references =		= External references =

Designing Buildings at 08:46, 18 January 2020

2020-01-18T08:46:24Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:46, 18 January 2020
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	* The Institute of Historic Building Conservation.		* The Institute of Historic Building Conservation.
	* Future of seaside towns.		* Future of seaside towns.
		+	* Seashaken Houses: A lighthouse history from Eddystone to Fastnet.

	= External references =		= External references =

Designing Buildings at 13:37, 22 November 2019

2019-11-22T13:37:10Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:37, 22 November 2019
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	= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =		= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =

		+	* A review of Scotland's historic lighthouses.
	* IHBC articles.		* IHBC articles.
		+	* Lighthouse.
	* The Institute of Historic Building Conservation.		* The Institute of Historic Building Conservation.
	* Future of seaside towns.		* Future of seaside towns.

Designing Buildings at 08:04, 14 April 2019

2019-04-14T08:04:14Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:04, 14 April 2019
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	* IHBC articles.		* IHBC articles.
	* The Institute of Historic Building Conservation.		* The Institute of Historic Building Conservation.
		+	* Future of seaside towns.

	= External references =		= External references =

Designing Buildings at 10:57, 21 December 2018

2018-12-21T10:57:00Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:57, 21 December 2018
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	-----		-----
	{\|		{\|
−	\|[[File:Storm_frank.png\|link=File:Storm_frank.png]]	+	\| [[File:Storm_frank.png\|link=File:Storm_frank.png]]
	\|-		\|-
−	\|Storm Frank, December 2015: waves break over the finger pier and Bickford-Smith Institute at the entrance to Porthleven Harbour, Cornwall (Photo: Colin Higgs, www.portreathstudio.com).	+	\| Storm Frank, December 2015: waves break over the finger pier and Bickford-Smith Institute at the entrance to Porthleven Harbour, Cornwall (Photo: Colin Higgs, www.portreathstudio.com).
	\|}		\|}

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	{\|		{\|
−	\|[[File:Portreath_Harbour_time_lapse.png\|247px\|link=File:Portreath_Harbour_time_lapse.png]]	+	\| [[File:Portreath_Harbour_time_lapse.png\|247px\|link=File:Portreath_Harbour_time_lapse.png]]
	\|-		\|-
−	\|Two-minute time lapse sequence showing the destruction of the Portreath Harbour forward observation hut (1890) by storm waves in 2014 (Photo: Colin Higgs, www.portreathstudio.com).	+	\| Two-minute time lapse sequence showing the destruction of the Portreath Harbour forward observation hut (1890) by storm waves in 2014 (Photo: Colin Higgs, www.portreathstudio.com).
	\|}		\|}

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	{\|		{\|
−	\|[[File:Mullion_Cove.png\|link=File:Mullion_Cove.png]]	+	\| [[File:Mullion_Cove.png\|link=File:Mullion_Cove.png]]
	\|-		\|-
−	\|Mullion Cove: the 19th-century harbour is owned by the National Trust which has been exploring options for its long-term sustainable management. A 2006 study concluded that repair and maintenance until ‘failure’ should be adopted, followed by managed retreat – a controlled process of loss and consolidation, after which the harbour would revert to its natural state as a cove. (Photo: John Such, suchgoodpictures.co.uk)	+	\| Mullion Cove: the 19th-century harbour is owned by the National Trust which has been exploring options for its long-term sustainable management. A 2006 study concluded that repair and maintenance until ‘failure’ should be adopted, followed by managed retreat – a controlled process of loss and consolidation, after which the harbour would revert to its natural state as a cove. (Photo: John Such, suchgoodpictures.co.uk)
	\|}		\|}

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	{\|		{\|
−	\|[[File:South_Quay_Mousehole.png\|link=File:South_Quay_Mousehole.png]]	+	\| [[File:South_Quay_Mousehole.png\|link=File:South_Quay_Mousehole.png]]
	\|-		\|-
−	\|Medieval boulderwork in the Grade II* listed South Quay, Mousehole (Photo: Colin Higgs, www.portreathstudio.com).	+	\| Medieval boulderwork in the Grade II* listed South Quay, Mousehole (Photo: Colin Higgs, www.portreathstudio.com).
	\|}		\|}

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	{\|		{\|
−	\|[[File:Lamorna_Cove.png\|link=File:Lamorna_Cove.png]]	+	\| [[File:Lamorna_Cove.png\|link=File:Lamorna_Cove.png]]
	\|-		\|-
−	\|Ruined stub of the privately owned 19th-century granite pier at Lamorna Cove.	+	\| Ruined stub of the privately owned 19th-century granite pier at Lamorna Cove.
	\|}		\|}

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	--[[User:Institute_of_Historic_Building_Conservation\|Institute of Historic Building Conservation]]		--[[User:Institute_of_Historic_Building_Conservation\|Institute of Historic Building Conservation]]

−	~~= Find out more =~~	+	= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =
−		+
−	=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===	+

	* IHBC articles.		* IHBC articles.
	* The Institute of Historic Building Conservation.		* The Institute of Historic Building Conservation.

