Torpoint
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 The Ellis Memorial in memory of James B. Ellis a Torpoint man who drowned in July 1897 trying to save two boys from the river Tamar. | |
  Torpoint Location withinCornwall | |
| Population | 8,364 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | SX438552 |
| Civil parish |
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| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | TORPOINT |
| Postcode district | PL11 |
| Dialling code | 01752 |
| Police | Devon and Cornwall |
| Fire | Cornwall |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| UK Parliament | |
| Website | http://www.torpointtowncouncil.gov.uk |
| 50°22′34″N4°12′18″W / 50.376°N 4.205°W /50.376; -4.205 | |
Torpoint (Cornish:Penntorr[1]) is a town andcivil parish on theRame Peninsula in southeastCornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated opposite the city ofPlymouth across theHamoaze which is the tidal estuary of theRiver Tamar.[2]Torpoint had a population of 8,457 at the 2001 census, decreasing to 8,364 at the 2011 census.[3] Two electoral wards also exist (Torpoint East andTorpoint West). Their combined populations at the same census were 7,717.[4]
Torpoint is linked to Plymouth (andDevonport) by theTorpoint Ferry. The three vessels that operate the service arechain ferries – that is, they are propelled across the river by pulling themselves on fixed chains which lie across the bed of the river. The journey takes about seven minutes.
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".[5]
Torpoint is an eighteenth-century planned town. The grid-based design for the town was commissioned byReginald Pole Carew in theParish of Antony in 1774. His family continue to have a strong influence in the area, having become the Carew Poles in the twentieth century, and still reside at their family seat,Antony House.
In 1796 Torpoint was the setting for a shooting battle between the crew of a government vessel, theViper, and a large party of armed liquorsmugglers, in which one person was killed and five people seriously wounded.[6]
Due to the presence ofDevonport Dockyard, the town grew as Dockyard workers settled there. The establishment of theRoyal Navy's main training facility,HMSRaleigh also increased the population of Torpoint.[7]
Torpoint has 4 parish churches known at "Maryfield Church", "Torpoint Cornerstone Church" , "Catholic Church of Saint Joan of Arc" and "St James Church"
SeeCategory:People from Torpoint
Educational institutions in Torpoint include:[8]
Torpoint has anon-league football club,Torpoint Athletic F.C., which plays at The Mill.
Cornish wrestling tournaments, for prizes, were held in Torpoint in the 1700s.[9]
Torpoint istwinned withBenodet (Benoded) inBrittany, France.[10]
1894 The Torpoint Town Council was established with Joseph Shepheard as its chairman.[11]
Ron Widdecombe was the first Mayor of Torpoint.[12]
The Town Council has Gary Davis as the town mayor and Julie Martin as the deputy mayor.[13]
The Town Council is made up of 15 East Ward councillors and 1 West Ward councillor.[14]
Freedom of Torpoint march[15]
St Piran's day[16]
Armed Forces Day[17]
Commonwealth Day[18]
Day of Accession Council and Principal Proclamation[19]
Merchant Navy Day[20]
St George's Day[21]
Christmas Lights Switch On[22]
Civic Service[23]
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