Abstract
The shipbuilders of Fowey and Polruan were an important part of the local economy in the I9th century with a wide range of links to the community, from shares in ships to providing employment in other related businesses, such as sailmaking and blockmaking. Shipbuilding was a high-risk business, subject to strong fluctuations in demand. Yet Fowey and Polruan shipbuilders produced a constant flow of new ships until the I88os. This article explores the strategies adopted by these small family-owned enterprises, including the use of political influence and patronage in the years up to the I832 Reform Act. What emerges is the importance for these shipbuilders of the effective use of family resources, the ownership of sites and an ability to adapt to changes in local demand.
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