Coordinates: 50°09′59″N 5°03′59″W / 50.1664°N 5.0664°W
| Flushing | |
| Cornish: Nankersey | |
.png)  Flushing
Flushing shown within Cornwall |
|
| Population | 800 |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| Unitary authority | Cornwall |
| Ceremonial county | Cornwall |
| Region | South West |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | FALMOUTH |
| Postcode district | TR11 |
| Dialling code | 01326 |
| Police | Devon and Cornwall |
| Fire | Cornwall |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament | Falmouth and Camborne |
| List of places: UK • England • Cornwall | |
Flushing (Cornish: Nankersey) is a picturesque coastal village in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, three miles south of Penryn, eleven miles south-east of Truro and facing Falmouth across the Penryn river, an arm of the Carrick Roads. The fishing village is primarily known for its annual Regatta week in July.
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History
Originally named Nankersey, meaning valley of the reed swamp, the village was given its name by Dutch engineers from Flushing in the Netherlands who built the three main quays in the village. The grand houses on St Peter's Hill, the road that leads into the village, were owned by captains of the packet ships (mail-boats) that docked in nearby Falmouth. The Spanish Armada intended to land here in their attack on England but they were not able to capture it.
Henry VIII intended to build a castle on Trefusis Point, to accompany those built at Pendennis and St. Mawes, but due to the expensive wars was unable to finance it.
In the 19th and 20th century, the village's economy mainly relied upon fishing, the two farms (Trefusis and Tregew) and Falmouth Docks. There was also briefly a copper mine on Jericho beach, but extracting it proved commercially unviable. Now it is principally a commuter village for the nearby towns of Penryn, Flushing and Truro, although some commercial fishing vessels are still based in the village. There are also several B&Bs to cater for tourists; in addition, many houses in the village now lie unoccupied for most of the year as they are used as holiday homes.
Infrastructure
Most of the Flushing's 800 residents live in the middle of the village, on Coventry Road, Kersey Road and St Peter's Hill, although there is limited housing along Trefusis Road out as far as Kiln Beach, and there are also some houses near Trefusis Farm near the border with Mylor Bridge.
The village has two churches: a Methodist chapel in Kersey Road in the centre of the village and St Peter's, an Anglican church on the outskirts at the top of St Peter's Hill. The Bible Christian chapel in Kersey Road and the Primitive Methodist chapel in Coventry Road closed in the mid-20th century.
The village C of E school is located in Coventry Road and caters for a maximum of eighty pupils. It serves as a feeder school for the local secondary school, Penryn College, although some pupils have gone on to Penair School in Truro or the fee-paying Truro School and Truro High School. Due to its cramped location in the middle of the village it has no playing field or school hall; organised games are held on the Bowling Green at the top of the village, and school meals and plays take place in the Village Hall on Coventry Road.
The doctor's surgery is located in the Village Hall.
There are two pubs, the Royal Standard on St Peter's Hill and the Seven Stars on Trefusis Road opposite Fish Cross. There is also a fish restaurant, formerly the Sticky Prawn, now the Quay Cafe located on Ferry Quay.
Culture
Flushing Regatta Week is held annually during late July or early August, and features water-based activities such as bathtub racing, rowing, swimming and sailing races, sand-castle building contests, a mini-marathon through Mylor and Flushing, an open-air church service, a pub quiz, crab catching, and a carnival on Saturday night, and has achieved marked popularity locally. Every year, two residents of Flushing who have contributed to the life of the village over a period of time are selected to be the Presidents; their responsibilities include judging competitions and opening events.
The popular Nankersey Male Choir perform regular concerts throughout the year raising money for various local good causes, and classical concerts and recitals are often held in the Methodist chapel. The village has two gig clubs, Nankersey Rowing Club and Flushing & Mylor Pilot Gig Club.
The beaches at Kiln are extremely popular in the summer months, particularly with tourists, offering superb views of Falmouth Docks, the Carrick Roads and St. Anthony's Head. There is also another beach further around the coast known as Jericho, which is only accessible from the houses directly above the beach or by rowing boat, and is therefore popular with locals.
Famous residents
James Silk Buckingham, author, politician and social reformer was born here, as was the actress Morwenna Banks. Admiral Lord Nelson owned a house in St. Peter's Road. The naval family of Bartholomew James Sulivan (1810 – 1890) maintained a house here, as did many many Royal and merchant Navy officers in the nineteenth century. Sulivan as a young naval officer in the 1830s was a friend and shipmate of Charles Darwin on the historic HMS Beagle voyage of Charles Darwin (which docked in Falmouth on 2 October in 1836, an event briefly recorded in Darwin's journal of the Voyage).
Gallery
 Flushing, from Fish Strand Quay, Falmouth, with rainbow. |
 Flushing, from Fish Strand Quay, Falmouth, showing large houses on Trefusis Road. |
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