Falmouth ( ; ) is a
town
A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city.
The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...
,
civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government. Civil parishes can trace their origin to the ancient system of parishes, w ...
and
port
A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as Hamburg, Manch ...
on the
River Fal
The River Fal () flows through Cornwall
Cornwall (; or ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is also one of the Celtic nations and the homeland of the Cornish people. The county is bordere ...
on the south coast of
Cornwall
Cornwall (; or ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is also one of the Celtic nations and the homeland of the Cornish people. The county is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, ...
, England, United Kingdom.
Falmouth was founded in 1613 by the Killigrew family on a site near the existing
Pendennis Castle. It developed as a port on the
Carrick Roads harbour, overshadowing the earlier town of
Penryn. In the 19th century after the arrival of the railways,
tourism
Tourism is travel for pleasure, and the Commerce, commercial activity of providing and supporting such travel. World Tourism Organization, UN Tourism defines tourism more generally, in terms which go "beyond the common perception of tourism as ...
became important to its economy. In modern times, both industries maintain a presence in Falmouth and the town is also home to the
National Maritime Museum Cornwall, a campus of
Falmouth University and
Falmouth Art Gallery.
Etymology
The name Falmouth is of
English origin, a reference to the town's situation on the
mouth
A mouth also referred to as the oral is the body orifice through which many animals ingest food and animal communication#Auditory, vocalize. The body cavity immediately behind the mouth opening, known as the oral cavity (or in Latin), is also t ...
of the
River Fal
The River Fal () flows through Cornwall
Cornwall (; or ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is also one of the Celtic nations and the homeland of the Cornish people. The county is bordere ...
. The
Cornish language
Cornish (Standard Written Form: or , ) is a Southwestern Brittonic language, Southwestern Brittonic language of the Celtic language family. Along with Welsh language, Welsh and Breton language, Breton, Cornish descends from Common Brittonic, ...
name, or , is of identical meaning.
History
Early history
In 1540,
Henry VIII
Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is known for his Wives of Henry VIII, six marriages and his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. ...
built
Pendennis Castle in Falmouth to defend
Carrick Roads. The main town of the district was then at
Penryn. A late-16th century map shows 'Arweneck' manor house with some ordinary dwellings at 'Smithick, alias Pennycomequick' near today's Market Strand. Pennycomequick is an Anglicisation of the Celtic 'head of the creek'; there is still a
Pennycomequick district in
Plymouth
Plymouth ( ) is a port city status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in Devon, South West England. It is located on Devon's south coast between the rivers River Plym, Plym and River Tamar, Tamar, about southwest of Exeter and ...
.
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
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...
, Pendennis Castle was the second to last fort to surrender to the Parliamentary Army.
Sir John Killigrew created the town of Falmouth shortly after 1613.
After the Civil War, Sir
Peter Killigrew received royal patronage when he gave land for the building of the
Church of King Charles the Martyr, dedicated to
Charles I, "the Martyr".
The seal of Falmouth was blazoned as "An eagle displayed with two heads and on each wing with a tower" (based on the arms of Killigrew). The arms of the borough of Falmouth were "Arg
nt a double-headed eagle displayed Sa
le each wing charged with a tower Or. in base issuant from the water barry wavy a rock also Sa. thereon surmounting the tail of the eagle a staff also proper flying therefrom a pennant Gu
es.
Being the nearest large harbour to the entrance of the English Channel, two Royal Navy squadrons were permanently stationed here. In the 1790s one was under the command of
Sir Edward Pellew (later Viscount Exmouth) and the other under the command of
Sir John Borlase Warren. Each squadron consisted of five frigates, with either 32 or 44 guns. Pellew's flagship was
HMS ''Indefatigable'' and Warren's
HMS ''Révolutionnaire''. At the time of the
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars () were a series of sweeping military conflicts resulting from the French Revolution that lasted from 1792 until 1802. They pitted French First Republic, France against Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain, Habsb ...
, battle ships and small vessels were continually arriving with war prizes taken from the French ships and prisoners of war. Near
Penryn, at
Tregellick and
Roscrow, were two large camps for the French prisoners.
The
Old Town Hall in the High Street was completed in 1710. The corporation moved to a new town hall on The Moor, now the
Palacio Lounge, in 1866.
The Falmouth
Packet Service operated out of Falmouth for over 160 years between 1689 and 1851. Its purpose was to carry mail to and from Britain's growing
empire
An empire is a political unit made up of several territories, military outpost (military), outposts, and peoples, "usually created by conquest, and divided between a hegemony, dominant center and subordinate peripheries". The center of the ...
. At the end of the 18th century, there were thirty to forty, small, full rigged, three-masted ships. The crews were hand picked and both officers and men often made large fortunes from the private contraband trade they took part in, while under the protection of being a Government ship, free from
customs
Customs is an authority or Government agency, agency in a country responsible for collecting tariffs and for controlling International trade, the flow of goods, including animals, transports, personal effects, and hazardous items, into and out ...
and
excise
file:Lincoln Beer Stamp 1871.JPG, upright=1.2, 1871 U.S. Revenue stamp for 1/6 barrel of beer. Brewers would receive the stamp sheets, cut them into individual stamps, cancel them, and paste them over the Bunghole, bung of the beer barrel so when ...
searches and therefore payment of duty.
Captain John Bullock worked in the Packet Service and built
Penmere Manor in 1825.
