Image Licensing : GWR Docks Fowey, c1920s

EDITORS COMMENTS

This evocative photograph captures the bustling activity at Fowey Docks in the 1920s, a time when the picturesque Cornish town was a thriving hub of maritime trade and transportation. The image, taken from the vantage point of the quayside, showcases a diverse range of vessels moored at the docks, from small fishing boats and cargo ships to elegant passenger steamers. The Great Western Railway (GWR) played a pivotal role in the development of Fowey Docks, connecting the town to the wider network of railways and enabling the efficient movement of goods and people. The railway line can be seen running along the edge of the quay, with a steam locomotive and carriages parked nearby, ready to transport passengers and cargo to their destinations. The scene is further enlivened by the presence of cranes and other dockside equipment, which were essential for loading and unloading the various vessels. Men in workwear can be seen busy at work, loading sacks of cargo onto the backs of carts or assisting passengers as they disembark from the steamers. Despite the industry and activity, there is a sense of tranquility and charm to the photograph, with the clear blue waters of the harbour reflecting the sun-kissed sky and the rolling hills of Cornwall rising in the distance. The photograph is a fascinating snapshot of life at Fowey Docks in the 1920s, a time when the town's maritime heritage was at its peak.