Saltash
| Saltash | |
| Cornwall | |
|---|---|
 Culver Road, Saltash | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SX4257 |
| Location: | 50°24’29"N, 4°12’43"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 14,964 (2001) |
| Post town: | Saltash |
| Postcode: | PL12 |
| Dialling code: | 01752 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Cornwall |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
South East Cornwall |
Saltash is a Cornish town standing on the shore of the Hamoaze; the estuary of the River Tamar. It faces Plymouth in Devon on the opposite shore. It is one of the larger towns of Cornwall, swollen by its connection with the City of Plymouth.
Saltash is known as "the gateway to Cornwall" for the ferries from Devon and two bridges cross the broad Tamar here.
Contents
Name of the town
The Charter of Incorporation refers to the place as 'Essa' (a Latinisation of 'Ash', referring to an ash tree). The spelling of the town has changed over the years. For example, in Edward the Confessor's time it was called and spelt 'Aysche'. In the 1584 Charter it is stated that Essa is now commonly called Saltash. A family called Essa lived in the twelfth century at their property near Ashtor Rock, where the Manor Courts were once held.
The 'Salt' part of the name was added to distinguish it from other places called Ash and may refer to a salt mill.
Round and about
At Saltash Isambard Kingdom Brunel's Royal Albert Bridge spans the Tamar bearing the railway line. It was opened by HRH Prince Albert on 2 May 1859. Alongside it is the Tamar Bridge, a toll bridge carrying the A38 trunk road, which in 2001 became the first suspension bridge to be widened whilst remaining open to traffic.
Saltash railway station is close to the town centre. It was hoped that the empty buildings could be restored as a visitor centre for the bridge, but they have instead been purchased by a property developer. The station is served by a regular train service, with some direct High Speed services to and from London Paddington.
The cottage of Mary Newman, Sir Francis Drake's first wife, can be found in Saltash on Culver Road downhill from Saltash railway station.
Nearby are the castles at Trematon and Ince, as well as the nature reserve at Churchtown Farm, where there are some wonderful walks, with stunning views of the river. Burrell House near Saltash was built in 1621 and has a wing dated 1636. The entrance side was altered in the 18th century.[1]
The town expanded in the 1990s with the addition of the large new estate Latchbrook, and again with the more recent building of another housing area, Pilmere. In the summer of 2009 the Saltash postcode area was judged by the Daily Telegraph to be the most desirable place to live in Great Britain in a survey that included statistics from school results and crime figures.[2]
History
The fortunes of Saltash have throughout its history been linked to the passage, or ferrying place across the Tamar. The original ferry became established by fishermen for those passing to and from the monastery at St Germans and to Trematon Castle.
After the Norman Conquest, Robert, Count of Mortain, who held the castle and manor at Trematon, took the market from the canons at St Germans and established it at Saltash. The Count granted Trematon and other manors to the de Valletorts, who had then to provide for the ferry boat. In the twelfth century a borough was founded (1190), and Saltash became the only franchised seaport between Dartmouth and Fowey. This fact has given rise to the Saltash saying, Saltash was a borough town, when Plymouth was a fuzzy down, as the town of Plymouth and its seaport did not exist in 1190. In the Middle Ages the ferry was part of the manor of Trematon, held by the Valletorts.[3]
Roger de Valletort (Reginald de Valle Torta) sold out in 1270 to Richard, Earl of Cornwall and King of the Romans. Edward, the Black Prince, became the first Duke of Cornwall, and a visitor to Trematon Castle.
In 1549 a rebellion arose in Cornwall; the Prayer Book Rebellion broke out at the introduction of the Protestant liturgy into the Church of England. The rebels under Humphrey Arundell marched on Saltash and gained possession of Trematon Castle by treachery, capturing Sir Richard Grenville in the process. They then carried out acts of barbarity on their surprised visitors. The rebellion ultimately failed and Arundell was beheaded at Tyburn.