19th and 20th centuries
In 1805 news of Britain's victory and Admiral Nelson's death at
Trafalgar reached Falmouth from the schooner ''Pickle'' and was taken to London by
post chaise. On 2 October 1836 anchored at Falmouth at the end of her
noted survey voyage around the world. That evening,
Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin ( ; 12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882) was an English Natural history#Before 1900, naturalist, geologist, and biologist, widely known for his contributions to evolutionary biology. His proposition that all speci ...
left the ship and took the
Mail coach
A mail coach is a stagecoach that is used to deliver mail. In Great Britain, Ireland, and Australia, they were built to a General Post Office-approved design operated by an independent contractor to carry long-distance mail for the Post Office. ...
to his family home at
The Mount, Shrewsbury
The Mount is the Georgian house in Shrewsbury, England where Charles Darwin was born.
Overview
The large Georgian house was built in 1800 by Charles Darwin's father, the successful local doctor Robert Darwin. His son Charles was born there o ...
. The ship stayed a few days and Captain
Robert FitzRoy
Vice-Admiral Robert FitzRoy (5 July 1805 – 30 April 1865) was an English officer of the Royal Navy, politician and scientist who served as the second governor of New Zealand between 1843 and 1845. He achieved lasting fame as the captain of ...
visited the Fox family at nearby
Penjerrick Gardens. Darwin's shipmate Sulivan later made his home in the nearby waterside village of
Flushing, then home to many naval officers.
In 1839 Falmouth was the scene of a
gold dust robbery when £47,600 worth of gold dust from Brazil was stolen on arrival at the port.
The
Falmouth Docks were developed from 1858, and the
Royal National Lifeboat Institution
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is the largest of the lifeboat (rescue), lifeboat services operating around the coasts of the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, as well as on s ...
(RNLI) opened
Falmouth Lifeboat Station nearby in 1867. The present building dates from 1993 and also houses
His Majesty's Coastguard
His Majesty's Coastguard (HMCG) is the section of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency responsible, through the Secretary of State for Transport to Parliament, for the initiation and co-ordination of all maritime search and rescue (SAR) within th ...
. The RNLI operates two
lifeboats from Falmouth: ''Richard Cox Scott'', a all-weather boat, and B-916 ''Robina Nixon Chard'', an
Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat.
Near the town centre is Kimberley Park, named after the Earl of Kimberley who leased the park's land to the borough of Falmouth. Today the park has exotic and ornate plants and trees.
Falmouth was connected to Plymouth and the rest of the United Kingdom by electric telegraph on 30 August 1857. The telegraph office was adjoining the Custom House and Globe Hotel. In 1869 the telegraph office moved to the new Falmouth Post Office on Church Street.
A telephone trunk line to Falmouth was opened in January 1899. It was noted in Lake’s Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser of 14 January 1899 that “the tariff for conversations carried on over any distance is too high to suggest the use of the telephone for anything except urgent business”. The exchange was over the Post Office on The Moor.
The
Cornwall Railway
The Cornwall Railway was a broad gauge railway from Plymouth in Devon to Falmouth, Cornwall, Falmouth in Cornwall, England, built in the second half of the nineteenth century. It was constantly beset with shortage of capital for the construct ...
reached Falmouth on 24 August 1863. The railway brought new prosperity to Falmouth, as it made it easy for tourists to reach the town. It also allowed the swift transport of the goods recently disembarked from the ships in the port. The town now has three railway stations.
Falmouth Docks railway station is the original terminus and is close to Pendennis Castle and Castle beach.
Falmouth Town railway station was opened on 7 December 1970 and is convenient for the
National Maritime Museum
The National Maritime Museum (NMM) is a maritime museum in Greenwich, London. It is part of Royal Museums Greenwich, a network of museums in the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. Like other publicly funded national museums in the Unit ...
Cornwall, the waterfront, Gyllyngvase beach and town centre.
Penmere railway station opened on 1 July 1925 towards the north of Falmouth and within easy walking distance of the top of The Moor. All three stations are served by regular trains from
Truro
Truro (; ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and civil parish in Cornwall, England; it is the southernmost city in the United Kingdom, just under west-south-west of Charing Cross in London. It is Cornwall's county town, s ...
on the
Maritime Line. Penmere Station was renovated in the late 1990s, using the original sign and materials.
The town saw a total
eclipse of the Sun at 11:11
a.m. on 11 August 1999.
This eclipse lasted just over two minutes at Falmouth, the longest duration in the United Kingdom.
Second World War

During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, 31 people were killed in Falmouth by
German bombing
A bomb is an explosive weapon that uses the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy. Detonations inflict damage principally through ground- and atmosphere-transmitted mechan ...
. An anti-submarine net was laid from Pendennis to St Mawes, to prevent enemy
U-boat
U-boats are Submarine#Military, naval submarines operated by Germany, including during the World War I, First and Second World Wars. The term is an Anglicization#Loanwords, anglicized form of the German word , a shortening of (), though the G ...
s entering the harbour.
It was the launching point for the
St Nazaire Raid in 1942. Between 1943 and 1944, Falmouth was a base for American troops preparing for the
D-Day
The Normandy landings were the landing operations and associated airborne operations on 6 June 1944 of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during the Second World War. Codenamed Operation Neptune and often referred to as ...
invasions. Many of the troops involved embarked from Falmouth harbour and the surrounding rivers and creeks. There are commemorative plaques at Turnaware Point, Falmouth Watersports marina,
Tolverne and
Trebah gardens. The
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...
had a large base in Falmouth harbour as well.
