Gweek is a small village situated at the top of the tidal Helford River. It is an ancient port and boatbuilding is still an important business here. It is probably most well known now as home to the National Seal Sanctuary.
Gweek port began trading tin as far back as 450 BC. In medieval times, it was the port for Helston and was a very active port during Tudor times. As the tin and copper trade grew in the surrounding area, the port became very important for distributing these goods. It was a busy trading port up until the mid-19th Century. It is still quite a busy port as far as boatbuilding and boat mooring is concerned.
Gweek Seal Sanctuary has nearly 50 years of experience in rescuing sick, injured and orphaned seal pups. After rescuing seals from the sea, they nurse them back to health and rehabilitate them until they are fit enough to be released back into the sea. The sanctuary first began in St Agnes in 1958 with one washed up seal and moved to its premises in Gweek in 1975. It has been steadily growing in size since then. Most seals are released back into the wild, but a few are too sick or unable to look after themselves and remain at the sanctuary.
Designed and developed by Clare