The picturesque fishing village of Mousehole ( pronounced Mowzal ) derives its name from the tiny entrance to the harbour. In days gone by pilchard fishing was the mainstay of this small community, and like St. Ives on the other coast, the village is a charming jumble of twisting streets and tiny cottages with their outside steps and salt-cellars below. In 1595 Mousehole and nearby Paul were ransacked and burnt to the ground by Spaniards. Only the former Keigwin Arms escaped total destruction. Dolly Pentreath, reputed to be the very last person to speak nothing but the Cornish language lived in the village - she died in 1777 and is buried in Paul churchyard. On December 23rd. each year, Stargazey Pie is eaten in honour of Tom Bawcock ; a local fisherman who saved the village from famine by taking his boat out in a storm. Not to be missed are the spectacular Christmas lights of which the local community is justifiably proud.