−	=== External references ===	+	= External references =

−	* S Cork and N Chamberlain, Old Waterfront Walls, CIRIA/The Environment Agency, London, 2015 ~~([http://bc-url.com/waterfront http://bc-url.com/waterfront])~~.	+	* S Cork and N Chamberlain, Old Waterfront Walls, CIRIA/The Environment Agency, London, 2015.
−	* Fisher Associates, Ports and The Historic Environment, Lymington, 2014 ~~([http://bc-url.com/ports http://bc-url.com/ports])~~.	+	* Fisher Associates, Ports and The Historic Environment, Lymington, 2014.

	[[Category:Conservation]]		[[Category:Conservation]]

Designing Buildings at 08:37, 24 May 2017

2017-05-24T08:37:59Z

Show changes

Designing Buildings at 08:34, 24 May 2017

2017-05-24T08:34:33Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:34, 24 May 2017
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	-----		-----
	{\|		{\|
−	\|[[File:~~Storm frank~~.png]]	+	\|[[File:Storm_frank.png\|link=File:Storm_frank.png]]
	\|-		\|-
	\|Storm Frank, December 2015: waves break over the finger pier and Bickford-Smith Institute at the entrance to Porthleven Harbour, Cornwall (Photo: Colin Higgs, www.portreathstudio.com).		\|Storm Frank, December 2015: waves break over the finger pier and Bickford-Smith Institute at the entrance to Porthleven Harbour, Cornwall (Photo: Colin Higgs, www.portreathstudio.com).
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	{\|		{\|
−	\|[[File:~~Portreath Harbour time lapse~~.png]]	+	\|[[File:Portreath_Harbour_time_lapse.png\|247px\|link=File:Portreath_Harbour_time_lapse.png]]
	\|-		\|-
	\|Two-minute time lapse sequence showing the destruction of the Portreath Harbour forward observation hut (1890) by storm waves in 2014 (Photo: Colin Higgs, www.portreathstudio.com).		\|Two-minute time lapse sequence showing the destruction of the Portreath Harbour forward observation hut (1890) by storm waves in 2014 (Photo: Colin Higgs, www.portreathstudio.com).
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	While great storms have occurred throughout history, predictions for a worsening wave climate and increasing storminess place maritime infrastructure firmly in the front line of climate change. Following the collapse in coastal trading and fishing in the early 20th century, many tidal harbours in the south west went into severe decline. Hindered by remoteness and lack of funding, most have survived relatively intact. Many man-made harbours evolved from simple cove landing places with a degree of natural protection: Mullion, Mousehole and Marazion are all in the lee of islands. Others were protected by reefs, headlands or sandbars. Masonry breakwaters began to appear in Britain around the 14th and 15th centuries. These were short simple structures founded in shallow water. Mousehole, the principal port of Mount’s Bay until the 16th century, was the first in Cornwall to acquire a protective quay around 1393.		While great storms have occurred throughout history, predictions for a worsening wave climate and increasing storminess place maritime infrastructure firmly in the front line of climate change. Following the collapse in coastal trading and fishing in the early 20th century, many tidal harbours in the south west went into severe decline. Hindered by remoteness and lack of funding, most have survived relatively intact. Many man-made harbours evolved from simple cove landing places with a degree of natural protection: Mullion, Mousehole and Marazion are all in the lee of islands. Others were protected by reefs, headlands or sandbars. Masonry breakwaters began to appear in Britain around the 14th and 15th centuries. These were short simple structures founded in shallow water. Mousehole, the principal port of Mount’s Bay until the 16th century, was the first in Cornwall to acquire a protective quay around 1393.
		+
		+	{\|
		+	\|[[File:Mullion Cove.png]]
		+	\|-
		+	\|Mullion Cove: the 19th-century harbour is owned by the National Trust which has been exploring options for its long-term sustainable management. A 2006 study concluded that repair and maintenance until ‘failure’ should be adopted, followed by managed retreat – a controlled process of loss and consolidation, after which the harbour would revert to its natural state as a cove. (Photo: John Such, suchgoodpictures.co.uk)
		+	\|}

