Gweek

Gweek is a village at the head of the Helford River in Cornwall, with a long history as a maritime hub. The village has a sheltered, wooded setting, with the river forming a natural harbor. Historically a center for pilchard fishing and the export of copper and tin, Gweek is now a tranquil village centered on the Gweek Classic Boatyard, which continues the area's tradition of boat building and repair. The village retains a quiet, riverine quality, with stone cottages and a sense of history embedded in the landscape.

History: Gweek has been a port since at least 450 BC, when it served as a trading point for tin with Phoenician merchants. The Romans named it Vicos. In medieval times, Gweek became the busiest harbor in the area after Helston's port was blocked by the formation of Loe Bar in the 14th century. The village had its own Customs House and was a center for the pilchard fishery, with 200 boats employed in bringing fish to be cured in the creeks and coves. The chief trade consisted of the exportation of copper ore, corn, and oysters, and the importation of limestone, timber, and coal for the surrounding mines. In the 19th century, Gweek was connected to the wider mining economy of the Helford River, with quays and boat building supporting the trade. The river is now navigable only at high tide, and Gweek has become a center for boat restoration and storage, with the Gweek Classic Boatyard housing skilled shipwrights and boatbuilders specializing in classic wooden yachts.