Quarries

A demand for roadstone at the end of the 19th century led to the opening of quarries at Penlee and elsewhere in Paul parish. The local quarries produced a blue elvan stone (a hard dolerite with calcium instrusions).

The original quarry was in Great Cliff at Penolva. The quarry at Gwavas was named Penlee Quarry and was worked from 1890. From here stone was taken by rail to the south pier (known as the stone pier) at Newlyn. Only four quarry workers are listed in the census of 1891 and all were Mousehole-born. By 1901 there were granite quarries at Sheffield in Paul parish and Lamorna, too. At least 80 quarry workers are listed in the Census.