Falmouth

A brief history of Falmouth…

Falmouth was oficially founded as a town in 1613 by Sir John Killigrew, a member of a family that still have some control over the development of Falmouth even to this day.
During the Civil war PENDENNIS CASTLE  was the last Royalist position in the West of England and a Royalist garrison withstood a 5 month siege (March 1646 to 17 August 1646) from Parliamentarian forces before surrendering. The English Parliamentary forces attacked the castle  and the Cornish royalist garrison at Pendennis was under the command of the 80 year old Sir John Arundel , aided by Sir Henry Killigrew.
After the Reform of 1660 the Town obtained its charter from King Charles II for loyalty to the Crown.
From the late 17th century to the middle of the 18th. The Town flourished with the introduction of the Packet Service which operated out of the port .Packets have been carried through Falmouth  since around 1688. These fast lightly armed ships carried the mail to the expanding British Empire. As you enter Falmouth along the river side you can see the elegant Georgian houses built by the Packet Captains.  The last packet arrived in that port on April 30, 1851. Most routes had been transferred to Southampton which had been linked to London  by railway- this did not reach Falmouth until 1863.
During the last century the Docks was the major employer in the town and during the Second World War was a major base of military action. The heroic raid on the dry docks at St.Naziare  left from Falmouth. This raid is the third mostly highly decorated action in British military history, with 5 VC’s being one along with a host of other awards. The memorial to these brave men has recently been enhanced and moved and to the Prince of Wales Pier. Prince Charles attended the re-dedication ceremony.
From the end of the Second World War until now has seen a decline in the importance of Ship repair in the Docks, which has now a popular stop of for Cruise Ships. These always add colour to an already vibrant water scene
Falmouth’s place in history mainly revolves around its maritime past, but it was also the birth place of the ever popular children’s classic, Wind In the Willow’s. The author Winston Graham first conceived of the story during a stay at the Greenbank Hotel.