	This situation largely persisted until the mid-18th and 19th centuries when many harbours were extended to accommodate enlarged fishing fleets or to service ventures such as mining. Until this time, harbours were vernacular structures. The earliest builders used stone in its natural state, laid with wide joints through which wave energy and internal air pressure could safely dissipate. The integrity of later work, roughly coursed but unbonded, depended on the frictional interlocking of roughly shaped stones. This evolved into the welljointed roughly squared masonry now thought typical of early 18th-century work. Modestly sized stones were laid vertically to optimise their mass against wave uplift, while the long open joints allowed seawater to rapidly drain downwards. Quarrying and transport improvements from the mid- 18th century meant that larger units of the densest stone, often massive granite blocks, could be laid flat to form tightly jointed outer skins infilled with rubble.		This situation largely persisted until the mid-18th and 19th centuries when many harbours were extended to accommodate enlarged fishing fleets or to service ventures such as mining. Until this time, harbours were vernacular structures. The earliest builders used stone in its natural state, laid with wide joints through which wave energy and internal air pressure could safely dissipate. The integrity of later work, roughly coursed but unbonded, depended on the frictional interlocking of roughly shaped stones. This evolved into the welljointed roughly squared masonry now thought typical of early 18th-century work. Modestly sized stones were laid vertically to optimise their mass against wave uplift, while the long open joints allowed seawater to rapidly drain downwards. Quarrying and transport improvements from the mid- 18th century meant that larger units of the densest stone, often massive granite blocks, could be laid flat to form tightly jointed outer skins infilled with rubble.

−	These structures were still highly permeable, allowing the tide to rise through the loose hearting, pushing air outwards through interstices, and on the ebb, permitting sea water to drain freely outwards. The blocks were left roughly dressed to optimise frictional resistance to waves. Mortar was used sparingly, often to prevent displacement of the top ‘pitching’ which was vulnerable to down-falling waves. This method was used in 1837 to construct a second breakwater at Mousehole, fully enclosing the harbour. Despite its exposure to southerly gales, the entire evolutionary sequence of building described above survives on the inner face of the South Quay at Mousehole (~~page 27~~).	+	These structures were still highly permeable, allowing the tide to rise through the loose hearting, pushing air outwards through interstices, and on the ebb, permitting sea water to drain freely outwards. The blocks were left roughly dressed to optimise frictional resistance to waves. Mortar was used sparingly, often to prevent displacement of the top ‘pitching’ which was vulnerable to down-falling waves. This method was used in 1837 to construct a second breakwater at Mousehole, fully enclosing the harbour. Despite its exposure to southerly gales, the entire evolutionary sequence of building described above survives on the inner face of the South Quay at Mousehole.
		+
		+	{\|
		+	\|[[File:South Quay Mousehole.png]]
		+	\|-
		+	\|Medieval boulderwork in the Grade II* listed South Quay, Mousehole (Photo: Colin Higgs, www.portreathstudio.com).
		+	\|}

