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THIS OBJECT IS PART OF THE PROJECT 'A HISTORY OF CORNWALL IN 100 OBJECTS'.

NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM CORNWALL. When packet ships left Falmouth, the third largest harbour in the world became the place to go 'for orders'. 'Falmouth for Orders' coincided with the arrival of the railway and the docks. Ships would call in at Falmouth to find out where to take their cargoes to get the best prices. In 1881 Falmouth was a cosmopolitan place. So many languages were spoken that there was a resident interpreter. Quay punts serviced the ships, taking out outfitters to measure up crews for new clothes etc. Other working boats included oyster punts.

Curlew was built by R.S. Burt in 1905 as a quay punt but turned to fishing in 1915. After 1936 a deck and accommodation were added and she became a leisure craft. Curlew also featured on a postage stamp in South Georgia when owned by Tim and Pauline Carr. They gave her back to Falmouth in 2003. She is now moored on the NMMC pontoon.