New Film Shares Rich History Of Cornwall’s Polperro Village

A new film from Historic England tells an extraordinary story of place and identity in the fishing village of Polperro. 

The film follows Gareth Powell, Historic England Missing Pieces Project Officer, as he explores Polperro and discovers the remarkable story of the local fishermen’s jumpers and their interwoven connection to the village.  

These hand-knitted garments, known as knitfrocks, were lovingly created by family members and carried distinctive patterns that helped identify fishermen if tragedy struck at sea. 

At Polperro Harbour Heritage Museum, a former fish factory which is a Grade II listed building, Gareth met Museum Director Paul Dyer.  

Paul said: “The photographs and the stories we have, it’s a snapshot of 250 years of real life in a real Cornish village.” 

Using 1851 census records and historic photographs, Gareth discovered one of the prominent Polperro families, the Jolliffs, who called the village home for generations.  

In archive photographs, Jane Jolliff can be seen, knitting, out on the cliffs while watching the harbour for boats returning from sea. The tradition of knitfrock knitting has been passed down the generations and her descendent Tina Cowen has recently completed one of the last knitfrock jumpers in the village, which she shows to Gareth in the film.

These traditional jumpers were integral to everyday life and connected each person to their local village. 

Many of the places where the Jollifs lived and worked can still be seen in Polperro and the thread between the people, the traditional heritage skills so integral to the community, and the places they spent time in, is incredibly strong. 

Gareth Powell, Historic England Missing Pieces Project Officer, says: “There are stories that connect us all, in towns, villages and houses, just like yours. By linking them to listed places we can make sure that the histories of those communities live on.” 

“It’s been a privilege to discover Polperro’s fascinating history and to meet some amazing people who have generously shared their time and their stories with me. By sharing those stories on the Missing Pieces Project, I hope we’ve encouraged more people to get to know this beautiful village and its distinctive character.” 

Share your Seaside Stories and Memories   

The stories of these historic seaside places in Cornwall are still being written – and they won’t be complete until you share your memories and first-hand experiences of these gems. Go online and share at https://historicengland.org.uk/SeasideStories  

We’d love to see your photos and memories so that visitors to the Historic England website can learn more about what makes these places special. Perhaps there’s a local landmark that means home to you, or a special place that shows you’ve reached your favourite holiday destination once again. Maybe there are local maritime traditions to be shared that have been passed down the generations, or a quirky mid-century marvel that brings a smile to your face.   

Your view of a place is as unique as you are, so every snapshot and story you add is an important piece of the picture. You could add photos, audio, text, drawings and more.   

The Missing Pieces Project recognises that every person’s connection to these historic places adds a unique dimension to their cultural importance, helping to build a more complete picture of England's cherished seaside heritage.