Coordinates: 50°22′33″N 4°12′17″W / 50.37585°N 4.20484°W
| Torpoint | |
| Cornish: Penntorr | |
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.png)  Torpoint
 Torpoint shown within Cornwall |
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| Population | 8,475 (2001) |
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| OS grid reference | |
| Unitary authority | Cornwall |
| Ceremonial county | Cornwall |
| Region | South West |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | TORPOINT |
| Postcode district | PL11 |
| Dialling code | 01752 |
| Police | Devon and Cornwall |
| Fire | Cornwall |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| European Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament | South East Cornwall |
| Website: http://www.torpointtowncouncil.gov.uk | |
| List of places: UK • England • Cornwall | |
Torpoint (Cornish: Penntorr) is a town in the far south east of Cornwall, England, 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 sea link to Plymouth (and Devonport) is by the Torpoint Ferry. The three ferry boats that operate this service 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 7 minutes.
Torpoint has a population of 8,457 (2001 census). In the Cornish language Torpoint is called Penntorr, which is the basis for the name of local folk band Pentorr.
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Origin of name
It is said 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]
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 also increased the population of Torpoint.
Notable people from Torpoint
See Category:People from Torpoint
John Langdon Down was born in Torpoint in 1828, he later described the condition which is now referred to as Down syndrome. He was called back on a number of occasions to help his father in his local business until his father's death in 1853.
Education
Educational institutions in Torpoint include:
- Torpoint Infant School — a medium-large infant school.
- Carbeile Junior School — a large primary school.
- Torpoint Community College, The Humanities College for South East Cornwall — the only humanities college in south east Cornwall.
Twinning
External links
References
- ^ MIlls, A. D. (1996). The Popular Dictionary of English Place-names. Parragon Book Service Ltd and Magpie Books. pp. 332. ISBN 0752518518.
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