Charlestown is approximately 2 miles (3.2km) from
St Austell town centre. The two towns are barely separated, but Charlestown has remained relatively unchanged by the development of the much larger town of St Austell.
The harbour and two (pebble) beaches (one on either side of the harbour entrance) are owned by Square Sail, a company which owns and sails a small fleet of tall ships, including Kaskelot. One or two of these can often be found at anchor in the harbour, and are frequently open for tours. The best-known tall ship to regularly visit the port was the Maria Assumpta - first launched in 1858 and was the world's oldest working square-rigger. The Maria Assumpta was very popular with tourists and locals alike. In May 1995 she ran aground and broke up on the north Cornish coast, like so many before her, with the loss of three of her sixteen crew.
Charlestown grew out of a small fishing village called West Polmear. It was developed in the Georgian era (specifically from 1791 to 1798) as a new town, and named after local landowner Charles Rashleigh who had a hand in its design. It was built to facilitate the export of china clay from the region's quarries and, to a limited extent, still serves that purpose today. In 1790 the settlement was known as West Polmear and had a population of 9 people, this had swelled to 3,184 by 1911.
Charlestown is a popular tourist destination. Attractions are the architecture, the sea, and the Charlestown Shipwreck, Rescue and Heritage Centre.
