Truro

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Truro Truru
Truro Cathedral from the Viaduct
Coordinates: 50.260° N 5.051° W
Population	20,920 (2001)[1]
OS grid reference	SW825445
District	Carrick
Shire county	Cornwall
Region	South West
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	TRURO
Postcode district	TR1
Dial code	01872
Police	Devon and Cornwall
Fire	Cornwall
Ambulance	South Western
UK Parliament	Truro and St Austell
European Parliament	South West England
Website: http://www.truro.gov.uk
List of places: UK • England • Cornwall

Truro (pronounced /ˈtruːrəʊ/; Cornish: Truru) is a city in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is the administrative centre and only city in the county, and the most southerly city in Great Britain.

Truro's name is derived from the Cornish tri-veru meaning "three rivers". The city grew to be an important centre of trade thanks firstly to its port, but later because of its role as a stannary town for the mining industry. Today, Truro is the centre for administration, leisure and retail in Cornwall and has a population of 20,920.^[1] Its residents are known as Truronians.

The city is well-known for its cathedral (completed in 1910), as well as its cobbled streets, open spaces and many examples of Georgian architecture. It is also the location of the Royal Cornwall Museum, the Hall for Cornwall, Cornwall's Courts of Justice and Cornwall County Council's Old County Hall, a Grade II listed building.

Contents 1 History 2 Geography 3 Culture 3.1 Attractions 3.2 Events 3.3 Sports 4 Demographics & Economy 5 Administration 5.1 Twinning 6 Education 7 Development 8 Notable Truronians 9 Gallery 10 See also 11 References 12 External links

[edit] History

The earliest records and archaeological findings of a permanent settlement in the Truro area originate from Norman times. A castle was built in the 12th century by Richard de Luci, Chief Justice of England in the reign of Henry II, who was granted land in Cornwall for his services to the court, including the area surrounding the confluence of the two rivers. He planted the town in the shadow of the castle and awarded it borough status to further economic activity. (The castle has long since disappeared).

By the start of the 14th century Truro was an important port, thanks to its inland location away from invaders and its prosperity from the fishing industry, but also as its new role as one of Cornwall's stannary towns for the official assaying and stamping of locally-produced tin and copper in Cornish mines. However, the Black Death soon arrived and with it a trade recession which resulted in a mass exodus of the population and, as such the town was left in a very neglected state.

Trade returned to Truro with help from the government and the town was very prosperous during the Tudor period. Self-governance was awarded in 1589 by the granting of a new charter by Elizabeth I, which gave Truro an elected mayor and control over the port of Falmouth.

During the Civil War in the 17th century, Truro raised a sizable force to fight for the King and a royalist mint was set up in the town. However, defeat to the Parliamentary troops came in 1646 and it was moved to Exeter. Further disheartenment came later in the century when Falmouth was awarded its own charter giving it rights to its harbour, starting a long rivalry between the two towns. The dispute was eventually settled in 1709 with control of the River Fal being divided between Truro and Falmouth.

Truro prospered greatly during the 18th and 19th centuries. Industry flourished thanks to improved mining methods and higher prices for tin, and the town soon became the place to be for wealthy mine owners. Elegant Georgian and Victorian townhouses were built—such as those seen today on Lemon Street, named after the mining magnate and local MP Sir William Lemon—and Truro became the centre for high society in the county, being mentioned as "the London of Cornwall".^[2]

Throughout these prosporous times Truro remained a social centre and many notable people hailed from it. One of the most noteworthy residents was Richard Lander, an explorer who discovered the source of the River Niger in Africa and was awarded the first gold medal of the Royal Geographical Society. Others include Humphrey Davy, educated in Truro and inventor of the miner's safety lamp, and Samuel Foote, an actor and playwright from Boscawen Street.

Truro's importance increased later in the 19th century and it had its own iron smelting works, potteries and tanneries. The Great Western Railway arrived in Truro in the 1860s with a direct line from London Paddington, and the Bishopric of Truro bill was passed in 1876 which gave the town a bishop, then a cathedral. The next year Queen Victoria granted Truro city status.

The start of the 20th century saw the decline of the mining industry, however the city remained prosperous as its previous role as a market town shifted to being the administrative and commercial centre of Cornwall, and saw substantial development. Today, Truro continues its role as the retail centre of Cornwall but faces concerns over the disappearance of many of its renowned specialty shops for national chain stores, the eroding of its identity, and also over how to accommodate future expected growth in the 21st century.

[edit] Geography

Truro is located in the centre of Cornwall approximately 9 miles (14 km) from the south coast on the confluence of the rivers Kenwyn and Allen, which both combine to become the River Truro, one of a series of creeks, rivers and drowned valleys leading into the River Fal and then onto the large natural harbour of Carrick Roads. The river valleys form a bowl surrounding the city on the north, east and west and open to the Truro River in the south. The fairly steep-sided bowl in which Truro is located, along with high precipitation swelling the rivers and a spring tide in the River Fal, were major factors in the cause of floods seen in 1988 which caused large amounts of damage to the city centre. Since then, flood defences have been constructed around the city, including an emergency dam at New Mill on the River Kenwyn and a tidal barrier on the Truro River, to prevent future problems.

