This week marks the Quincentenary year of Trinity House the organisation that has served the mariner  ever since Henry VIII granted it a Royal Charter on 20 May 1514.

In 1604 James I conferred on Trinity House rights concerning compulsory pilotage of shipping and the exclusive right to license pilots in the River Thames.

Until its responsibility for District Pilotage was transferred to Port and Harbour Authorities under the 1987 Pilotage Act, Trinity House were the Pilotage Authority for London and over 40 other Districts, including the major ports of Southampton and Harwich.

Falmouth became a Trinity House Outport in 1809 with the port having strong links with Trinity House ever since.