Torpoint
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Torpoint | |
| Cornish: Penntorr | |
  Torpoint shown within Cornwall |
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| Population | 8.475 (2001) |
|---|---|
| District | Caradon |
| Shire county | Cornwall |
| Region | South West |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Police | Devon and Cornwall |
| Fire | Cornwall |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| European Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament | South East Cornwall |
| List of places: UK • England • Cornwall | |
Torpoint (Cornish: Penntorr) is a town in the far South East of Cornwall, United Kingdom, separated from the City of Plymouth by a stretch of water referred to as the Hamoaze, which itself is the mouth of the River Tamar. It is on the Rame Peninsula.
Torpoint's link to Plymouth (and Devonport) is facilitated by three passenger and vehicle ferries. The current ferries are propelled across the river by pulling themselves on chains. These chains sink to the bottom to allow shipping movements in the river. The ferry journey takes approximately 7 minutes.
Torpoint has a population of 8,457 (2001 Census). In the Cornish language Torpoint is called Penntorr, which is now also the name of a local folk band.
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[edit] Origin of name
It is a common tale that Torpoint's name is derived from Tar Point, a name given because of the initial industry on the west bank of the Hamoaze. However this is actually a nickname given by workers, Torpoint meaning "rocky headland".[1]
[edit] History
Torpoint is an eighteenth century planned town. The grid-based design for the town was commissioned by Reginald Pole Carew in the Parish of Antony in 1774. His family continued to have a strong influence in the area, having become the Carew Poles, and still reside at their family seat, Antony House.
Due to the presence of Devonport Dockyard, the town grew as Dockyard workers settled there. The establishment of the Royal Navy's main training facility, HMS Raleigh, on the west side of Torpoint, boosted the number of inhabitants.
[edit] Education
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Please help improve this article or section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (December 2007) |
Carbeile Junior School is a large primary school in Torpoint.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ MIlls, A. D. (1996). The Popular Dictionary of English Place-names. Parragon Book Service Ltd and Magpie Books, p. 332. ISBN 0752518518.
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