Mousehole, Cornwall: History, the Harbour & Things to Do

Mousehole (pronounced "Mowzel") is a tiny fishing village on the western shore of Mount's Bay, about three miles south of Penzance. Granite cottages crowd around a snug harbour, narrow lanes twist up the hill, and across the water you can see St Michael's Mount.

Why Mousehole Is Special

Mousehole is everything you hope a Cornish fishing village will be: a working harbour, galleries and cafés along the quay, the smell of the sea and the sound of gulls.

It is also a village with a strong community spirit and some of the most moving traditions in Cornwall, from Tom Bawcock's Eve to the famous Christmas lights.

The History of Mousehole

Mousehole is first mentioned in 1283, and the neighbouring name Portheness in 1267. It was an important fishing port in the Middle Ages: pilchards were exported to France as early as 1302, and in 1292 Henry de Tyes was granted a charter for a Tuesday market and a three-day fair at the festival of St Barnabas. Along with Marazion, it was one of the principal ports of Mount's Bay until the 16th century.

Its most dramatic day came on 23 July 1595, when Spanish forces under Carlos de Amésquita raided Mount's Bay and burned Mousehole, Newlyn, Paul and Penzance. The only building in Mousehole to survive was the Keigwin Arms, where a plaque records that Squire Jenkyn Keigwin was killed defending the house against the Spaniards.

Mousehole is also linked with the Cornish language. Dolly Pentreath (1692–1777), popularly known as the last recorded native speaker of Cornish, is often reported as being from the village. A year after her death a Mousehole fisherman, William Bodinar, wrote a letter in Cornish saying that he knew of five people who could speak it in the village alone. John Keigwin (1641–1716), a scholar of Cornish, was born here too. In 1936 the GPO Film Unit made The Saving of Bill Blewitt here, starring the local postman, and the painter Jack Pender (1918–1998) was born in the village and spent most of his career here.

In the late 18th century there were five seines and 55 boats based in the harbour. A lifeboat station opened at Penlee Point, on the edge of the village, in 1913. On 19 December 1981 the whole crew of eight of the Penlee lifeboat was lost during a rescue in hurricane-force winds. Every year since, on 19 December, the village Christmas lights have been turned off in their memory.

On 23 December each year the village celebrates Tom Bawcock's Eve, remembering the 16th-century fisherman who, the story goes, ended a famine by sailing out in a storm and bringing home a great catch. The legend inspired the much-loved children's book The Mousehole Cat.

Things to Do in Mousehole

Wander the harbour and the lanes behind it, browse the galleries and craft shops, and look for the Keigwin plaque. In summer, swim or paddle from the small beach inside the harbour at low tide.

Walk the coast path south towards Lamorna Cove, one of the loveliest walks in West Cornwall, or north along the seafront to Newlyn, home of a famous art colony and still one of Britain's major fishing ports. In Penzance, Penlee House Gallery shows paintings of the Newlyn School.

Gardens, Countryside & Antiques near Mousehole

The South West Coast Path runs through the village. For gardens and plants, Trevena Cross Nurseries at Breage is a short drive east, and Trebah near Falmouth is one of Cornwall's great subtropical gardens.

The Cornish Seal Sanctuary at Gweek is a lovely family day out, and St Michael's Mount, reached by causeway at low tide from Marazion, is a must.

Mousehole Through the Seasons

Spring and early summer bring wildflowers to the cliffs. Summer is lively, with boats in the harbour and long evenings on the quay. Autumn can be wild and wonderful, and in December the Christmas lights turn the harbour into one of the most magical sights in Britain.

Getting to Mousehole

Penzance, at the end of the main line from London Paddington, is about three miles away, with buses to Mousehole. The lanes into the village are very narrow, so use the car park on the edge of the village.

Mousehole: Questions & Answers

How do you pronounce Mousehole?

Mousehole is pronounced "Mowzel".

When are the Mousehole Christmas lights?

The lights are switched on each December. On 19 December they are turned off in memory of the eight crew of the Penlee lifeboat lost in 1981, and on 23 December the village celebrates Tom Bawcock's Eve.

Our Advice

Our advice: Visit in December for the lights if you can, and walk the coast path to Lamorna whatever the season. Leave the car on the edge of the village: the lanes are best on foot.