Editing Padstow (section)

===Maritime traffic===
Padstow had considerable importance in the Middle Ages as a manor belonging to Bodmin monastery and as the site of a safe haven (one of the few on the north coast). So it became a busy fishing port. Padstow prospered through trade with Ireland and the English and Welsh ports on the [[Bristol Channel]], and during the early 18th Century returned over £100 in duties related to coal imports for both the periods 1708-1710 and 1710-1713, more than any other cornish port except [[Falmouth, Cornwall|Falmouth]].<ref name=BHO>{{cite web |url= https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books/vol23/cccxl-cccxliv |title= Declared Accounts: Customs, Coal |author=  |date= 2019 |website= British History Online |publisher=  University of London |access-date= 21 May 2022}}</ref> Later trade was the export of tin, copper, lead, slate, cured fish and dairy produce, as well as the importing of timber from Norway and Sweden, salt and wine from France, and hemp, iron and jute from Russia.

In the first half of the 19th century Padstow was a significant port of embarcation for emigrants, particularly those bound for Canada, and during the mid-19th century ships carrying timber from Canada such as the [[barque]]s ''[[Clio (barque)|Clio]]'', ''Belle'' and ''Voluna''; and the [[brig]] ''Dalusia'' were making the journey across the Atlantic.<ref name="Beacham, Peter 2014 p. 389"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ist.uwaterloo.ca/~marj/genealogy/ships/ships1843.html|title=Immigrants to Canada – Vessels Arriving at Quebec 1843|first=Marj|last=Kohli|website=ist.uwaterloo.ca|access-date=3 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090320210335/http://www.ist.uwaterloo.ca/~marj/genealogy/ships/ships1843.html|archive-date=20 March 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~biblechristian/other/eynon_john_voyage.html|title=RootsWeb.com Home Page|website=freepages.history.rootsweb.com|access-date=3 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040911144302/http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~biblechristian/other/eynon_john_voyage.html|archive-date=11 September 2004}}</ref> [[Quebec City]] was a specific destination recorded and while such vessels brought timber, the offer of cheap travel to passengers wishing to emigrate enticed some to make the journey to Canada. Local shipbuilders also benefited from the quality of incoming cargoes, although shipbuilding had been practiced in Padstow for centuries and the town provided ships for the siege of [[Calais]] in 1346.<ref name=Topographical>{{cite web |url= https://www.british-history.ac.uk/topographical-dict/england/pp525-530#h3-0018 |title= A Topographical Dictionary of England. Originally published by S Lewis, London, 1848. |author=  |date=  |website= British History Online |publisher= University of London |access-date= 21 May 2022}}</ref> The practice continued, aided by the imported materials, and there five shipyards recorded in the late 19th century though by 1900 this had declined.<ref name="Beacham, Peter 2014 p. 389"/>

[[File:Padstow-Rock Ferry.JPG|thumb|left|Padstow-Rock ferry]]
The approach from the sea into the River Camel is partially blocked by the [[Doom Bar]], a [[sand bank|bank of sand]] extending across the estuary which is a significant hazard to shipping and the cause of many [[shipwreck]]s. [[Padstow Lifeboat Station|A lifeboat station]] was established in 1827.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Leach |first1=Nicholas |title=Padstow Lifeboats |date=2012 |publisher=The History Press |isbn=978-0-7524-6540-1 |pages=9–14}}</ref>

For ships entering the estuary, the immediate loss of wind due to the cliffs was a particular hazard, often resulting in ships being swept onto the Doom Bar. A manual capstan was installed on the west bank of the river (its remains can still be seen) and rockets were fired to carry a line to ships so that they could be winched to safety.

There have been ferries across the Camel estuary for centuries and the current service, the [[Black Tor Ferry]], carries pedestrians between Padstow and [[Rock, Cornwall|Rock]] daily throughout the year.
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[[File:Burgee of Padstow Sailing Club.svg|thumb|Burgee of Padstow Sailing Club, established in 1965]]
In 1964, the harbour commissioners regained control of the harbour from the [[British Transport Commission]] and then made some improvements to it.<ref>Noall, Cyril (1970) ''The Story of Cornwall's Ports and Harbours''. Truro: Tor Mark Press; pp. 43-44</ref> The harbour comprises a tidal outer harbour that is used by ships and commercial vessels, and a smaller inner harbour that is popular with [[yachtsmen]].  This inner harbour is a [[half tide dock]] that uses a "[[half tide dock#Gate-flap|gate-flap]]" to maintain water levels on an ebbing tide, so that the yachts within stay afloat at all stages of the tide.