Porthleven Mill
The Mill
Look up to the third floor of this prominent cream coloured building and locate the hatch and hook, which point to its origins as a corn-grinding mill. Standing on this spot since the early 1800s, the Mill was originally powered by a waterwheel driven by the stream that now runs through the playing fields and under the road. (This stream was once the source of drinking water for the village).
The Mill operated as Wills’ Garage for 80 years until 1965.
In the Mill many of the large cargoes of grain brought into the port would have been stored and processed. Through the years the building has been used as stables for a horse-drawn bus company running excursions to Penzance, a garage and it’s now a restaurant.
The Mill was originally powered by a waterwheel driven by the stream that now runs through the playing fields and under the road.
After 1965 The Mill (painted blue here) was converted to The Granary restaurant. It still operates as a restaurant today.
Turn around to face the harbour and you’ll be looking at a small area known as The Square with Town Council notices and a map of the village. It’s a wonderful place to sit and watch the world go by. The granite monument here was built in 1911 to commemorate the coronation of George V, and the much-welcomed Memorial Lamp sitting on top of it (originally paraffin) was the first public light in the village.
The Square has long been a popular place to sit and watch the world go by.
You are now standing on the east side of the harbour, known as Sithneyside. Before Porthleven was established as a settlement there were two small communities on either side of the valley. The unnamed stream that fed the waterwheel of the Mill marked the boundary of the two parishes: Sithney to the east and Breage to the west.