In 1887, John Bartholomew's Gazetteer of the British Isles described St Ives like this:
St Ives.-- mun. bor., seaport town, and par. with ry. sta., Cornwall, on St Ives Bay, 8 miles NE. of Penzance, 1890 ac., pop. 6445; P.O.,T.O., 2 Banks. Market-days, Wednesday and Saturday. St Ives (said to take its name from St Iva, an Irish missionary lady of 5th century) has boat building, rope and seine making, &c., but its principal business is the pilchard fishery, which is extensively prosecuted. Many of the inhabitants are employed in the neighbouring mines; and there are exports of copper, tin, and slates. ...
The harbour is provided with a pier and breakwater, and is defended by a battery. St Ives was incorporated in 1639; it returned 2 members to Parliament from the time of John until 1832, and 1 member from 1832 until 1885. St Ives Bay is 44 miles across the entrance, and penetrates 2½ miles S.; on E. side of bay, on Godrevy Island, is a lighthouse 86 ft. high, with flashing light (Godrevy) 120 ft. above high water and seen 15 miles.
St Ives through time
A Vision of Britain through Time includes a large library of local statistics for administrative units. For the best overall sense of how the area containing St Ives has changed, please see our redistricted information for the modern district of Penwith. More detailed statistical data are available under Units and statistics, which includes both administrative units covering St Ives and units named after it.
GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of St Ives, in Penwith and Cornwall | Map and description, A Vision of Britain through Time.
URL: http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/183
Date accessed: 20th June 2013
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