# Par Docks > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Par_Docks > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Par_Docks.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Par_Docks > Source revision: 1349879370 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|China clay port in Cornwall}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Use British English|date=June 2021}} {{Infobox docks |name=Par Docks |country=United Kingdom |location=Par, Cornwall |opened=1840 |owner=[Imerys](/source/Imerys) |image=Par Docks ECC Aerial Photograph.jpg| | coordinates={{coord|50|20|40|N|4|42|20|W|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}} |caption=Aerial photograph of Par Docks}} '''Par Docks''' is an [Imerys](/source/Imerys)-owned [harbour](/source/harbour) in the village of [Par](/source/Par%2C_Cornwall), [Cornwall](/source/Cornwall), England, United Kingdom,{{Cite web|title=OS Maps: online mapping and walking, running and cycling routes|url=https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/50.34374,-4.70375,16/pin|access-date=2020-09-20|website=osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk}} which was used for the export of [china clay](/source/china_clay) from the numerous Imerys sites in the clay-rich region of Mid-Cornwall.{{Cite web|title=Worldwide presence|url=https://www.imerys.com/worldwide-presence|access-date=2020-09-20|website=Imerys|language=en}} == History == [Joseph Treffry](/source/Joseph_Treffry) (born Joseph Austen in 1782) was the owner of the [Fowey Consols mine](/source/Fowey_Consols_mine) and wanted a harbour to export [copper](/source/copper) and import [coal](/source/coal). He started work on a harbour in the small cove of Porth in 1829. The first ships used it in 1833 and it was finished in 1840. The [breakwater](/source/Breakwater_(structure)) enclosed {{Convert|36|acres|hectare|abbr=}} of harbour and was capable of taking up to about 50 vessels of 200 tons each. The port is tidal so the vessels would sit on the bottom at low tide. Cornish [granite](/source/granite) was exported from Par in the early days for such famous landmarks as [Waterloo Bridge](/source/Waterloo_Bridge) in London, [Chatham Docks](/source/Chatham_Docks), [Gibraltar Docks](/source/Port_of_Gibraltar) & [Glasgow Docks](/source/Glasgow_Harbour). As the china clay industry grew in the area during the 19th century this became the main export through the docks.{{Cite web|title=Ports.org.uk / Par|url=http://www.ports.org.uk/port.asp?id=171|access-date=2020-09-24|website=www.ports.org.uk}} According to the Imerys Blueprint For Cornwall published in 2003: 1858 – 15,154 tons of china clay went out through Par 1885 – 86,325 tons 1987 – 700,000 tons 2002 – 313,425 tons + 134,810 tons of aggregates Treffry Estates sold the harbour to [English China Clay](/source/English_China_Clays) (ECC) in 1964 having leased it to them since 1946. In the 1950s and 1960s, vast dryers were built on-site. The current Grade Dryer was built in 1996. In 2007 the port and some of the clay dries (those dealing with clay for the paper industry) closed with the loss of 200 jobs. All shipping for clay now goes to [Fowey](/source/Fowey). The port is still the site of a Milling Centre and a Grade Dryer and this continued industrial usage means [ECO-BOS's](/source/St_Austell_and_Clay_Country_Eco-town) ideas for a marina and residential Eco-village on the dis-used dryer site to the west of the docks is unlikely to come to fruition. The port is used by vessels servicing the St Austell Bay Mussel Farm. === The Stack === The port was famous for its "Stack" – the chimney of a [lead smelter](/source/lead_smelter) that had to be demolished in 1907 after it was hit by lightning – and for its low-roofed engines [Alfred & Judy (Bagnall 0-4-0ST)](/source/Bagnall_0-4-0ST_%22Alfred%22_and_%22Judy%22), the inspiration for Bill & Ben in [Rev W Awdry](/source/Rev_W_Awdry)'s children's books about [Thomas the Tank Engine](/source/Thomas_the_Tank_Engine) after his visit to the docks in 1966. The port is still served by a rail line from [St Blazey](/source/St_Blazey) and still has the occasional early morning train. The old St Blazey to Fowey railway closed in 1968 and was turned into a [haul road](/source/haul_road) for the clay lorries delivering to the port of Fowey. They access this haul road on the Docks site.[[File:Par Docks at Low Tide.jpg|thumb|268x268px|Par Docks at [low tide](/source/Tide).]] == References == {{Portal|Cornwall}} {{Cornwall}} Category:Ports and harbours of Cornwall Category:Imerys Category:St Blazey --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Par Docks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Par_Docks) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Par_Docks?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.