150th Anniversary of the Truro to Falmouth Maritime Line
The maritime line came to Falmouth on August 24th 1863 creating a safer and faster route up through to London. Up until this time goods delivered by Packet Ship and visits to the Capital were made by stage coach across deserted moors. Ambushes were usual, highway robbers were very real and not at all as charming or dandy as Adam Ant would have you believe. In 1925 a second section to the line opened at Penmere and a third as recently as 1970 at Falmouth, ‘TheDell’, Town.
This year marks the 150th anniversary of the maritime line with a number of events and exhibitions around Falmouth Town. The maritime line is particularly special as the timber structure, once part of the grade II listed structure that passed over Penryn, was the last of Brunel’s timber viaducts to be converted to stone.
The Poly 19th August – 7th September
‘Falmouth on Track’, Exhibition
An exhibition of memorabilia and photographs collected by the Poly Local History and Research group will provide an insight into the changes the maritime prompted in the town.
Thursday 22nd – Cornwall Railways -7.30pm
John Ball presents a slideshow and talks about the development of Maritime Line and includes the dvd, ‘Steam Into Cornwall’.
Saturday 24th – Family Fun Day at The Poly
24th – 25th Conrwall Ramblers Guided Walks
Cornwall ramblers will be leading a number of guided walks incorporating and celebrating the line.
Saturday, Penmere to Penryn with Mary Weston leaves Penmere station at 10am. Walking to Budock Church, College reservoir and finishing at Penryn in time to enjoy Penryn Town Fair. Then if you still have plenty of exploration energy, enjoy the Perranwell Station walk at 5pm. Walking to Perran Foundry, (once owned by the Fox family of Falmouth), on to the Norway Inn for supper.
Sunday Walks will take in Truro and if you didn’t manage both walks on Saturday there will be another chance to enjoy Perranwell. For more information see the Cornwall Ramblers website.
Anniversary Day – Saturday 24th
The Moor :- A real locomotive along with mini engines and stalls
The Falmouth Art Gallery:-I moustache you a question What’s your best feature?? Is it your eyes? Your nose? Your moustache?! Put on a Brunel top hat, take inspiration from Joel Stewart’s illustration ‘the adventures of a nose’ and send them on a journey down the maritime line!
There will also be the fitting option to travel about the town on a vintage Routemaster bus on the Saturday PLUS a First Great Western high speed train will be……’Calling at, Penryn, Falmouth Docks and Truro Station.’…now tell me you didn’t just read that out loud in your best train announcers voice.
© Ian Britton