The city is surrounded by a number of protected natural areas such as the historic parklands at Pencalenick, and larger areas of ornamental landscape, such as Trelissick Garden and Tregothnan further down the Truro River. An area south-east of the city, around and including Calenick Creek, has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Other protected areas include an Area of Great Landscape Value comprising of agricultural land and wooded valleys to the north east, and Daubuz Moors, a Local Nature Reserve located alongside the River Allen close to the city centre.

Truro has mainly grown and developed around the historic city centre in a nucleated fashion along the slopes of the bowl valley, with an exception being fast linear development along the A390 to the west, towards Threemilestone. As Truro has grown, it—like any other city—has incorporated a number of settlements, turning them into areas or unofficial districts. These include Kenwyn and Moresk to the north, Trelander to the east, Newham to the south, and Highertown, Treliske and Gloweth to the west as a result of the far stretching development in that area.

[edit] Culture

[edit] Attractions

Truro's most recognisable feature is its gothic-revival Cathedral, rising 76m (250ft) above the city at its highest spire.^[3] It took 30 years to build, from 1880 to 1910, and was built on the site of the old St. Mary's Church, consecrated over 600 years earlier.

The main attraction for local residents in the region is the wide variety of shops. Truro has a vast selection of chain stores, specialty shops and markets, which reflect its historic tradition as a market town. It is also popular for its eateries, including cafés and bistros. Additionally, the city has emerged as a popular destination for nightlife with many bars, clubs and restaurants opening. Truro is also known for the Hall for Cornwall, a performing arts and entertainment venue.

The Royal Cornwall Museum is the oldest and premier museum in Cornwall for exhibitions detailing Cornish history and culture, with a wide range of collections such as archaeology, art and geology. Truro is also noted for its parks and open spaces, including Victoria Gardens, Boscawen Park and Daubuz Moors.

[edit] Events

The piazza at Lemon Quay is the centre of most festivities in Truro, which attracts visitors year-round with numerous different events.

In April, Truro prepares to partake in the Britain in Bloom competition, with many floral displays and hanging baskets dotted around the city throughout the summer. A "continental market" also comes to Truro during the season and features food and craft stalls from all over Europe including France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Holland and Greece.

The Truro City Carnival takes place every September over a weekend, which includes various arts and music performances, childrens activities, a fireworks display, food and drinks fairs, a circus, and a parade. A half-marathon also takes place in September, with hundreds of participants running from the city centre into the countryside towards Shortlanesend, and returning to finish at Lemon Quay.

Truro celebrates the Christmas season with its Winter Festival, which includes a paper lantern parade known as the City of Lights Procession, christmas lights throughout the city center as well a "big switch-on" event, specialty products and crafts fairs, late-night shopping evenings, various events at the Cathedral and a fireworks display on New Year's Eve. One notable Christmas celebration was the Winter Festival of 2006, which, after a bodged fundraising operation left the city with underwhelming decorations the previous year, featured extensive festivities and decoration including an artificial ski slope constructed on Lemon Quay, resulting in a much more successful festival.

There was some controversy recently surrounding an event planned for Truro as the Celtic League opposed plans by the English Democrats party to celebrate the patron saint of England, St George, claiming that Truro is a Cornish rather than an English city.^[4]

[edit] Sports

Truro was the new home to the National Division One rugby club, the Cornish Pirates, after a move from Penzance; however the team is currently relocated at Camborne while discussions about the construction of a new stadium are being made. The city is also home to Truro City F.C., a football team in the Western Football League Division One. Sporting amenities include a leisure centre, golf course, cricket pitch, and tennis courts.

[edit] Demographics & Economy

Truro's popularity within Cornwall as the number one destination for retail and leisure, and its role as the administrative center of the county, is unusual compared to other cities in the country given that it is the fourth^[1] most populous settlement in Cornwall. Furthermore, population growth has been slow compared to other Cornish towns and Cornwall as a whole, at 10.5% during the 1971-1998 period.

There are approximately 22,000 jobs available in Truro; major employers in the city include the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Cornwall County Council, Carrick District Council and Truro College. The large number of jobs is a stark difference to the number of economically active people living in the city, at 9,500. This results in a large amount of commuting which is a major factor in the traffic congestion problems that Truro suffers from. Earnings on average are higher than the rest of Cornwall.

Housing prices in Truro are at an all-time high, also being 8% more expensive than the rest of Cornwall. Truro was recently named as the top small city in the UK for increasing house prices, at 282% since 1996.^[5] There is a large demand for new housing in the city, and a call for inner city properties to be converted into flats or houses to encourage city centre living and to alleviate the dependence on cars.

