Historic sluice gates which were used by Harveys have been found buried at Hayle Harbour by construction workers employed by Carilion working on North Quay.
The gates which were used at the Copperhouses Pool sluice were found 4ft below ground behind the Hayle Harbour Office.
The gates which were used to keep the channels clear of sand and silt were removed and buried when the National Rivers Authority replaced the the Copperhouses Pool Sluice Gates with a new flood protection system in 1981.
Hayle Harbour's sluices were officially opened in 1834 and were a masterpiece of Victorian engineering inspired by the Dutch canal architects. The sluices from Copperhouses and Carnsew ran effectively until 1971 when the decline in port trade led to them being closed for the last time.
