Where near Falmouth did Cork Cutters work ?

[JOOBLES]

Hi,
My ancestor was a cork cutter as at 1860.
He lived in Falmouth so I’m wondering where his place of work would have been.

I didn’t know we had cork oak trees in Cornwall (!) unless they were imported and arrived at Falmouth Docks.

Any help much appreciated please.
Thanks
J

[AlanBoyd]

Not at all specific to Falmouth, but there is an interesting little article here:

http://whistlerhistory.com/corker/corkCutter.htm

Definitely no local cork trees.

[AlanBoyd]

It's very difficult searching for newspaper articles about cargoes of cork because the port of Cork gets in the way. I did however find this evidence of cork being imported in the general vicinity.

Published: Saturday 19 January 1867 Newspaper: Salisbury and Winchester Journal

POOLE. NARROW ESCAPE. — The Prussian brig Antares, stranded on "the hook" in Studland Bay, having taken from eight to ten feet of water in her hold, the cargo of cork has been taken out and forwarded to its destination, Portsmouth. While the crew were employed at the work on Sunday last, an accident occurred which was very nearly attended with fatal consequences. A small boat had been introduced into the hold, and the men were working in it when a pile of cork gave way and fell on them, burying four so completely that they could not easily be extricated. The situation was rendered more precarious by the ladder to the hatchway being thrown down by the pile in giving way, which cut off ready means of assistance from above. The men were all but dead when rescued, and, but for the timely arrival of a bottle of spirits from Mr. Wanhill, the Prussian consul at this port, two of them would scarcely have been restored to consciousness.

[hanes teulu]

It's very difficult searching for newspaper articles about cargoes of cork because the port of Cork gets in the way.

[/quote]

That's what I've been suffering from also!
I've had a look for anything on Historical Directories (Pigot's 1844, Salters 1852/3 and PO 1856) but drawn a blank.

[JOOBLES]

Thanks for the replies.
It’s a tricky one I think.

[AlanBoyd]

Different place, different time, but there are two cork cutters listed in Sunderland in Whellan’s 1896 directory.

I wonder if the products of these cork cutters were for the maritime trades – floats and lifebelts for example.

[AlanBoyd]

Apparently there was also artistic cork-cutting. From an 1851 book about the Great Exhibition, published 1851:

A most ingenious and tasteful piece of cork cutting in bas-relief, is exhibited by Mr. Byrn. The subject is a Sylvan landscape, with figures engaged in the sports of the period of Charles II. Its form is circular, and calculated for a frame. On either side, meeting at the top, is a tree. Above, in the centre, a hawk is about to strike a heron, and in the lower ground, on the right, stands a falconer, with a hawk on his right thumb, and his left arm leaning on a gate. In the central foreground are two dead boars, watched by one of the dogs used in boar-hunting. On the left lies a stag, and near reclines a peasant youth.

[JOOBLES]

Falmouth is right by the sea so it may have been for marine purposes as opposed to drinks bottles.
Thanks

[hanes teulu]

See end column, last item    https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3734037/3734040/33/%22cork%20cutter%22

see bottom column 6
https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3766434/3766441/112/%22cork%20cutter%22