[edit] Administration

Truro City Council is situated within City Hall, and is responsible for parks, gardens and planting, mayoral and civic events, support of its overseas twinning, tourist information, and the liaising with Carrick District Council and Cornwall County Council over planning, infrastructure, development and environmental issues, over which the district and county councils administer. The city is divided into four wards - Boscawen, Moresk, Tregolls and Trehaverne, with 24 councillors elected for four-year terms.^[6] The current mayor is Peter Lang.

[edit] Twinning

Truro is twinned with:

• Boppard, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
• Morlaix, Brittany, France, after which Morlaix Avenue in Truro is named.

[edit] Education

Educational institutions in Truro include:

• Truro School — a public school founded in 1880.
• Truro High School — a public school for girls, ages 3-18.
• Penair School — a state school, co-educational, for children aged 11-16.
• Richard Lander School — a state school, co-educational, for children aged 11-16.
• Truro College — A further and higher education college. Part of the Combined Universities in Cornwall.

[edit] Development

Truro has many proposed development schemes and plans, the majority of which to counter the main problems it faces, notably traffic congestion and lack of housing.

Major proposals include the construction of a distributor road to carry traffic away from the very busy Threemilestone-Treliske-Highertown corridor, reconnecting at either Green Lane or Morlaix Avenue. This road will also serve the new housing planned for that area.^[7] Further development of the existing Park and Ride scheme is also expected to help alleviate the traffic problems.

Major changes are also proposed for the city centre, such as pedestrianisation of the main shopping streets and the beautification of a list of uncharacteristic storefronts built in the 1960s.^[7] Also, new retail developments on the current Carrick District Council site and Garras Wharf waterfront site will provide more space for shops, open spaces and public amenities and also turn rather ugly areas of the city into attractive new destinations.^[7] Along with the redevelopment of the waterfront, a tidal barrier is planned to dam water into the Truro River which is currently blighted by unsightly mud banks which appear at low tide.^[7]

Controversial developments include the construction of a new stadium for Truro City F.C and the Cornish Pirates, and the relocation of the city's golf club to make way for more housing. Smaller projects include the addition of two large sculptures in the Piazza,^[8] and the protection of the Lander Monument against the elements.^[9]

[edit] Notable Truronians

See also: Category:People from Truro

• 16th century
  • Giles Farnaby — a madrigalist of the Elizabethan age.

• 18th century
  • Edward Boscawen — an admiral of the Royal Navy. A cobbled street at the centre of Truro is named in his honour.

• 19th century
  • Frederic Conquer — a philanthropist. Originally born in Truro before moving to London and spending his fortune helping and aiding the poor.
  • Joseph Antonio Emidy — a former slave turned violinist.
  • James Henry Fynn sometimes James Henry Finn — a recipient of the Victoria Cross.
  • Samuel Foote — an actor and playwright.
  • Richard Lemon Lander — an explorer of West Africa. A local secondary school is named in his honour and a monument to his memory stands at the top of Lemon Street.

• 20th century
  • Matthew Etherington — a professional football player playing for West Ham United.
  • Henry Louis Gibson — an expert in medical uses of infrared and pioneer of its use in detecting breast cancer.
  • Nick Nieland — a Commonwealth Games javelin gold medallist.
  • Barbara Joyce West — currently the oldest remaining Titanic disaster survivor.
  • Tom Voyce — an English rugby union footballer who plays at wing or fullback for the London Wasps and England.
  • Roger Meddows-Taylor — drummer from the rock band Queen.

[edit] Gallery

Street-level view of the Cathedral	Victoria Gardens and the Viaduct	Christmas night at the Cathedral	Cathedral at sunset
Coinage Hall, where tin was sent for stamping	Town crier outside the Cathedral

[edit] See also

• Diocese of Truro
• Edward Boscawen
• List of topics related to Cornwall
• People from Truro
• Richard Lemon Lander
• River Truro
• Truro Cathedral

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official Websites
  • Truro City Council
  • Visit Truro
  • Truro Chamber of Commerce
• History
  • YouTube - Truro and Port Isaac in the 1920-30s
  • Mr Spry - Notes on the Dominican Friary and St Mary's Church, Truro, 1840
• Guides
  • Truro at WikiTravel
• Imagery
  • VR panorama of Truro Cathedral and Cathedral Lane
• Webcams
  • BBC Cornwall Webcam

• Maps and aerial photos
  • Mapping from Multimap or GlobalGuide or Google Maps
  • Aerial image from TerraServer
  • Wiki Satellite image from WikiMapia
  • Official map of the city centre by Truro City Council
• Development
  • Truro and Threemilestone Area Action Plan
  • Truro - historic characterisation for regeneration (CSUS)

Civil Parishes of Carrick District
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Chacewater | Cubert | Cuby | Falmouth | Feock | Gerrans | Gwennap | Kea | Kenwyn | Ladock | Mylor | Penryn | Perran-ar-worthal | Perranzabuloe | Philleigh | Probus | Ruan Lanihorne | St Agnes | St Allen | St Clement | St Erme | St Just-in-Roseland | St Michael Penkivel | St Newlyn East | Tregony | Truro | Veryan