Mevagissey Museum

Mevagissey Museum is a small local museum in the fishing village of Mevagissey on Cornwall's south coast. It occupies an old boatbuilding yard beside the inner harbour, and the building is as much a part of the story as the displays inside. If you want to understand how a working Cornish harbour village lived, it is one of the most revealing stops in the area.

What is the building?

The museum is housed in a Grade II listed building dating from 1745. Boats have been built continuously in Mevagissey's harbour since that year, and this yard was one of the places where it happened. Hulls were originally made on the ground floor, a carpenter's workshop sat above, and the top level was used for storage. That layout still shapes the building.

One detail stands out: the roof supports are largely made from the spars of old smuggling boats, a fitting reminder of the Cornish coast's past.

The Frazier family and the museum's beginnings

The Frazier family had a long link with the site. William Frazier trained here as an apprentice and later owned the yard. Arthur Frazier is remembered as the last boatbuilder to work in the building.

The museum is a registered charity and opened in 1968, when a group of local people needed premises. Arthur Frazier let them have the building for a nominal rent. When he retired in 1981 he offered the museum the chance to buy it, and with help from a local benefactor, Mrs Matson, the trustees were able to do so.

What can you see inside?

The collection shows everyday village life and its rural side. Highlights include:

• an apple crusher and cider press,
• a horse-drawn barley thresher,
• a Cornish kitchen with a working cloam oven, a traditional clay-pot oven,
• a large photo archive of village life in the 19th and 20th centuries,
• displays on boatbuilding and sail making.

Who is it for?

It suits anyone interested in maritime history, traditional crafts and local culture. A visit is usually short, so it combines well with a stroll around the harbour and the village lanes.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Mevagissey Museum? By the inner harbour in Mevagissey, Cornwall, on the south-west coast of England.

How old is the building? It dates from 1745 and is Grade II listed, a former boatbuilding yard.

Is it a commercial attraction? No. It is a registered charity that has run since 1968.

What is the most interesting feature? Many visitors enjoy the roof made from old smuggling-boat spars and the kitchen with its working cloam oven. The archive of historic village photographs is also well worth a look.

Should I check opening times first? Yes. As a small community-run museum it may keep a seasonal schedule, so check its official website before visiting.