	The mid-18th century saw a move towards highly engineered structures. John Smeaton advised on many harbour improvement works but some caution is required in assuming the extent to which sophisticated developments in offshore lighthouse design influenced more modest harbour works. Until the 1880s Mousehole had the largest fishing fleet in Mount’s Bay, and the harbour was often full. In 1868, a government grant was obtained by the harbour improvement commissioners to double its size. The 1837 quay was demolished and the stone reused to build the present North Quay – again, a rubble-filled masonry structure – and the entrance was improved by rebuilding the end of the South Quay with a slight overlap and an outward kick to shelter vessels in the narrow entrance. Later 19th-century structures became increasingly impermeable, designed to deflect oncoming waves, forcing energy outwards and upwards. Mullion’s West Pier, built only 20 years later, has outer skins of tooled masonry with mortared joints, a concrete ‘bagwork’ hearting of ordinary Portland cement and a full-length projecting moulding intended to deflect waves seawards (a precursor to the modern recurve). The increasing use of concrete towards the end of the century introduced a new phase and scale of marine infrastructure.		The mid-18th century saw a move towards highly engineered structures. John Smeaton advised on many harbour improvement works but some caution is required in assuming the extent to which sophisticated developments in offshore lighthouse design influenced more modest harbour works. Until the 1880s Mousehole had the largest fishing fleet in Mount’s Bay, and the harbour was often full. In 1868, a government grant was obtained by the harbour improvement commissioners to double its size. The 1837 quay was demolished and the stone reused to build the present North Quay – again, a rubble-filled masonry structure – and the entrance was improved by rebuilding the end of the South Quay with a slight overlap and an outward kick to shelter vessels in the narrow entrance. Later 19th-century structures became increasingly impermeable, designed to deflect oncoming waves, forcing energy outwards and upwards. Mullion’s West Pier, built only 20 years later, has outer skins of tooled masonry with mortared joints, a concrete ‘bagwork’ hearting of ordinary Portland cement and a full-length projecting moulding intended to deflect waves seawards (a precursor to the modern recurve). The increasing use of concrete towards the end of the century introduced a new phase and scale of marine infrastructure.
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	Mousehole is one of the bestpreserved harbour settings in Cornwall. Yet the importance of the harbour commissioners in sustainably managing this heritage site is largely overlooked. Cornwall Council is the statutory harbour authority for ten harbours. While some have always been local-authority owned, the council has acted as a safety net for failed trust ports such as St Ives and Porthscatho and failed commercial ports such as Portreath. All remain statutory ports and all are loss-making. As most historic harbour structures are uninsured, many are being maintained to defer eventual failure: few harbour authorities have the resources to plan for future adaptation.		Mousehole is one of the bestpreserved harbour settings in Cornwall. Yet the importance of the harbour commissioners in sustainably managing this heritage site is largely overlooked. Cornwall Council is the statutory harbour authority for ten harbours. While some have always been local-authority owned, the council has acted as a safety net for failed trust ports such as St Ives and Porthscatho and failed commercial ports such as Portreath. All remain statutory ports and all are loss-making. As most historic harbour structures are uninsured, many are being maintained to defer eventual failure: few harbour authorities have the resources to plan for future adaptation.

−	The government’s Small Ports Recovery Scheme, announced in August 2014 with funding totalling £1.7 million, was an unexpected lifeline enabling many harbours, including Porthleven and Mousehole, to make repairs that were otherwise beyond their modest means but critical to their ongoing code compliance. Where a harbour is closed and no open port duty exists, damage from natural causes may go unrepaired. For example, the Grade II 19th-century granite pier at Lamorna Cove ~~(left)~~ is privately owned. Breached in 2014, it was not repaired and wave action has since reduced it to a stub.	+	The government’s Small Ports Recovery Scheme, announced in August 2014 with funding totalling £1.7 million, was an unexpected lifeline enabling many harbours, including Porthleven and Mousehole, to make repairs that were otherwise beyond their modest means but critical to their ongoing code compliance. Where a harbour is closed and no open port duty exists, damage from natural causes may go unrepaired. For example, the Grade II 19th-century granite pier at Lamorna Cove is privately owned. Breached in 2014, it was not repaired and wave action has since reduced it to a stub.
		+
		+	{\|
		+	\|[[File:Lamorna Cove.png]]
		+	\|-
		+	\|Ruined stub of the privately owned 19th-century granite pier at Lamorna Cove.
		+	\|}

	Harbours are subject to sweeping natural change and human alteration, characterised by pragmatic rebuilding and structural discontinuity. Minor repairs are often ad hoc, while major repairs rely on the ingenuity of the consulting engineer. Often, repairs are carried out in a single stage and specified to anticipate worsening conditions, rather than incremental minimum intervention. While fallen stonework may be recovered, the use of modern materials and techniques is common.		Harbours are subject to sweeping natural change and human alteration, characterised by pragmatic rebuilding and structural discontinuity. Minor repairs are often ad hoc, while major repairs rely on the ingenuity of the consulting engineer. Often, repairs are carried out in a single stage and specified to anticipate worsening conditions, rather than incremental minimum intervention. While fallen stonework may be recovered, the use of modern materials and techniques is common.

Designing Buildings at 08:30, 24 May 2017

2017-05-24T08:30:33Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:30, 24 May 2017
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	-----		-----
		+	{\|
		+	\|[[File:Storm frank.png]]
		+	\|-
		+	\|Storm Frank, December 2015: waves break over the finger pier and Bickford-Smith Institute at the entrance to Porthleven Harbour, Cornwall (Photo: Colin Higgs, www.portreathstudio.com).
		+	\|}
		+
	The damage inflicted by a succession of exceptionally severe weather systems affecting the south and west coasts of the UK and Ireland in the winter of 2013–2014 exposed the vulnerability of coastal built heritage, highlighting the profound challenges that lie ahead in attempting to manage the predicted effects of climate change. A chain of Atlantic depressions generated intense wave activity. Inshore, massive ocean swells coincided with unusually high Spring tides to produce storm surges which inundated sheltered deep-water ports such as Plymouth and Cork and caused critical damage to a number of small Cornish harbours.		The damage inflicted by a succession of exceptionally severe weather systems affecting the south and west coasts of the UK and Ireland in the winter of 2013–2014 exposed the vulnerability of coastal built heritage, highlighting the profound challenges that lie ahead in attempting to manage the predicted effects of climate change. A chain of Atlantic depressions generated intense wave activity. Inshore, massive ocean swells coincided with unusually high Spring tides to produce storm surges which inundated sheltered deep-water ports such as Plymouth and Cork and caused critical damage to a number of small Cornish harbours.

