Cobb History
History of the Cobb and Aquarium
Housed in the Lyme Aquarium is information on the history of the Cobb. This includes displays on the major films made on this historic structure.
The Cobb buildings that now house the aquarium and offices were built in 1723. There was an earlier building on the site constructed in 1701 called Rose Cottage. This building was destroyed in a storm and subsequently the Town Council instructed a Mr Jefferd to build the two new buildings.
The buildings were used as a warehouse and storage as the Cobb was an active port attracting shipping and trade from all over the world. However, in later years the trade declined and the buildings were put to other uses. At one time part of the building was used as an isolation hospital. Ships arriving at the Cobb from abroad carried the risk of importing diseases such as typhus, cholera and the plague. If a person from the ship were ill they would be placed in quarantine. This could be for a number of days to make sure the person did not infect the rest of the town. If the person was better after the period of isolation then they were free to enter the town, but if they died the town was saved.
An image from the French Lieutenants women which was filmed on the Cobb.
For a live view of the cobb please click on the following link which will take you a site with a live web cam showing how the Cobb looks today.
Fixed to the front of the aquarium is a long white toll board which displays the amount of tax levied on imports and exports to the harbour in 1879. The Cobb has always been expensive to maintain, and the tolls helped pay for the upkeep. The range of goods was extensive and the board makes interesting reading.
Below are some of the more interesting entries.
"for every fathom of latwood"
A fathom is a measure of depth; one fathom is 6ft. "Lathwood" were strips of wood to which rendering of plaster was applied when building the internal or external walls of a house.
"for every coach or four wheeled carriage"
In the nineteenth century many rural roads were so rough it was often easier to deliver them by sea.