Post War
The ''
SS Flying Enterprise'', a cargo vessel that had sailed from
Hamburg
Hamburg (, ; ), officially the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg,. is the List of cities in Germany by population, second-largest city in Germany after Berlin and List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits, 7th-lar ...
on 21 December 1951, ran into a storm on the Western Approaches to the English Channel. A crack appeared on her deck and the cargo shifted. A number of vessels went to her aid including the tug ''Turmoil'' which was stationed in Falmouth, but they found it initially impossible to take the ''Flying Enterprise'' in tow. The ship was finally taken in tow on 5 January 1952 by the ''Turmoil'' when she was some from Falmouth. It took several days to reach port. On 10 January the tow line parted when the ship was still from Falmouth. Two other tugs joined the battle to save the ship and cargo, but the ''Flying Enterprise'' finally sank later that day. Captain Carlsen and the tug's mate Kenneth Dancy, the only crew members still on board, were picked up by ''Turmoil'' and taken to Falmouth to a hero's welcome.
Historic estates
*
Arwenack, of which a small portion remains, was the estate which occupied the site before the development of the town of Falmouth; it was long the seat of the Killigrew family.
Governance
Falmouth Town is a
civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government. Civil parishes can trace their origin to the ancient system of parishes, w ...
within Cornwall, formed in 1974 from the historic Falmouth Borough Council. Falmouth received its Order of Charter in 1661.
As of 2024, it is governed by sixteen councillors (four represent Arwenack and Boslowick, five for Penwerris and three for Trescobeas). Each of them serves a four-year term. The council provides municipal services while strategic services are provided by
Cornwall Council
Cornwall Council ( ), known between 1889 and 2009 as Cornwall County Council (), is the local authority which governs the non-metropolitan county of Cornwall in South West England. Since 2009 it has been a Unitary authorities of England, unitary ...
, a unitary authority governing the entirety of mainland Cornwall.
From 2009 to 2021, Falmouth had elected five councillors to Cornwall Council, one from each of its then five divisions:
Falmouth Arwenack,
Falmouth Boslowick,
Falmouth Penwerris,
Falmouth Smithick, and
Falmouth Trescobeas. Boundary changes in 2013 abolished the
Falmouth Gyllyngvase division, replacing it with Falmouth Smithick. Since the
2021 elections, Falmouth has been covered by four divisions: Arwenack, Boslowick, Penwerris and Trescobeas and Budock.
Economy, industry and tourism

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. Falmouth remains a cargo port and the bunkering of vessels and the transfer of cargoes also keep the port's facilities busy. The port is popular with cruise ship operators.
Further up the sheltered reaches of the Fal there are often several ships laid up, awaiting sailing orders and/or new owners/charterers.
Falmouth is a popular holiday destination and it is now primarily a tourist resort. The five main beaches starting next to Pendennis Castle and moving along the coast towards the Helford river are Castle, Tunnel,
Gyllyngvase,
Swanpool and
Maenporth beaches. The
National Maritime Museum Cornwall opened in February 2003. The building was designed by the architect M. J. Long.
The ''Falmouth & Penryn Packet'', first published in 1858, is still based in the town as the lead title in a series of
Packet Newspapers for central and western
Cornwall
Cornwall (; or ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is also one of the Celtic nations and the homeland of the Cornish people. The county is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, ...
.
The West Briton newspaper, first published in 1810, is a weekly tabloid newspaper which has a ''Falmouth & Penryn'' edition reporting on the area.
Culture

Falmouth has many literary connections. The town was the birthplace of Toad, Mole and Rat:
Kenneth Grahame
Kenneth Grahame ( ; 8 March 1859 – 6 July 1932) was a British writer. He is best remembered for the classic of children's literature ''The Wind in the Willows'' (1908). Born in Scotland, he spent most of his childhood with his grandmother in ...
's classic ''
The Wind in the Willows
''The Wind in the Willows'' is a children's novel by the British novelist Kenneth Grahame, first published in 1908. It details the story of Mole, Ratty, and Badger as they try to help Mr. Toad, after he becomes obsessed with motorcars and get ...
'' began as a series of letters sent to his son. The first two were written at the Greenbank Hotel whilst Grahame was a guest in May 1907. Reproductions of the letters are currently on display in the hotel. ''
Poldark'' author
Winston Graham knew the town well and set his novel ''The Forgotten Story'' (1945) in Falmouth.
The town has been the setting for several films and television programmes. British film star
Will Hay was a familiar face in Falmouth in 1935 whilst filming his comedy ''
Windbag the Sailor''. The film had many scenes of the docks area. The docks area was featured in some scenes with
John Mills for the 1948 film ''
Scott of the Antarctic''.
Robert Newton,
Bobby Driscoll
Robert Cletus Driscoll (March 3, 1937 – March 30, 1968) was an American actor who performed on film and television from 1943 to 1960. He starred in some of the The Walt Disney Studios (division), Walt Disney Studios' best-known live-action pict ...
and other cast members of the 1950 Walt Disney film ''
Treasure Island'' (some scenes were filmed along the
River Fal
The River Fal () flows through Cornwall
Cornwall (; or ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is also one of the Celtic nations and the homeland of the Cornish people. The county is bordere ...
) were visitors to the town. Stars from the BBC TV serial ''
The Onedin Line'' stayed in the town during filming in the late 1970s. In 2011
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation, commonly known as Paramount Pictures or simply Paramount, is an American film production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the flagship namesake subsidiary of Paramount ...
filmed parts of the film ''
World War Z'' starring
Brad Pitt
William Bradley Pitt (born December 18, 1963) is an American actor and film producer. In a Brad Pitt filmography, film career spanning more than thirty years, Pitt has received list of awards and nominations received by Brad Pitt, numerous a ...
in Falmouth Docks and off the coast.
