Doors 363 – Doors of Charlestown, Cornwall – October 2025
Some of you may know that this beautiful little harbour village featured regularly in the 2015-2019 series of Poldark, but that is only a modern chapter in the history of Charlestown. An AI assembled potted history is as follows:
Charlestown, on the south coast of Cornwall, was developed in the late 18th century by local landowner and entrepreneur Charles Rashleigh, who transformed the small fishing village of West Polmear into a thriving port to export copper and china clay from Cornwall’s booming mining industry. Named after Rashleigh himself, the harbour was completed in the 1790s and quickly became an important centre for maritime trade, with tall sailing ships carrying cargo across Europe and beyond. Although commercial shipping declined during the 20th century, Charlestown’s remarkably well-preserved Georgian harbour and historic waterfront have survived largely unchanged. Today, the village is a popular visitor destination, celebrated for its maritime heritage, traditional tall ships, and appearances as a filming location in numerous television dramas and films.
I visited the village in October last year, for the first time, while on a fishing trip with my great friend Andy. Coincidentally, I visited again this May with work, and it was a real pleasure to soak in its unique and gentle atmosphere. Here are some doors from my original visit:
Charlestown, although reputed to be busy during the tourist season, is a sleepy, calm place with a rich legacy in Cornwall’s mining heritage. Well worth a visit (out of season). More from Cornwall next time.
If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s weekly Thursday Doors post and his Sunday recap.
Natural adventures 