Maritime museum puts on miniature display
View the nautical history of Cornwall – in miniature!
The National Maritime Museum in Falmouth has installed a fascinating model boat case its in refurbished Falmouth Packet Gallery, showing a series of boats with local connections.
“Come and see a model of a Cornish Pilot Gig which were used from the 17th century when large sailing ships needed help navigating into Falmouth harbour,” a spokesman says.
“Why not take a look at a model of the boat designed by Customs & Excise to catch smugglers, a Revenue Cutter! Although the boat carried up to 10 guns, the smugglers’ boats easily outran them, ensuring their cargos of rum, brandy, tobacco and salt made it safely ashore.”
A model of Mount’s Bay Lugger The Ganges tells a different story.
Launched at Mousehole in 1872, the lugger fished waters around Cornwall as a Mount’s Bay mackerel driver for 35 years. Shown fully rigged and equipped for fishing, this detailed model was built in 1881 and is considered to be an extremely accurate replica.
Also on show is a model of an Oyster Dredger, craft which are still used today to fish for oysters in the Carrick Roads. The boats development are limited by a modern by-law forbidding oyster fishing by engine-powered craft, so the boats, equipment and techniques have remained largely unchanged for hundreds of years.
