Falmouth & Penryn 4th Nov 2022

This clip starts at Penryn, on the Penryn River about 1 mile (1.6 km) northwest of Falmouth. Though the town is now overshadowed by the larger nearby town of Falmouth, Penryn was once an important harbour in its own right, loading granite and tin to be shipped to other parts of the country and the world during the medieval period.

The ancient town first appears in the Domesday Book under the name of "Trelivel", and was founded and named Penryn in 1216 by the Bishop of Exeter.

Falmouth is a town, civil parish and port on the River Fal on the south coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. In 1540, Henry VIII built Pendennis Castle in Falmouth to defend Carrick Roads. The main town of the district was then at Penryn, and the town of Falmouth was created shortly after in 1613.

In the late 16th century, under threat from the Spanish Armada, the defences at Pendennis were strengthened by the building of angled ramparts. During the Civil War, Pendennis Castle was the second to last fort to surrender to the Parliamentary Army. Being the nearest large harbour to the entrance of the English Channel, two Royal Navy squadrons were permanently stationed here.

While Falmouth's maritime activity has much declined from its heyday, the docks are still a major contributor to the town's economy. It is the largest port in Cornwall and Falmouth remains a cargo port and is used for the bunkering of vessels. The transfer of cargoes also keep the port's facilities busy, as does its popularity with cruise ship operators.

Falmouth is famous for its harbour. Together with Carrick Roads, it forms the third deepest natural harbour in the world, and the deepest in Western Europe. It has been the start or finish point of various round-the-world record-breaking voyages, such as those of Robin Knox-Johnston and Dame Ellen MacArthur.

During World War II the United States Navy had a large base in Falmouth harbour as well as an army base in the town. Some of the U.S. D-day landings originated from Falmouth harbour and the surrounding rivers and creeks.