Ship Repair History

Falmouth's maritime history is among the most ancient in Britain. The historians record that traders from Gaul, Greece and Rome all used its deep and sheltered harbour.

Its natural advantages were first fully exploited in 1688 when the Post Office set up a mail packet station in the port, sparking off 160 years of prosperity for the town.

With the loss of the packets in 1852 when Falmouth ceased to be a packet station, a repair base with drydocks was established and in 1861 the first ship entered drydock.

Falmouth played an important role in the second World War where, despite aerial attacks, a constant stream of vessels of all descriptions were fitted out for the special needs of the times. The port was also used as an embarkation point for troops and stores in connection with the Normandy landings in 1944.