−	At St Michael’s Mount part of the historic causeway was lost. At Porthleven the timber baulks across the entrance were smashed, allowing destructive breakers to penetrate the inner harbour. At Portreath the forward observation hut was swept away in minutes ~~(page 26)~~. At Mullion both breakwaters were damaged and granite copings thrown into the harbour. Elsewhere parapets, slips and sea walls were shifted and undermined in successive storms.	+	At St Michael’s Mount part of the historic causeway was lost. At Porthleven the timber baulks across the entrance were smashed, allowing destructive breakers to penetrate the inner harbour. At Portreath the forward observation hut was swept away in minutes. At Mullion both breakwaters were damaged and granite copings thrown into the harbour. Elsewhere parapets, slips and sea walls were shifted and undermined in successive storms.
		+
		+	{\|
		+	\|[[File:Portreath Harbour time lapse.png]]
		+	\|-
		+	\|Two-minute time lapse sequence showing the destruction of the Portreath Harbour forward observation hut (1890) by storm waves in 2014 (Photo: Colin Higgs, www.portreathstudio.com).
		+	\|}

	The Cornish coast contains some of the most popular heritage settings in the UK. Its small-scale tidal harbours continue to draw large numbers of visitors and form the mainstay of Cornwall’s tourism economy. Harbours are often viewed as timeless yet the coastal zone is a place of rapid and dynamic change. However, research suggests that the public has a low level of engagement with maritime issues. Perhaps more worryingly, a similarly low level of engagement seems to exist within the wider conservation sector. A 2014 report, ‘Ports and The Historic Environment’ (see Further Information), concluded that the relationship between Historic England and the port sector was generally weak and reactive.		The Cornish coast contains some of the most popular heritage settings in the UK. Its small-scale tidal harbours continue to draw large numbers of visitors and form the mainstay of Cornwall’s tourism economy. Harbours are often viewed as timeless yet the coastal zone is a place of rapid and dynamic change. However, research suggests that the public has a low level of engagement with maritime issues. Perhaps more worryingly, a similarly low level of engagement seems to exist within the wider conservation sector. A 2014 report, ‘Ports and The Historic Environment’ (see Further Information), concluded that the relationship between Historic England and the port sector was generally weak and reactive.

Designing Buildings at 09:02, 23 May 2017

2017-05-23T09:02:26Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:02, 23 May 2017
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	-----		-----
	This article originally appeared in IHBC's 2017 Yearbook. It was written by Hilary Wyatt, an EPSRC-funded PhD candidate at the Welsh School of Architecture, where she is researching the sustainable conservation of marine infrastructure. Her professional practice includes conservation and design and building surveying. In 2016 she won the Gus Astley Award for her MSc dissertation on small-scale historic harbours.		This article originally appeared in IHBC's 2017 Yearbook. It was written by Hilary Wyatt, an EPSRC-funded PhD candidate at the Welsh School of Architecture, where she is researching the sustainable conservation of marine infrastructure. Her professional practice includes conservation and design and building surveying. In 2016 she won the Gus Astley Award for her MSc dissertation on small-scale historic harbours.
		+
		+	--[[User:Institute_of_Historic_Building_Conservation\|Institute of Historic Building Conservation]]

	= Find out more =		= Find out more =
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	=== External references ===		=== External references ===

−	* S Cork and N Chamberlain, Old Waterfront Walls, CIRIA/The Environment Agency, London, 2015 (http://bc-url.com/waterfront).	+	* S Cork and N Chamberlain, Old Waterfront Walls, CIRIA/The Environment Agency, London, 2015 ([http://bc-url.com/waterfront http://bc-url.com/waterfront]).
−	* Fisher Associates, Ports and The Historic Environment, Lymington, 2014 (http://bc-url.com/ports).	+	* Fisher Associates, Ports and The Historic Environment, Lymington, 2014 ([http://bc-url.com/ports http://bc-url.com/ports]).

	[[Category:Conservation]]		[[Category:Conservation]]