Falmouth had the first "Polytechnic":
Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society
The Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society (commonly known as The Poly) is an educational, cultural and scientific Charitable organization#United Kingdom, charity, as well as a local arts and cinema venue, based in Falmouth, Cornwall, England, Unite ...
which went into administration briefly in 2010 but is now a feature of the town with frequent art exhibitions, stage performances and an art house cinema.
Falmouth is home to many theatre groups, including Falmouth Theatre Company, Falmouth Young Generation and Amity Theatre. Falmouth Theatre Company, also known as FTC, is the oldest local company with performances dating back to 1927.
The
Falmouth Art Gallery is a public gallery with a diverse 19th and 20th century art collection including many notable modern Cornish artists exhibited in four to five seasonal exhibitions a year, as well as a "family friendly and free" community and schools education programme.
Falmouth has its own community radio station
Source FM broadcasting on 96.1 FM and online.
In 2016, Falmouth won the "Great British High Street 2016" award, in the 'Coastal Community' category.
Religious sites

The Anglican parish churches are dedicated to
King Charles the Martyr and to
All Saints. A third church is
St Michael's Church, Penwerris. The Roman Catholic church of St Mary Immaculate is in Killigrew Street. It was designed by
J. A. Hansom and built in 1868; the tower and spire (1881) are by J. S. Hansom; the baptistery and porch were added in 1908 to the original designs. The style is a blend of Gothic and Burgundian Romanesque, creating a very French effect. Two of the stained glass windows are early works of
Dom Charles Norris. Falmouth Methodist Church is also in Killigrew Street; the street façade is "one of the grandest expressions of Methodism in Cornwall". The United Reformed Church (originally Bible Christian) is in Berkeley Vale. The former synagogue (1816) is one of the earliest surviving synagogue buildings in England; it was in use until 1879.
Transport
Falmouth harbour
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.
Road
Falmouth is a terminus of the
A39 road, connecting to
Bath, Somerset
Bath (Received Pronunciation, RP: , ) is a city in Somerset, England, known for and named after its Roman Baths (Bath), Roman-built baths. At the 2021 census, the population was 94,092. Bath is in the valley of the River Avon, Bristol, River A ...
some distant although such a route has now been surpassed by the
A303,
A37 and
A367. The A39 connects Falmouth with the
A30 via
Truro
Truro (; ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and civil parish in Cornwall, England; it is the southernmost city in the United Kingdom, just under west-south-west of Charing Cross in London. It is Cornwall's county town, s ...
. The A30 provides a fast link between Falmouth and the
M5 motorway
The M5 is a motorway in England linking the Midlands with the South West England, South West. It runs from junction 8 of the M6 motorway, M6 at West Bromwich near Birmingham to Exeter in Devon. Heading south-west, the M5 runs east of West Brom ...
at
Exeter
Exeter ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and the county town of Devon in South West England. It is situated on the River Exe, approximately northeast of Plymouth and southwest of Bristol.
In Roman Britain, Exeter w ...
to the northeast.
Most commercial bus services are provided by
First Kernow who have an outstation in Falmouth. Other services are run by Office & Transport Services on behalf of
Transport for Cornwall.
Railway
Falmouth has three railway stations (described above) at the southern end of an branch line (the
Maritime Line) from . The train takes roughly 28 minutes inbound and 24 minutes outbound with stops at , , , and .
Ferries

Falmouth has regular ferry routes connecting to St Mawes, Flushing and Trelissick, Malpas and Truro.
Education
There are five
primary school
A primary school (in Ireland, India, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, South Africa, and Singapore), elementary school, or grade school (in North America and the Philippines) is a school for primary ...
s in the town and one
secondary school
A secondary school, high school, or senior school, is an institution that provides secondary education. Some secondary schools provide both ''lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper secondary education'' (ages 14 to 18), i.e., b ...
, namely
Falmouth School.
Falmouth University has a campus at the original town site, Woodlane, and another in the
Combined Universities in Cornwall
The Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC) is a project to provide higher education in Cornwall, England, which is one of the poorest areas of the United Kingdom in terms of GVA per capita.
History
Developed in the early 2000s, following the ...
campus at
Tremough,
Penryn, which it shares with the
University of Exeter
The University of Exeter is a research university in the West Country of England, with its main campus in Exeter, Devon. Its predecessor institutions, St Luke's College, Exeter School of Science, Exeter School of Art, and the Camborne School of ...
. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses chiefly in the fields of Art, Design and Media. The
University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, often with a particular focus on the environment and sustainability, and also hosts the world-renowned
Camborne School of Mines (formerly located nearby in Camborne), which specialises in the understanding and management of the Earth's natural processes, resources and the environment.
In 2015, actor and comedian
Dawn French
Dawn Roma French (born 11 October 1957) is a British actress, comedian and writer. She is known for writing and starring on the BBC sketch comedy series '' French and Saunders'' (1987–2007) with her best friend and comedy partner Jennifer Sa ...
was installed as Falmouth University's chancellor.
Falmouth Marine School, formerly Falmouth Technical College, specialises in traditional and modern boat-building, marine engineering, marine environmental science and marine leisure sport. The campus is part of
Cornwall College.
Sport and recreation
The town has a football team in the
Southern Football League
The Southern League is a football competition featuring semi-professional clubs from East Anglia, the South and Midlands of England, and South Wales. Together with the Isthmian League and the Northern Premier League it forms levels seven a ...
Division One South,
Falmouth Town A.F.C., who play at Bickland Park in the north-west of the town, and also
Falmouth RFC, a
rugby union
Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union in English-speaking countries and rugby 15/XV in non-English-speaking world, Anglophone Europe, or often just rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that orig ...
club who play at The Recreation Ground, a site at the top of The Moor.
