John Mathews' Dry Dock gates of 1814
The Dry Dock Gates, built in 1814 for the first Dry Dock
John Mathews was born in St Keverne; when young, he and his parents moved to St Michael's Mount.
He was then apprenticed at Neath to a shipbuilder.
He married Emmett Davies 25th December 1788.
He returned to Penzance in 1793 and began his shipbuilding business.
The Dry Dock was cut from the solid rock in places. The first dock gates were of timber.
As far as can be seen, the first iron foundry in Penzance was the Borough Arms Foundry formed in 1772.
John Mathews and Emmett had 20 children, including ...
John Mathews, Midshipman RN, of 1 Clarence Place.
Joseph and David Mathews, Masters of merchantmen, died in the West Indies.
Martin Mathews, Shipbuilder, Freemason, of 15 Regent Terrace; son Frederick Charles Mathews also shipbuilder.
William Davies Mathews, Dry Dock proprieter, Lloyds Agent, founder of Wesleyan Schools and others,
Mayor of Penzance 1857, 1861 and 1863, of 1 Clarence Place, Penzance.
WD Mathews son, John Mathews was
Auctioneer, Consul for Belgium, Vice Consul for Germany, Sweden, Norway, Spain and Portugal; Lloyds Agent.
In 1880-1884 the whole of the Mathews Dry Dock area had to be altered and the present Dry Dock was formed.
N Holman took over the Dock in 1904.
For more, see the OS maps onsite in Time Past Album.
Raymond Forward
