The full story
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This archived article looks at the small net loft at Mullion Cove, one of the most photographed buildings on that stretch of the Cornish coast.
Rather than treating it only as a picturesque cottage, the piece asks what it was built for and why it sits so close to the harbour.
What is a net loft?
A net loft is exactly what it sounds like, a building where fishermen stored and repaired their nets, ropes and gear, and where catches could be handled close to the boats. Its position right beside the harbour at Mullion Cove was practical rather than picturesque: everything a working fishery needed, within a few steps of the water.
A working harbour, not just a postcard
Mullion Cove's harbour was built in the 1890s to shelter the local fishing fleet, particularly the pilchard boats, from the Atlantic swell, and the net loft is part of that working story. Today the National Trust cares for the harbour, and while the fishing is quieter, the buildings still speak of a coast shaped by the sea.
Why it is so photographed
Set against the cliffs and the harbour wall, with Mullion Island beyond, the net loft is irresistible to photographers, a perfect little emblem of the mix of charm, history and hard graft that makes the Cornish coast what it is.
Common questions
- What is the net loft at Mullion Cove?
- A small stone building beside the harbour, once used by fishermen to store and mend their nets and gear, and now one of Cornwall's most photographed buildings.
- Can you visit Mullion Cove?
- Yes. The harbour, cared for by the National Trust, is open to visitors, with cliff walks and views to Mullion Island. Take care near the harbour walls in rough seas.
- Why was Mullion Cove harbour built?
- It was built in the 1890s to shelter the local fishing fleet, particularly the pilchard boats, from the full force of the Atlantic.