Falmouth is also home to one of Cornwall's biggest cricket clubs, where four teams represent the town in the
Cornwall Cricket League, with the 1st team playing in the Cornwall Premier League. Falmouth CC play at the Trescobeas ground on Trescobeas Road.

With its proximity to sheltered and unsheltered waters, Falmouth has long been a popular boating and water sports location. It is, for example, a centre of
Cornish pilot gig
The Cornish pilot gig is a six-oar rowing boat, clinker-built of Ulmus minor 'Stricta', Cornish narrow-leaf elm, long with a beam of . It is recognised as one of the first shore-based lifeboat (rescue), lifeboats that went to vessels in distres ...
rowing, the home of Gyllyngvase Surf Life Saving Club (founded 2008) and a popular location for sea swimming. Solo yachtsman
Robert Manry crossed the
Atlantic
The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the Age of Discovery, it was known for se ...
from
Falmouth, Massachusetts (which is named after Falmouth) to Falmouth, Cornwall, from June–August 1965 in the thirteen-and-a-half-foot ''
Tinkerbelle''—this was the smallest boat to make the crossing at the time. The town was the location for the 1966, 1982 and 1998 and 2014
Tall Ships' Race in which approximately ninety
Tall Ships set sail for
Lisbon
Lisbon ( ; ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 567,131, as of 2023, within its administrative limits and 3,028,000 within the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, metropolis, as of 2025. Lisbon is mainlan ...
,
Portugal
Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...
. The town is also hosted the start of the 2021 race.
Cornish wrestling
Falmouth has been a major centre for
Cornish wrestling
Cornish wrestling () is a form of wrestling that has been established in Cornwall for many centuries and possibly longer. It is similar to the Breton people, Breton Gouren wrestling style. It is colloquially known as "wrasslin’"Phillipps, K C: ...
for centuries.
[Royal Cornwall Gazette, 17 May 1806.][Lake's Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser, 5 August 1904.][West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 12 May 1952.] Tournaments were often badged as "the championship of the West of England".
[Lake's Falmouth Packet and Cornwall Advertiser, 11 August 1905.] Bouts were held at various venues around the town, including
Pendennis Castle.
[Royal Cornwall Gazette, 10 June 1853.] Alfred Ernest Trenoweth (1868–1942) from Falmouth was well known as light weight champion wrestler of Cornwall.
[''Former wrestling champion'', West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 26 October 1942, p2.] Another champion wrestler from Falmouth was Pellew, who was especially notable, since he only had one arm!
[''Truro wrestling match'', The West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 18 July 1878, p5.][''Wrestling Match'', The West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 13 Jul 1885, p2.]
Climate
Notable people
Early times to 1780
* Sir
Robert Killigrew
Sir Robert Killigrew (1580–1633) was an English courtier and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1601 and 1629. He served as Ambassador to the United Provinces.
Life
Killgrew was born at Lothbury, London, t ...
(1580–1633), English courtier and politician, MP between 1601 and 1629. He served as Ambassador to the
United Provinces. He was a knight of
Arwenack.
*
Thomas Corker (c.1669 in Falmouth - 1700) was a prominent English agent for the
Royal African Company and worked in the
Sherbro Island
Sherbro Island is in the Atlantic Ocean, and is included within Bonthe District, Southern Province, Sierra Leone. The island is separated from the African mainland by the Sherbro River in the north and Sherbro Strait in the east. It is long ...
Sierra Leone.
*
Sir William Trelawny, 6th Baronet (c.1722–1772), British politician and colonial administrator, MP for
West Looe from 1757 to 1767, then
Governor of Jamaica
*
John Laurance (1750 in Falmouth–1810), American lawyer and politician from
New York.
*
Eleazer Oswald (1750 in Falmouth–1795), Journalist and soldier in
British America
British America collectively refers to various British colonization of the Americas, colonies of Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain and its predecessors states in the Americas prior to the conclusion of the American Revolutionary War in 1 ...
and the
American War of Independence
*
Philip Melvill (1762–1811),
philanthropist
Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives for the public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private good, focusing on material ...
, founded Falmouth Misericordia Society 1807
*
Josiah Fox (1763 in Falmouth–1847), British naval architect, involved in the design and construction of the
original six frigates of the United States Navy
The United States Congress authorized the original six frigates of the United States Navy with the Naval Act of 1794 on March 27, 1794, at a total cost of $688,888.82 (equivalent to $ in ). These ships were built during the formative years of ...
*
Richard Thomas, (1779–1858), English civil engineer
1780 to 1810
*
Robert Were Fox the Younger (1789 in Falmouth–1877), British geologist, natural philosopher and inventor, worked on the temperature of the earth and a compass to measure magnetic dip at sea
*
Mary Lloyd or Mary Hornchurch (1795 in Falmouth–1865), British joint secretary of the
Birmingham Ladies Society for the Relief of Negro Slaves in 1825
*
Charles Fox (1797 in Falmouth–1878), a Quaker scientist, developed
Trebah garden near
Mawnan Smith, part of the influential Fox family of Falmouth
* Reverend
Henry Melvill (1798 in Pendennis Castle–1871), priest in the Church of England, principal of the
East India Company College
The East India Company College, or East India College, was an educational establishment situated at Hailey, Hertfordshire, nineteen miles north of London, founded in 1806 to train "writers" (administrators) for the East India Company. It provi ...
from 1844 to 1858 and Canon of
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of St Paul the Apostle, is an Anglican cathedral in London, England, the seat of the Bishop of London. The cathedral serves as the mother church of the Diocese of London in the Church of Engl ...
