Page 6 - Porthleven's Historical Timeline

5th century St Elvan - a Celtic saint takes us back to the period around the 5th century.

1086 Methleigh Farm, Porthleven was built before 1066 appears in the original
Domesday Book. Before the Norman Conquest it was owned by the Bishop
of Exeter. There is no mention of Porthleven in any format within the book.

1257-1280 The earliest reference to St Elvan is found in the registers of the Bishops of
Exeter in 1257 - 1280 when a chapel dedicated to St Elvan in the parish of
Sithney, is found. In 1270 Porthleven is probably named after the Celtic
saint St Elvan and there was a chapel dedicated to St Elvan in Sithney parish
near Porthleven

1529 Porthleven, first occurs with this place name spelt as today in a Court roll.
Earliest records indicate Porthleven was a little fishing village in the shelter
of a tiny creek.

1584 The place is spelt as 'Port Levan'

1625 Documents show mining in Wheal Rose and Wheal Penrose areas during
this period.
The area was listed as Port Elvan

1761 Porthleven was mentioned in documents as Port Levan

1770 Original Lime Kilns produced lime for use in construction of early cottages.

1780 Fishmongers Arms (The site of the Institute Buildings) was thought to have
been built this year. It was demolished in 1883

1788 Mid summer’s day - 21 persons drowned off Porthleven while in a boat of
pleasure.

1798 The first mail from London to this area was lost by a very drunk postman