A Celebration of Lobster Pot Christmas Trees

There’s something wonderfully whimsical about a coastal Christmas tree…At National Maritime Museum Cornwall, our Lobster Pot Christmas Tree stands as a proud testament to Cornish fishing heritage but it’s not the only one…

A Cornish Craft at the Heart of It All

Our tree is special not just for its unique construction, but for the skilled hands that made it possible. Crafted using traditional lobster pots made by Cadgwith fisherman Nigel Legge these working tools have been transformed into a festive spectacle, making a beautiful bridge between heritage and celebration.

Watch our interview with fisherman Nigel Legge as he constructs lobster pots

Cornwall’s love affair with lobster pot trees doesn’t stop at our museum doors. Journey down the coast to Mullion Harbour, and you’ll find the local community has embraced this maritime tradition too while Boscastle has also been known to erect its own lobster pot tree.

A Growing Tide Across Britain

This isn’t just a Cornish phenomenon, it’s spreading like harbour gossip up and down the coast. You’ll find a much loved lobster pot tree at Hope Cove, Devon and West Bay, Bridport have lit up their harbour with a gleaming example that’s been drawing crowds and cameras alike. Wells-next-the-Sea in Norfolk and Emsworth in Hampshire have their own and head north to Filey, and you’ll often find a tree at Coble Landing. The harbour at Lynmouth in North Devon has made their tree a beloved annual fixture while further afield in Ullapool, Scotland, the outdoor tree is crafted from shellfish creels.

Crossing the Atlantic: From Cornwall to Cape Cod

Perhaps it’s no surprise that this tradition has flourished where lobster fishing is woven into coastal identity. Provincetown, Massachusetts hosts an annual Lobster Pot Tree lighting while Gloucester, another Massachusetts town with maritime roots, has embraced the tradition alongside Rockland and Kennebunkport in Maine.

Canada’s Maritime provinces, where lobster fishing is both livelihood and culture, have enthusiastically adopted the tradition too. The tree at North East Point waterfront near Cape Sable Island in Barrington, Nova Scotia, stands as a beacon welcoming people home for the holidays.

A little closer to home, the lobster pot tree tradition has even inspired coastal creativity beyond fishing gear. In Croyde, Holly Robertson, Head Ranger of Croyde Beach, led the creation of a Christmas tree fashioned entirely from discarded and broken bodyboards – a surfing community’s nod to coastal celebration and environmental awareness.

Visit Our Tree

This December when you visit the National Maritime Museum Cornwall, take a moment with our Lobster Pot Christmas Tree located in the foyer. Look closely at Nigel Legge’s craftsmanship and know that from our harbour to harbours across the Atlantic, communities are celebrating the same way!

The Lobster Pot Christmas Tree is on display now at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall throughout the festive season.