The arms of the Borough of Saltash are Azure the base water proper in pale an escutcheon Or thereon a lion rampant Gules within a bordure Sable bezantee ensigned with a prince's coronet of the third on either side of the escutcheon an ostrich feather Argent labelled Or.[4] There are seals of Saltash showing a three-masted ship with sails furled at anchor; and an escutcheon charged with a lion rampant within a bordure bezantée resting upon water surmounted by a coronet composed on crosses patée and fleurs-de-lis and either side an ostrich feather; with the legends "Sigillum aquate Saltash" and "Sigillum Saltashe" respectively.[5]
Parish church
The parish church of Saltash was until 1881 at St Stephens by Saltash, one mile from the town. Though of earlier foundation the structure of the building is largely 15th century: there are two aisles and the tower is west of the north aisle.
Big Society
Saltash hosts a number of annual festivals: Saltash Mayfair takes place in and around Fore Street during early May, and Saltash Town Regatta brings music and entertainment to the Waterside area in the summer. On the water there are intense Gig races with the best teams taking part, along with Flashboat rowing and dinghy racing, and the now infamous 'England and back' race between local organisations. For 2008 a new five towns challenge has been added to the list of events, pitting Saltash against Liskeard, Callington, Looe and Torpoint. Ashore you will find many stalls, music and marquees. See the Regatta and Mayfair websites listed below for more information.
Sport and leisure
Saltash is the home of Caradon Pilot Gig Rowing Club.
The town has a Non-League football club Saltash United FC, who play at Kimberly Stadium.
Livewire Youth Project, a music themed youth club, is located on the banks of the River Tamar. The club boasts a recording studio, band practice rooms, and a 300-person capacity music venue.
Saltash Leisure centre is not far from the town centre, providing a leisure pool, gym and fitness facilities. Not far to the north is the China Fleet Country Club which has an 18 hole championship standard golf couse, a swimming pool with spa and other fitness facilities. The Farm House restaurant is located within China Fleet and has been awarded an AA Rosette award for the past 3 years in a row.
The Saltash Sailing Club caters for all ages with over 100 cadets out on the water on a Friday night. There are dinghy and yacht races and activities organised for those less competitive. Members have won many local and international trophies and compete at national and international levels.
A BMX and skatepark are available in the Saltmill Park along with pieces of public art. Saltmill is also home to a newly developed all-weather pitch available to local organisations.
Saltash Tennis Centre, which is located behind the Leisure centre. The tennis centre consists of two grass courts and two hard courts, along with a clubhouse with male and female changing. The club currently has 3 men's team in the Plymouth and District league (P&D league) and a womans team in the associative ladies P&D league. The club also has two junior teams in the U19 P&D leagues.
Sights about the town
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Miscellany
"Saltash" is also a popular traditional Cornish tune.
The Royal Navy, whose base at Devonport is so important to the town, have named ships HMS Saltash. Brunel University in Uxbridge in Middlesex has named one of the halls of residence "Saltash" because of Brunel's Royal Albert Bridge.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Saltash) |
References
- ↑ Pevsner, N. (1970) Cornwall; 2nd ed. Harmondsworth: Penguin; p. 48
- ↑ Khan, Urmee (2009-08-10). "Saltash in Cornwall is Britain's most desirable postcode". The Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/5999565/Saltash-in-Cornwall-is-Britains-most-desirable-postcode.html. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
- ↑ Henderson, C (1935) "Cornish Ferries", in Essays in Cornish History, edited by A. L. Rowse and M. I. Henderson. Oxford: Clarendon Press; pp. 163-67
- ↑ Pascoe, W. H. (1979). A Cornish Armory. Padstow, Cornwall: Lodenek Press. p. 134. ISBN 0-902899-76-7.
- ↑ Pascoe; pp. 134-35
- Vosper, Douglas C. (1968) A Glimpse of Saltash Liskeard: Snell & Cowling
- George Bignell
