Porthoustock

. Aggregates are quarried nearby and Porthoustock beach is dominated by a large concrete loading silo.

History

There has been quarrying activity in Porthoustock since the late nineteenth century. By the 1940's the quarries were owned by Amalgamated Roadstone and provided stone to build Cornwall's wartime airfields. Porthoustock survived a German bombing raid in November 1940 with no casualties.

Porthoustock's proximity to The Manacles, a set of treacherous rocks which extend about 1 nautical mile east and south east of Manacle Point means that it has been the location for numerous shipwrecks. For this reason, a lifeboat was commissioned in the nineteenth century. The Old Lifeboat House is still standing

Geology

Analcime, analcite, epidote, hornblende, prehnite, calcite, diorite and pectolite are all minerals extracted from the quarries in Porthoustock.

A natural rock formation known as the Giant's Quoits stands on the cliffs above Porthoustock. The rocks once stood on Manacle Point but were moved to their current position in 1967 due to the expansion of the quarries.

Economy

Aram Resources' West of England Quarry is situated adjacent to Porthoustock village. The quarry works a dark green diorite rock mass and has its own wharf allowing the loading of aggregates directly from the quarry to ships. The wharf is protected from the prevailing southwesterly Atlantic weather systems, ensuring minimal disruption to ship loading.

Diving

Porthoustock is a popular launching beach for divers en route to The Manacles

Famous Residents

Titanic survivor Mrs Annie Margaret Hold was born in Porthoustock.Porthoustock resident, Margaret James was jailed for 20 years in 2006 for the 2004 murder of parish councillor, Peter Solheim.

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