Mousehole  pronounced "Mowzel", just three miles west of Penzance, is one of the most beautiful fishing villages in Britain. Happily, Mousehole has remained largely unspoilt by the development of the 20th and 21st Centuries and it continues to present the image of the classic Cornish fishing village of bygone days, with its narrow streets and  friendly local folk.  Our lovely holiday home,  Pilot's Cottage at 5, Brook Street  offers a truly affordable self catering holiday accommodation  and is situated just yards from the harbour.

The village is centred around a near circular harbour protected from the force of the sea coming across and into Mounts Bay by two sturdy granite breakwaters or quays.  On both the north and south shores of the harbour there is a small and very safe sandy beach which is ideal for families with young children.

This pretty little village is probably world famous for two major events, one spectacular and one heart wrenching. 

The spectacular is the stupendous  on going Christmas illuminations which  have attracted tens of thousands of people every year and been a tremendous boost to the local economy. (see Gallery) 

The  other the Penlee Lifeboat Disaster. On a very stormy night back on the 19th December 1981  the local lifeboat went to the aid of the stricken coaster 'Union Star', which with engine failure was drifting towards the rocky Cornish coast between Mousehole and Land's End.  With winds of  80 mph gusting to 95 mph and seas the height of two double decker buses the 'Solomon Browne', a wooden 47 feet Watson class lifeboat, crewed by 8 men from Mousehole went to her aid.  Despite the bravery of the lifeboat crew,  which got along side and was able to transfer four persons on board,  a huge wave brought the rescue to a very sad end with all lives being lost.  To this day, every 19th December, the Christmas illuminations are turned off at 8.00pm for an hour as an act of remembrance.

Mousehole was my birth place and on my mothers side (Jeffery), I have been able to trace my descendants back some eleven generations to one John Jeffery who was born around 1585, just three years before the Spanish Armada invaded England on July 28th 1588.  John Jeffery died on 22nd May 1648 and is buried at Paul cemetery.  At this time Mousehole was the main port in Mounts Bay and in 1595 Mousehole was raided by four Spanish galleys with 200 soldiers who burned the village to the ground, with only the 15th century Keigwin Arms surviving this attack.

With my parents still living in Mousehole;  back in 1989, we decided to purchase a retirement/holiday cottage in Mousehole,  and since then, have spent many happy and memorable holidays in Pilot's Cottage with our children and latterly with our grandchildren.  With rock pools to explore and sand castles to build in the harbour beaches,  just a stones throw away, why holiday anywhere else?  The restaurants, especially 2, Fore Street are definitely recommended.

The cottage, now Grade 2 listed, is approximately 175 years old and  is constructed  in traditional Cornish granite, and was a typical fisherman's home.  Various building works and modernisation have taken place 0ver the past 35  years, including converting a ground floor store room used for net making etc., into a very comfortable lounge.  This room has an open fireplace constructed with three large slabs of granite, exposed granite wall and with open beamed ceiling.

981 the local lifeboat went to the aid of the stricken coaster 'Union Star', which 

with engine failure was drifting towards the rocky Cornish coast between Mousehole and Land's End. With winds of  80mph 

gusting to 95mph and seas the height of two double decker buses the 'Solomon Browne, a wooden 47 feet Watson class 

lifeboat, crewed by 8 men from Mousehole went to her aid.  Despite the bravery of the crew of the lifeboat , which got 

along side and was able to transfer four persons on board,  a huge wave brought the rescue to a very sad end with all lives 

being lost.

To this day, every 19th December, the Christmas illuminations are turned off at 8.00pm for an hour as an act of 

remembrance.

Mousehole was my birth place and on my mothers side (Jeffery) I have been able to trace my descendants back some eleven 

generations to one John Jeffery who was born around 1585, just three years before 

 open beamed ceiling.