Mousehole (pronounced Mouze'ol) has had more than its share of tragedy over the years. In 1595 the Spanish attacked the coast just to the south of the village, landing at Point Spaniard, and ransacked Mousehole, Newlyn and Paul inland. It is said that only one building was left standing in Mousehole; the Keigwin.

A few days before Christmas 1981 the coaster Union Star got into difficulty and the local lifeboat was launched from Penlee station. Sadly both the ship and the lifeboat were lost, together with the crew and passengers from the coaster and the whole crew of the lifeboat. This tragedy is commemorated in a Garden of Rememberence just to the north of Mousehole on the road to Newlyn.