Safe Harbour

Charlestown Harbour, Cornwall. This tiny port with its single dock used to play a major part in the shipping business of the China Clay industry. It was always busy - with steamships loading China Clay, grimy little colliers discharging coal, or stately Scandinavian sailing ships landing cargoes of the sweet smelling barrel staves used for the casks in which the finer qualities of China Clay were transported. Now it is a heritage centre, with fine old ships and a historic dock which was being used on this day as a film set. The harbour now is quiet but you can imagine what a fine sight it was for the crews of these ships returning from a long trip. I could almost hear Andy Williams singing Home Lovin' Man -'the captain said thank God we're home we've drunk the barrel dry'. We stopped on our way to Falmouth and enjoyed the stillness and calm.