Maritime Line history

Maritime trails | local fares and timetables | local information

The Maritime Line runs for 12 miles joining the elegant Cathedral city of Truro to the port town of Falmouth through an area steeped in maritime and mining history.

The port of Falmouth is home to Cornwall's maritime heritage. Sitting at the mouth of the world's third largest natural harbour The town and its castle, built by Henry VIII, stand guard over the mouth of the river Fal and the Carrick Roads, a beautiful network of rivers and creeks. Today the town is still a bustling port and popular holiday resort as well as being home to the National Maritime Museum Cornwall.

The elegant city of Truro is Cornwall's cultural and commercial centre with excellent shopping and an imposing cathedral. The city's natural position, close to the confluence of the Truro and Fal rivers, led to its early importance as both a port and a tin mining centre. As a port it was for centuries the rival of Falmouth for seaborne trade and it was, too, one of Cornwall's Stannary towns. Eventually the shipping trade was lost to Falmouth but tin and copper mining remained important until the 18th century, a period that saw Truro become Cornwall's centre of high society and home of numerous famous and wealthy people.

Just to the north of Perranwell, the line crosses a high viaduct over the Carnon Valley, once a busy tin mining area. Today Perranwell is a peaceful village set about 1 mile from the station. It also has a good local pub, the Royal Oak, for refreshments. Penryn was founded in 1216 and flourished as a medieval port long before Falmouth existed. The Cornish tin trade in the 1600s and granite trade in the 1800s both brought prosperity. Today Penryn has its own special character with many fine granite buildings.

 

Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership | School of Geography | University of Plymouth | Plymouth PL4 8AA
Tel/Fax: 01752 233094
Email: railpart@plymouth.ac.uk