Falmouth Packet Archives 1688-1850 | home
Project Mission
To draw attention to the port of Falmouth, in Cornwall, England by highlighting the period during which the port was an important communications gateway for Britain.
To attract correspondents worldwide
history students, archivists, schools, philatelists, genealogists
To develop an ongoing local history resource
available for worldwide 24/7 access
To instill the sense that Falmouth's past is it's future!
Pride should determine that we must invest in our past!
To promote a 3-vessel Replica packet construction programme 
Falmouth must learn from others and create a 5-year+ programme of replica constructions
a living hub of maritime history promotion
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HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, July 24, 2000 (UPI) "Some 80 tall ships left the harbor in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in a spectacular display of sails, heading for Amsterdam on the last leg of the Tall Ships 2000 race. Ships from 25 countries are taking part in the international race. Canada does not have a sailing ship in the race, but played host to the 80 vessels and their crews who arrived in Halifax from Boston, Mass, on Thursday, with the Russian ship Mir in the lead. The flotilla, the most spectacular seen in Halifax harbor in the past 150 years, remained for the weekend, with nearly 1 million people from Canada and the United States visiting, in a festival atmosphere.
Alan Abraham, who headed the Halifax Tall Ships 2000 committee, said Canada had the heritage to build its own sailing vessels, and "we plan to make it happen." [qf. Optimum OnLine / UPI ]
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Falmouth must quickly identify
1. Restorable waterfront amenities in the port (including)
Little Falmouth Dry-dock (built 1818)
2. Suitable replica construction site(s) accessible by boat or car
Ponsharden-Dredge & Marine waterfront
Falmouth Docks (proposed in-filled area - opposite the new CMMC)
3. Heritage funding sources
Objective One?
Heritage Lottery Fund?
EEC Culture 2000?
In the present age of instant communications, this site may help to restore cultural and historical international maritime links formerly enjoyed by the port of Falmouth.
Sites such as the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax, Nova Scotia, illustrate the level of awareness of local maritime history over there. The admirable mandate of the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, is: to create for all an awareness, appreciation and understanding of Nova Scotia's marine heritage, through collection, preservation, research, interpretation and exhibition.
This is exactly what the RCPS and the new Cornwall Maritime Museum (CMMC) hope to achieve. The RCPS Local History Group is a small, virtually unfunded group of local volunteers dedicated to gathering and collating records to illustrate the development of Falmouth.
Peter Gilson
, the group leader, is a former headmaster of Falmouth Grammar School. He conducts heritage trail walks around Falmouth and is the author of several books, all rich in local images.
ISBN 0-7509-0024-5 (1992) ISBN 0-7509-0392-9 (1994) ISBN 0-86299-719-4 (1990)
Published by Alan Sutton Publishing Ltd., Phoenix Mill, Far Thrupp, Stroud, Gloucestershire. England
Unlike a book, although illustrating some features of the port, we need to attract an interactive readership to develop an accessible knowledge base of features linking Falmouth with places formerly served by the postal packets. By creating a searchable collection of references, readers may benefit from being able to quickly identify where they might find further details of their particular interest.
The idea is not unique, and well-funded organisations will probably soon deliver an improvement on the theme. If this site does no more than prompt such activity, then Falmouth will benefit from a heightened awareness of it's rich past.....
"Regardless of the audience, the most important quality of a great Web site is meaningful content that is well-written ... The site should be visibly maintained and frequently updated. The pages should be signed by the Web authors, not just the Webmasters ... In terms of illustrative material, pictures and graphics are very helpful, but they can be overdone."
Should you feel this site fails on the above, or any other counts, please, let me know.
Lest we forget....lives were lost carrying the mails from Falmouth, and the North Atlantic route features ahead of most as regards arduous conditions;
Almost all survived. The Captain's log makes gripping reading! It also serves to illustrate the rich pickings digital data offers family history researchers, shipwreck addicts and potential filmmakers!
Image courtesy of the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club, Falmouth