* The Fox family of Falmouth were very influential in the development of the town of Falmouth in the 19th century and of the Cornish Industrial Revolution. In the 18th and 19th centuries, many of them were members of the
Religious Society of Friends
Quakers are people who belong to the Religious Society of Friends, a historically Protestant Christian set of denominations. Members refer to each other as Friends after in the Bible, and originally, others referred to them as Quakers ...
(Quakers).
*
Sibella Elizabeth Miles (1800 in Falmouth–1882), was an English schoolteacher, poet and writer of the 19th century.
*
John Sterling (1806–1844), Scottish author, moved to Falmouth in 1841
*
Edwin Octavius Tregelles (1806 in Falmouth–1886) was an English
ironmaster
An ironmaster is the manager, and usually owner, of a forge or blast furnace for the processing of iron. It is a term mainly associated with the period of the Industrial Revolution, especially in Great Britain.
The ironmaster was usually a larg ...
, civil engineer and Quaker minister.
*
William Lobb (1809–1864), Cornish plant collector, employed by
Veitch Nurseries
The Veitch Nurseries were the largest group of family-run plant nurseries in Europe during the 19th century. Started by John Veitch sometime before 1808, the original nursery grew substantially over several decades and was eventually split into ...
of Exeter, introduced into England
Araucaria araucana
''Araucaria araucana'', commonly called the monkey puzzle tree, monkey tail tree, pewen, pehuen pine or piñonero, is an evergreen tree belonging to the family Araucariaceae and growing to a trunk diameter of and a height of . It is native to ...
(the monkey-puzzle tree) from Chile
*
Lovell Squire (1809–1892), Quaker schoolteacher, meteorologist and writer of sacred verse. In 1834 he developed a Quaker boarding school in Ashfield which ran from 1839 to 1849
1810 to 1850
*
Samuel Prideaux Tregelles (1813 in Falmouth–1875), English biblical scholar, textual critic, and theologian.
*
Nicholas Pocock
Nicholas Pocock (2 March 1740 – 9 March 1821) was an English artist known for his many detailed paintings of naval battles during the age of sail.
Birth and early career at sea
Pocock was born in Bristol in 1740, the son of a seaman.Chatte ...
(1814 in Falmouth–1897), English academic and cleric, known as an historical writer
*
Anna Maria Fox (1816 in Falmouth–1897) promoted
Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society
The Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society (commonly known as The Poly) is an educational, cultural and scientific Charitable organization#United Kingdom, charity, as well as a local arts and cinema venue, based in Falmouth, Cornwall, England, Unite ...
, from Fox family of Falmouth
*
Robert Barclay Fox (1817–1855), businessman, gardener and diarist, from the influential Quaker Fox family of Falmouth
*
Robert Kemp Philp (1819 in Falmouth–1882) was an English journalist, author and
Chartist
*
Caroline Fox (1819 in Falmouth–1871) Cornish diarist, member of the influential Fox family of Falmouth
*
Henry George Raverty (1825 in Falmouth–1906) was a British Indian Army officer and linguist, he studied
Afghan poetry
*
Elizabeth Philp (1827 in Falmouth–1885), English singer, music educator and composer
*
William Odgers (1834 in Falmouth–1873), Royal Navy sailor, recipient of the
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious decoration of the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British decorations system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British ...
in the
First Taranaki War
*
Howard Fox (1836 in Falmouth–1922), shipping agent and
consul
Consul (abbrev. ''cos.''; Latin plural ''consules'') was the title of one of the two chief magistrates of the Roman Republic, and subsequently also an important title under the Roman Empire. The title was used in other European city-states thro ...
, member of the influential Fox family of Falmouth.
*
Edwin Welch (1838 in Falmouth–1916), English naval cadet, surveyor, photographer, newspaper proprietor and journalist
*
John Andrewartha (1839 in Falmouth–1916), Cornish-born American architect and civil engineer
*
Charles Napier Hemy (1841–1917 in Falmouth), British painter of marine paintings, moved to Falmouth in 1881
*
Susan Elizabeth Gay (1845 - 1918 in Crill, Budock), chronicler of Falmouth in a book called ''Old Falmouth'' published in 1903
1850 to 1910
*
Henry Scott Tuke (1858–1929), English
visual artist
The visual arts are art forms such as painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics (art), ceramics, photography, video, image, filmmaking, design, crafts, and architecture. Many artistic disciplines such as performing arts, conceptual a ...
, primarily a painter, but also a photographer
*
John Charles Williams (1861–1939) English
Liberal Unionist politician, gardener at
Caerhays Castle, where he grew and bred
rhododendrons, MP for
Truro
Truro (; ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and civil parish in Cornwall, England; it is the southernmost city in the United Kingdom, just under west-south-west of Charing Cross in London. It is Cornwall's county town, s ...
1892/95,
High Sheriff of Cornwall 1888 and
Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall
This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall. Since 1742, all the Lords Lieutenant have also been Custos Rotulorum of Cornwall.
Lord Lieutenants
* John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford 1552–1554
* John Bourchier, 2nd ...
1918/36
*
John Sydney Hicks (1864 in Falmouth–1931) British physician and surgeon. He lived in Australia from 1891 to 1912, and was a member of the
Western Australian Legislative Assembly
The Western Australian Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Western Australia, an Australian state. The Parliament sits in Parliament House, Perth, Parliament House in the Western Australian capi ...
