Cornish Maritime Collection

An ordinary bench? Ordinary seeming objects often have interesting stories behind their creation and use. This bench was used by Frank Tresidder of Penrose Sailmakers at Upton Slip in Falmouth. All ports and fishing villages had sailmakers who were a key part of the industry in keeping boats and ships afloat. They worked hard to…

Sir William Hillary, a retired soldier who lived on the Isle of Man, was the visionary behind the formation of the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (later the RNLI) in 1824. Before the formation of the Institution, a few dozen local lifesaving stations had been set up but there was no…