Flushing
| Flushing | |
| Cornwall | |
|---|---|
 Flushing | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SW811340 |
| Location: | 50°9’54"N, 5°4’8"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 670 (2001) |
| Post town: | Falmouth |
| Postcode: | TR11 |
| Dialling code: | 01326 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Cornwall |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Truro and Falmouth |
Flushing is a coastal village in western Cornwall, to be found three miles east of Penryn and ten miles south of Truro. It faces Falmouth across the Penryn River, an arm of the Carrick Roads.
The village is well known for its yearly Regatta week in July.
Flushing is within the 'Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty', as is almost a third of the county.
History
The village was founded in 1661; there is disagreement about whether there are any houses of the late 17th century. Clonmore and Clinton House are said to be 17th century by Nikolaus Pevsner, but he quotes the opinion of Lady Redwood that they are of the 18th century. 22 Treyew Road and New Quay House are also of architectural interest according to her.[1]
Originally named Nankersey, meaning valley of the reed swamp, the village was given its name 'Flushing' by Dutch engineers from the port of Flushing in the Netherlands; these engineers 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.[2]
King 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 centuries, the village's economy mainly relied upon fishing, the two farms and former manors of Trefusis (the original seat of the Trefusis family,[3] Barons Clinton since 1791) and Tregew, and Falmouth Docks.
There was also briefly a copper mine on Jericho beach, but extracting the copper proved commercially unviable.
Now it is principally a commuter village for the nearby towns of Penryn, Falmouth 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.
Housing and amenities
Most of Flushing's 670 residents live in the centre 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 confines of Mylor Bridge.
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 Café located on Ferry Quay.
Churches and schools
- Church of England: St Peter's
- Methodist
St Peter's Church is built in the Norman style and was opened for divine worship in February 1842. The church was renovated in 1871 by subscriptions collected by Capt Nevill Norway RN, when a vestry was added.[2] It is now a Grade II listed building.[4] The parish is part of a united benefice with the parish of Mylor[5] in the Diocese of Truro.
The Methodist chapel is located in Kersey Road and, built in 1815, is the oldest building in the Falmouth and Gwennap circuit.[2][6] There was also a Bible Christian chapel in Kersey Road (built in 1833) and a Primitive Methodist chapel in Coventry Road (built in 1866).[2]
The village Church of England school is on Coventry Road. 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.
Events
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.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Flushing) |
References
- ↑ Nikolaus Pevsner: The Buildings of England: Cornwall, 1951; 1970 Penguin Books ISBN 978-0-300-09589-0
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Information on Flushing from GENUKI
- ↑ Vivian, J.L., The Visitations of Cornwall: comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1530, 1573 & 1620; with additions by J.L. Vivian, Exeter, 1887, pedigree of "Trefusis of Trefusis", pp.463-8 [1]
- ↑ "Parish church of Flushing website". http://www.achurchnearyou.com/flushing-st-peter/. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
- ↑ "Parish church of Mylor website". http://www.achurchnearyou.com/mylor-st-mylor/. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
- ↑ "Flushing Methodist Church website". http://www.fandgmc.org.uk/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8&Itemid=64. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
- Redwood, Ursula M., Lady (1967) The Story of Flushing, Cornwall, and a guide to the village. Flushing: St Peter's P.C.C.
- --do.--(1987) Trefusis Territory. Flushing: St Peter's P.C