*
Charles Masson Fox (1866 in Falmouth–1935) Cornish businessman, prominent in
chess problems
A chess problem, also called a chess composition, is a puzzle created by the composer using chess pieces on a chessboard, which presents the solver with a particular task. For instance, a position may be given with the instruction that White i ...
and has his place in the
gay history of Edwardian England
*
Robert Barclay Fox (1873–1934) Falmouth businessman and Conservative politician, inherited
Penjerrick Garden
*
Joseph Conrad
Joseph Conrad (born Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski, ; 3 December 1857 – 3 August 1924) was a Poles in the United Kingdom#19th century, Polish-British novelist and story writer. He is regarded as one of the greatest writers in the Eng ...
, (1857–1924) Writer, stayed at Falmouth for nine months in 1882 and later recalled his sojourn in a short story titled
Youth
Youth is the time of life when one is young. The word, youth, can also mean the time between childhood and adulthood (Maturity (psychological), maturity), but it can also refer to one's peak, in terms of health or the period of life known as bei ...
Conrad's ''Youth''
* Sir
Edward Hoblyn Warren Bolitho (1882–1969) Cornish landowner and politician. He was Chairman of
Cornwall County Council 1941/52 and
Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall
This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall. Since 1742, all the Lords Lieutenant have also been Custos Rotulorum of Cornwall.
Lord Lieutenants
* John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford 1552–1554
* John Bourchier, 2nd ...
1936/62
* Frank
Harold Hayman (1894–1966) British Labour Party politician, MP for
Falmouth 1950 to 1966
*
Howard Spring (1889 - 1965) Writer, lived in Falmouth from 1947 onwards
*
Edward Aylmer (1892 - 1974) First-class cricketer and Royal Navy officer
*
Sir John Carew Pole, 12th Baronet (1902–1993) landowner, soldier, politician and
Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall
This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall. Since 1742, all the Lords Lieutenant have also been Custos Rotulorum of Cornwall.
Lord Lieutenants
* John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford 1552–1554
* John Bourchier, 2nd ...
1962/1977
*
Colonel James Power Carne (1906 in Falmouth–1986) Army officer, Korean War recipient of the
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious decoration of the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British decorations system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British ...
*
Lieutenant Commander Robert Peverell Hichens (1909–1943) most highly decorated officer of the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) lived in Bodrennick House at
Flushing, Cornwall
*
Hugh St Clair Stewart (1910 in Falmouth–2011) British film editor and producer, filmed
Bergen-Belsen concentration camp
Bergen-Belsen (), or Belsen, was a Nazi concentration camp in what is today Lower Saxony in Northern Germany, northern Germany, southwest of the town of Bergen, Lower Saxony, Bergen near Celle. Originally established as a prisoner of war camp, ...
following its liberation in April 1945
1910 to present
*
William John Burley (1914 in Falmouth - 2002) British crime writer whose work includes the ''
Wycliffe'' detective series
*
John Anthony Miller aka Peter Pook (1918 in Falmouth–1978) British author of humorous novels
*
George Boscawen, 9th Viscount Falmouth (born 1919) Cornish peer and landowner,
Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall
This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall. Since 1742, all the Lords Lieutenant have also been Custos Rotulorum of Cornwall.
Lord Lieutenants
* John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford 1552–1554
* John Bourchier, 2nd ...
from 1977-94
*
William D Watson (born 1930)
bow maker
A bow maker is a person who builds, repairs, and restores antique or modern Bow (music), bows for bowed string instruments. These include violins, violas, cellos, double basses, viola d'amore, viola da gamba, etc.
The French word for bowmaker (b ...
who worked for
W.E. Hill & Sons, lived in Falmouth.
*
David Mudd, (born 2 June 1933), British politician, Conservative MP for
Falmouth and Camborne from 1970 until 1992
*
Rex Thomas Vinson (1935 in Falmouth - 2000) Art teacher, artist and science fiction author, wrote as Vincent King
*
Lady Mary Christina Holborow, (born 1936) daughter of
Earl of Courtown,
Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall
This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall. Since 1742, all the Lords Lieutenant have also been Custos Rotulorum of Cornwall.
Lord Lieutenants
* John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford 1552–1554
* John Bourchier, 2nd ...
1994-2004
*
Caroline Bammel (1940 in Falmouth - 1995) British ecclesiastical historian
*
Patrick Woodroffe (1940-2014) fantasy artist, taught art at Falmouth School of Art.
*
Jon Mark (born 1943 in Falmouth) singer-songwriter, recorded with
Marianne Faithfull
Marianne Evelyn Gabriel Faithfull (29 December 1946 – 30 January 2025) was an English singer and actress who achieved popularity in the 1960s with the release of her UK top 10 single " As Tears Go By". She became one of the leading female art ...
,
John Mayall
John Brumwell Mayall (29 November 1933 – 22 July 2024) was an English blues and Rock music, rock musician, songwriter and producer. In the 1960s, he formed John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, a band that has counted among its members some of ...
and
Mark-Almond.
*
Penelope Shuttle (born 1947) British poet, lived in Falmouth since 1970, founded the Falmouth Poetry Group in 1972.
*
Sebastian Newbold Coe, Baron Coe, (born 1956), referred to as Seb Coe, British politician and former track and field athlete. Won four Olympic medals at the
1980
Events January
* January 4 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter proclaims a United States grain embargo against the Soviet Union, grain embargo against the USSR with the support of the European Commission.
* January 6 – Global Positioning Sys ...
and
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXIII Olympiad and commonly known as Los Angeles 1984) were an international multi-sport event held from July 28 to August 12, 1984, in Los Angeles, California, United States. It marked the ...
. MP for
Falmouth and Camborne from 1992-97. Elected president of the
International Association of Athletics Federations
World Athletics, formerly known as the International Amateur Athletic Federation and International Association of Athletics Federations and formerly abbreviated as the IAAF, is the international governing body for the sport of athletics, coverin ...
in 2015.
