See this sweet 1937 documentary about the last working topsail schooners carrying china clay from Cornwall. It lasts some 8 minutes and comes with a very West Country accordion sound track…
Farewell Topsails – 1937 film about the late era of working West Country topsail schooners
There were two sailing ship men who lived in Appledore, Devon. They were the Bennett brothers, Joe had sailed deep sea on square fogged ships, his cheekbone was caved in where it had been smashed by a flailing block.
Joe,s brother Oswald had spent his life on the coasting schooners and kitchen. Both were in charge of the rigging of the Golden Hinde ( replica), on which I sailed for a year.This was in 1973.