Penzance
OS Grid ref:- SW462269
Penzance was mentioned in the Domesday Book. Lescudjack Hill Fort, dating from the Bronze Age, overlooks Penzance Harbour, and is the site of the early inhabitants of this settlement.
The town [Cornish language 'Pen Sans' or Holy Headland] was originally a small fishing community established in safer times and through the ages close by the current Battery rocks and St Antony's Gardens.
Penzance was sacked and left in smouldering ruins after a Spanish raid in1595, but rebuilt extending from the original settlement up through the present Chapel Street over the next 200 years, leaving some unusual and interesting private, public and civic buildings. The town grew in importance,receiving its Royal Charter from James 1 in 1614.
The seafaring nature of the town dominated its development with wharfs, harbour, pubs, warehouses and shops and the early Georgian character of this part of town is well preserved. Further town development came with the railhead being established here in the 1830's when major Victorian influences and prosperity produced some grand Civic buildings, still standing, and the building of the only Promenade in Cornwall. There are also fine Art Deco buildings and a restored Lido built close by the original settlement site.
The main street is the curiously named Market Jew Street, which is said to derive from a corruption of the old Cornish 'Marghas Yow', meaning Thursday Market. The street curves up from the quay to the domed granite Market House with its imposing Ionic colonnade, which now serves as a bank, below it stands a statue of Sir Humphry Davy.
Sir Humphry Davy, one of the foremost chemists of the nineteenth century and inventor of the miners lamp was one of Penzance's more famous sons. He was born in a house near to the site of his statue, where he began his experiments. He acquired a knighthood in 1812 for his contribution to science and was later made a baronet for his creation of the miner's safety lamp.
A tenth century cross with a wheel head and ornamented panel, stands outside the Penlee Museum in Morrab Road. Known as the Penzance Cross, its base bears the inscription 'Regis Ricati Crux' meaning the cross of King Ricatus.
Trewidden Gardens, one of the finest informal gardens in Cornwall, is situated 2 miles west of Penzance, it contains one of the best collections of camellias in the country.
Morrab Gardens consist of three acres of a large variety of sub-tropical plants , shrubs and trees which thrive in Cornwall's famously mild climate.
Elegant Georgian and Regency buildings line Chapel Street, some are built of brick which is faced with granite, a feature that is most unusual in Cornwall. The Union Hotel was where the first news of Nelson's death at Trafalgar was announced from the Minstrel's Gallery in the dining room. Number 25 Chapel Street was the home of Maria Branwell, who married a Yorkshire vicar and became the mother of the famous novelists Charlotte, Anne and Emily Bronte. The house is not open to the public.
Places of Interest
*The Egyptian House, Chapel Street, now a National Trust shop, dates from 1835 and was built to house a geological Museum.
The Egyptian House, Penzance, courtesy of freefoto.com
*The Penzance Maritime Museum is well worth a visit, it has a surprising interior, re-creating an 18th century four deck man-of-war, complete with creaking floorboards and hosts displays of pieces of eight and other artefacts recovered from wrecks off the Isles of Scilly.
*Penlee House Art Gallery and Museum Morrab Road, local display reflecting the history and environment of Penzance. Collection of work by the Victorian Newlyn School of Painting. Open:- all year, 10am - 4.30pm.
*The National Lighthouse Centre, Wharf Road, world's finest collection of lighthouse equipment, audio-visual display and reconstructed living quarters of a lighthouse keeper, signallling equipment, lenses and model lightships. Open:- Easter - end of Oct, daily 10.30am - 4.30pm.
*Trengwainton Gardens unique gardens owned by the National Trust, named for the Cornish 'house of the springs' exotic shrubs and trees, renowned for its rhododendrons, magnolias and camellias. Excellent views. Tea room, shop and plant sales. Open :- Apr - Sept, Sun - Thurs, 10am - 5.30pm, Feb, Mar & Oct, 10am - 5pm.
*Morab Gardens public park in Penzance, which houses exotic plants such as tree ferns and palms.
Events in Penzance
*The Golowan Festival, held in June. During this period both Causeway Head and Market Jew Street are decorated with flowers and banners. The festival reaching a climax on Mazey Day. On this day there are market stalls lining both of these streets, which are closed to traffic. There are colourful parades, street entertainment and musical events