Lock Gate Update: A New Era for Charlestown Harbour
After months of careful preparation, Charlestown Harbour is installing a brand-new lock gate this week – the most significant upgrade to the harbour in decades.
The new gate marks a huge milestone in the harbour’s restoration and long-term investment programme. Once installed, it will once again keep the inner basin full of water all year round, protecting the harbour’s structure and preserving its unique Georgian character for generations to come.
Why the new gate matters
The lock gate is one of the most important parts of the harbour’s infrastructure. It manages both vessel access and water levels, maintaining a safe, full inner basin.
When the previous gate was damaged by storms in September 2024, the harbour became tidal, and resident boats were evacuated. Since then, the basin has emptied with each tide – a rare sight for Charlestown, but one that has given the team a chance to carry out vital work below the waterline.
Now, with the arrival and installation of the new lock gate, the harbour will return to being non-tidal. The change will transform the look and feel of the site, keeping the water at a steady level and restoring the picturesque views that so many visitors and locals know and love.
Engineering and craftsmanship
The new lock gate is a completely bespoke design, created specifically for Charlestown’s unique structure and heritage setting. It has been built and transported by marine engineering firm Constructex, whose team will carefully assemble and lift it into place in the coming week.
This is a highly complex process, involving precision engineering and work within tight tidal windows – access to the lock is only possible for a few days in every cycle. The work also needs to meet the standards of Charlestown’s UNESCO World Heritage Site status, making it a one-of-a-kind operation in Cornwall.
Although installation will be completed this autumn, further works to the winch system and other essential mechanisms will continue through the winter. Boats will return to the inner harbour early next year, with full reopening on track for April 2026, when a major celebration will mark this new chapter for Charlestown Harbour.
Investing in the future
The Lock Gate Regeneration Project represents one of the largest investments in the harbour’s history, with total costs now exceeding £2 million. It has been made possible through a combination of private investment by Charlestown Harbour Ltd and £656,047 in funding from Cornwall Council, delivered via the Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund.
Rolf Munding, owner of Charlestown Harbour Ltd, said:
“We’ve always seen Charlestown as a place where heritage and modern life can meet. Restoring the harbour as a working port with space for traditional vessels, harbourside activity and local businesses ensures it remains full of energy and purpose. The harbour has been a real labour of love, an emotional rollercoaster at times and an enormous investment, but I’m incredibly proud that we’re now able to restore it to a fully functioning port and secure its future.”
Looking ahead
Charlestown Harbour is one of the UK’s rare surviving working Georgian ports and a key part of Cornwall’s maritime heritage. The new lock gate safeguards its future, allowing it to continue operating as a living harbour while preserving its unique character.
Updates will continue to be shared here on our website and across our social channels as the installation progresses.
Follow along and be part of this exciting new era for Charlestown Harbour.
