Besides great sights, an interesting history and many exciting destinations, Torpoint has a lot more to offer. Here you will find many helpful tips to enjoy your vacation in Torpoint.
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Sights in Torpoint
Torpoint is a town in southeast Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The town is situated on the west bank of the River Tamar opposite Plymouth, Devon. Torpoint lies within the administrative area of Cornwall Council.
The history of Torpoint dates back to the Norman Conquest when a small hamlet was first recorded. The name Torpoint is thought to derive from the Norman French “tor” meaning rock or crag and “point” meaning headland. In the Domesday Book of 1086, the hamlet was called Toreprente. By the late 12th century, the town had become a thriving port and was known as Totenport or Totnes.
During the English Civil War, Torpoint was an important strategic port for the Royalists. In 1646, the town was captured by the Parliamentarians and was used as a base for their operations in Cornwall.
In the 19th century, Torpoint became a popular tourist destination, with visitors coming to admire the views of the River Tamar and Plymouth Sound. The town’s fortunes declined in the 20th century, however, as the ferry service to Plymouth was discontinued and the tourist trade dwindled.
Today, Torpoint is a thriving community with a population of just over 5,000. The town is home to a number of businesses and amenities, including a supermarket, a library, a primary school and a health centre. There are also a number of pubs and restaurants in the town.
The town’s maritime history can still be seen in its architecture, with many of the buildings in the town centre dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. The Tamar Bridge, which was opened in 1961, links Torpoint with Plymouth. The bridge is 1.6 miles (2.6 km) long and is the longest suspension bridge in the UK.
The town’s closest beach is at Jemmett’s Strand, which is about a mile from the town centre. The beach is a popular spot for walkers, picnickers and fishermen.
There are several sites of interest in and around Torpoint, including the 14th century church of St James, the Torpoint Lighthouse and the remains of an Iron Age hillfort at Rame Head.
History of Torpoint
Torpoint is a town and civil parish in southeast Cornwall, England, UK. The town is situated on the Rame Peninsula, eight miles south of Plymouth. Torpoint is twinned with Brittany town SaintBrieuc des Iles.
According to the 2011 census the Torpoint civil parish has a population of 8,459, an increase of 513 since the 2001 census. This includes Kingsand and Maker with Rame, familiarly known as the three towns.
The history of Torpoint dates back to Norman times. In 1050, a castle was built here by William the Conqueror’s son, Robert, Count of Mortain. A town grew up around the castle, firstly known as St Michael by the Lydney, then as Trematon. Latterly, it was named Torpoint from the Cornish tor, meaning a rock, and porth, meaning a harbour.
The castle was the seat of the Earl of Cornwall and was besieged during the Civil War. In 1646, the castle was slighted (rendered unusable) by the victorious Parliamentary forces.
The castle was replaced by a manor house, which in turn was replaced by the present Torpoint House. The manor house was the seat of the Bishops of Exeter from 1554 to 1834.
From the 16th century onwards, the town developed as a fishing port and trading centre, dealing mainly in pilchards. In the 19th century, the Anchor Line shipping company had their headquarters here, and the town became an important ferry port, with routes to Plymouth and across the River Tamar to Devon.
The arrival of the railway in 1865 brought further prosperity, with the town becoming a popular seaside resort. To this day, Torpoint remains an important ferry port, with regular passenger and vehicle services operating to and from Plymouth.
Vacation in Torpoint
Torpoint is a town and civil parish in southeast Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated on the Rame Peninsula, across the River Tamar from Plymouth. According to the 2011 census the population of Torpoint was 12,151.
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