Porthmeor Studios Open

A St Ives landmark which has been home to artists and fishermen for 150 years is back in use.

Porthmeor Studios has undergone a £4 million facelift. It was in such a poor state, parts of the building were in danger of collapse.

In a remarkable transformation, the fishermen are now housed in former pilchard cellars and the artists above them in newly renovated studios.

A St Ives landmark which has been home to artists and fishermen for 150 years is back in use.

Porthmeor Studios has undergone a £4 million facelift. It was in such a poor state, parts of the building were in danger of collapse.

Chris Hibbert is the Project Manager:

A St Ives landmark which has been home to artists and fishermen for 150 years is back in use.

Porthmeor Studios has undergone a £4 million facelift. It was in such a poor state, parts of the building were in danger of collapse.

The fishermen are housed in former pilchard cellars, the artists above them in purpose built studios.

A St Ives landmark which has been home to artists and fishermen for one hundred and fifty years is back in use. Porthmeor Studios has undergone a four million pound facelift. It was in such a poor state, parts of the building were in danger of collapse.

The fishermen are housed in former pilchard cellars, the artists above them in purpose built studios.

A cellar used by St.Ives fishermen two hundred years ago has been uncovered. The cellar was found by workmen renovating studios which front Porthmeor beach.

It's been buried under several feet of sand and was used for the local pilchard fishing industry which once thrived in the town.

The studios are being turned into a shared space for artists and fishermen as part of a £4 million pound scheme to preserve the building which was in danger of collapsing.

Our Cornwall Correspondent Steve Hardy spoke to Nick Cahill, an historic buildings consultant, and Brian Stevens from St Ives Museum about the discovery:

A cellar used by St Ives fishermen two hundred years ago has been uncovered.

The cellar was found by workmen renovating studios which front Porthmeor beach. It's been buried under several feet of sand and was used for the local pilchard fishing industry which once thrived in the town.

The cellar's cobbled floor contains the channels which were used to drain oil from the pilchards.

The oil was used for lamps and in medicine. Archaeologists have been mapping out the cellar before it is covered by the renovation work.

A cellar used by St Ives fishermen two hundred years ago has been uncovered. The cellar was found by workmen renovating studios which front Porthmeor beach.

It's been buried under several feet of sand and was used for the local pilchard fishing industry which once thrived in the town.