Falmouth, Cornwall

Falmouth (Cornish: Aberfal) is a seaport on the River Fal on the south coast of Cornwall in the United Kingdom. It has a population of 20,775 (2001 census). It was originally called Peny-cwm-cuic, which became 'Pennycomequick'.

Falmouth is famous for its harbour. Together with Carrick Roads, it forms the third largest natural harbour in the world. It is also famous for being the start or finish point of various round-the-world record breaking voyages, such as those of Sir Francis Chichester and Dame Ellen MacArthur.

History

Sir John Killigrew created the town of Falmouth in 1613, and in about 1540 Henry VIII built Pendennis Castle to defend Carrick Roads. During the civil war, Pendennis Castle was the second to last fort to surrender to the Parliamentarians. In the late sixteenth century, under threat from the Spanish Armada, the defences at Pendennis were strengthened by the building of angled ramparts. It is a favourite trick for locals, who know the walls, to scale them in summer to avoid paying the entrance fee.

The news of Britain's victory (and Admiral Nelson's Death) at Trafalgar was landed here from the schooner Pickle and taken up to London by stagecoach.

Falmouth Packet

The Falmouth Packet Service operated out of Falmouth for over 160 years between 1689 and 1851. Their purpose was to carry mail to and from Britain's growing empire.

Arrival of the railways

The Cornwall Railway reached Falmouth on 24 August 1863. The railway brought new prosperity to Falmouth, as it made it easy for tourists to reach the town. It also allowed the swift transport of the goods recently disembarked from the ships in the port.

The town now has three railway stations. Falmouth Docks railway station is the original terminus and is close to Pendennis Castle and Gyllyngvase beach. Falmouth Town railway station was opened on 7 December 1970 and is convenient for the National Maritime Museum, the waterfront, and town centre. Penmere railway station opened on 1 July 1925 towards the north of Falmouth and within easy walking distance of the top of The Moor. All three stations are served by regular trains from Truro on the Maritime Line.

After falling into disrepair Penmere Station underwent renovation in the late 1990s, using the original sign and materials, and is now a fine example of an early 20th century railway station.

Current economy

Whilst Falmouth's maritime activity is much declined from its heyday, the docks are still a major contributor to the town's economy. The bunkering of vessels, and the transfers of cargoes, also keep the ports facilities busy. The port is also becoming popular with cruise ship operators with 64 cruise ship calls to Falmouth due in 2006. Further up the sheltered reaches of the Fal there are several ships laid up, awaiting sailing orders and/or new owners/charterers.

With its fine Georgian town houses converted into guest houses and small hotels, often overlooking one of the beaches, Falmouth has proven a popular holiday destination and it is now primarily a tourist resort. The five main beaches starting next to Pendennis Castle and moving along the coast towards the Helford river are Castle, Tunnel, Gyllyngvase, Swanpool and Maenporth beach. The National Maritime Museum Cornwall opened in February 2003.

University College Falmouth

Formerly Falmouth College of Arts, University College Falmouth has two campuses in the Falmouth area; the original town site, Wood Lane, and the other in the Combined Universities in Cornwall campus at Tremough, Penryn. The College offers courses chiefly in the fields of Art and Media Studies.

Miscellanea

There is a year-round ferry service to St Mawes, on the other side of Carrick Roads. During the holiday season several other ferry services operate, mainly site seeing cruises up the Fal. These vessels are also available for hire.

During the Second World War, 31 people were killed in Falmouth by German bombing. It was also the launching point for the famous Commando raid on St Nazaire.

Falmouth was the location for the 1998 Tall Ships' Race in which approximately 90 Tall Ships set sail for Lisbon, Portugal. It also saw total coverage of the total Eclipse of the sun at 11:11am, 11 August, 1999 where the eclipse lasted just over 2 minutes - the longest duration in the UK.

Notable visitors

The Lady of the Lamp, Florence Nightingale, visited Falmouth and stayed at the town's Greenbank Hotel. Her name in the register can be viewed at the hotel today.

Falmouth was the the birthplace of Toad, Mole and Rat. Kenneth Grahame's classic "Wind in the Willows" began as a series of letters sent to his son. The first two were written at the Greenbank Hotel whilst Grahame was a guest in May 1907. Reproductions of the letters are currently on display in the hotel.

British film star Will Hay was a familiar face in Falmouth in 1935 whilst filming his comedy Windbag the Sailor. The movie had many scenes shot in the Docks area.

Poldark author Winston Graham knew the town well and set his novel The Forgotten Story (1945) in Falmouth.

John Mills and the cast and crew of the 1948 film Scott of the Antarctic. The Docks area had featured in some scenes.

Robert Newton, Bobby Driscoll and other cast members of the 1950 Walt Disney movie Treasure Island, (some scenes were filmed along the river Fal), were visitors to the town.

Solo yachtsman Robert Manry who sailed the Atlantic from Falmouth, Massachusetts to Falmouth, Cornwall in July/August 1965 in the thirteen and a half foot Tinkerbelle, (the smallest boat to make the crossing at the time), stayed at the Greenbank Hotel upon completion of his voyage.

Stars from the BBC TV serial The Onedin Line stayed in the town during filming in the late 1970s.

Notable former & present residents

Dawn French, comedienne
Lenny Henry, comedian
Steve McFadden, actor — plays Phil Mitchell in popular British soap opera Eastenders
David Mudd, TV presenter and politician
Tim Rice, lyricist
Hugh Scully, TV presenter
Howard Spring, author
Richard Thomas, Civil Engineer — in 1815, he produced a survey of the navigation of the River Severn.
Miles Tredinnick, playwright

Fictional residents

Richard Bolitho — a fictional Royal Navy officer who was the main character in a series of books set in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The books were written by Douglas Reeman (using the pseudonym Alexander Kent).
Ned, Perry and Madge in the Winston Graham book The Forgotten Story published in 1945.

External links

Ports and harbours of England | Towns in Cornwall

Gourt Home::Gourt :: Falmouth, Cornwall