*
Paul Martin
Paul Edgar Philippe Martin (born August 28, 1938), also known as Paul Martin Jr., is a Canadian lawyer and retired politician who served as the 21st prime minister of Canada and the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada from 2003 to 2006.
Th ...
(born 1959) antiques dealer, professional drummer, presents BBC antiques programmes including ''
Flog It!'', attended Falmouth Grammar School.
*
Zapoppin' (formed 2007 in Falmouth) are an alternative folk and skiffle band, noted by ''
Clash'' magazine for their ''"black humour and obtuse lyrical themes"''.
Sport
* Alfred Ernest Trenoweth (1868-1942) from Falmouth was well known as light weight champion
Cornish wrestler of Cornwall. He was a carpenter and joiner and was also lightweight boxing champion of Kent.
[''Former wrestling champion'', West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 26 October 1942, p2.]
* Pellew from Falmouth was a champion Cornish wrestler, who was notable for having only one arm.
[''Truro wrestling match'', The West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 18 July 1878, p5.][''Wrestling Match'', The West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 13 Jul 1885, p2.]
*
John Jackett, (1878 in Falmouth-1935) English rugby union player for
British Lions and competed in the
1908 Summer Olympics
The 1908 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the IV Olympiad and also known as London 1908) were an international multi-sport event held in London, England, from 27 April to 31 October 1908. The 1908 Games were originally schedu ...
, brother of
Richard Jackett
*
James Trick "Jimmy" Jose (1881-1963) was Cornish rugby union player for
Plymouth Albion R.F.C. and Falmouth R.F.C., competed in the
1908 Summer Olympics
The 1908 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the IV Olympiad and also known as London 1908) were an international multi-sport event held in London, England, from 27 April to 31 October 1908. The 1908 Games were originally schedu ...
*
Cecil Timmins (1926–2004), first-class cricketer
*
Tony Kellow, (1952 in Budock Water - 2011) professional footballer, over 400 appearances mainly for
Exeter City FC
*
Kevin Miller (born in Falmouth 1969) English retired goalkeeper, played for
Barnsley F.C. Crystal Palace F.C. Exeter City F.C. and
Watford
Watford () is a town and non-metropolitan district with Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough status in Hertfordshire, England, northwest of Central London, on the banks of the River Colne, Hertfordshire, River Colne.
Initially a smal ...
*
Matthew Etherington
Matthew Etherington (born 14 August 1981) is an English professional Manager (association football), football manager and former Association football, footballer who is currently Under-21 assistant at Southampton F.C., Southampton. As a player, E ...
(born 1981 in Truro) footballer played for Falmouth Town under 14s and then for
Peterborough United F.C. Tottenham Hotspur F.C. West Ham
West Ham is a district in East London, England and is in the London Borough of Newham. It is an inner-city suburb located east of Charing Cross.
The area was originally an ancient parish formed to serve parts of the older Manor of Ham, a ...
and
Stoke
*
Jamie Robert Day (born 1986 in Falmouth) English former footballer who mainly played for
Peterborough United F.C., and
Rushden & Diamonds F.C.
Landmarks
File:Admiralty House Falmouth.JPG, Admiralty House, Arwenack Street
File:All Saints Church Falmouth 1.JPG, All Saints Church, Killigrew Street
File:St Mary Immaculate Church Falmouth.JPG, Roman Catholic Church of St Mary Immaculate, Killigrew Street and Kimberley Place
File:Central Methodist Church Falmouth.JPG, Central Methodist Church
File:Constabulary Falmouth.JPG, Old Constabulary
File:Old Drill Hall Falmouth.JPG, Old Drill Hall, Brook Street, prior to its conversion to the Phoenix Cinema
File:StMichaelPenwerris.JPG, St Michael and All Angels Church, North Parade, Penwerris
Twinning
Falmouth is
twinned with
Douarnenez in
Brittany
Brittany ( ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the north-west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica in Roman Gaul. It became an Kingdom of Brittany, independent kingdom and then a Duch ...
, France and
Rotenburg an der Wümme, in
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a States of Germany, German state (') in Northern Germany, northwestern Germany. It is the second-largest state by land area, with , and fourth-largest in population (8 million in 2021) among the 16 ' of the Germany, Federal Re ...
, Germany.
See also
*
Falmouth, Jamaica
Falmouth () is the chief town and capital of the parish of Trelawny in Jamaica. It is situated on Jamaica's north coast 29 km (18 miles) east of Montego Bay. It is noted for being one of the Caribbean's best-preserved Georgian towns.
The ...
*
List of topics related to Cornwall
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Cornwall:
Cornwall – ceremonial county and unitary authority area of England within the United Kingdom. Cornwall is a peninsula bordered to the north and west by ...
*
All Saints' Church, Falmouth
*
St. Michael and All Angels Church, Penwerris
*
Falmouth Synagogue
*
Cornish and Breton twin towns
Further reading
* Symons, Alan (1994). Falmouth's Wartime Memories. Arwenack Press.
* Whetter, James (2003). The History of Falmouth. Lyfrow Trelyspen.
References
External links
*
Official Website for FalmouthFalmouth Town Council at the
Cornwall Record Office
GENUKI article on Falmouth
{{Authority control
Civil parishes in Cornwall
Cornish Killas
Ports and harbours of Cornwall
Ports and harbours of the English Channel
Port cities and towns in South West England
Populated coastal places in Cornwall
Seaside resorts in Cornwall
Towns in Cornwall