Truro
Truro is twinned with:
Boppard, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
Morlaix, Brittany, France, after which Morlaix Avenue in Truro is named.
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Transport
Truro is 6 miles (9 km) from the A30 trunk road, to which it is connected by the A39 leading from Falmouth and Penryn. Wrapping the city's south side is the A390, stretching from Redruth in the west to Liskeard in the east where it connects to the A38, which then goes on to Plymouth and further to Exeter and the M5 motorway. Truro is the most southerly city in the United Kingdom, situated just under 232 miles (373 km) west south-west of Charing Cross, London.
Truro railway station is a short walk from the city centre and is part of the Cornish Main Line, giving the city a direct connection to London Paddington. North-east of the station is a 28 metre (92 ft) high stone viaduct offering expansive views over the city, cathedral, and Truro River in the distance. The viaduct—the longest on the line—replaced Isambard Kingdom Brunel's wooden Carvedras Viaduct in 1904. Connecting to the main line at Truro station is the Maritime Line, a branch line which travels south and terminates at Falmouth.
Truro's first railway station was at Highertown, which was opened in 1852 by the West Cornwall Railway and from where trains ran to Reduth and Penzance. The line was extended to the Truro River at Newham in 1855. When the Cornwall Railway connected the line to Plymouth, their trains ran to a new station above the city centre. The West Cornwall Railway then diverted most of its passenger trains to the new station, leaving Newham mainly as a goods station until it closed in 1971. The route from Highertown to Newham is now a cycle path which takes a leisurely loop through the countryside on the south side of the city. Truro is also known as the namesake of the famous steam locomotive, the City of Truro.
The city and surrounding area is served by extensive bus services offering routes in and out of the city in all directions, starting and terminating at the main bus depot near Lemon Quay. The headquarters of the mid-Cornwall bus operator Truronian are also located there, as are the starting points for many of the First Group services covering a wider area. Coach services including Truronian and National Express also operate from Truro, providing transport to and from larger cities up-country.
Newquay Airport is Cornwall's main airport and is located 12 miles (19 km) north of Truro. One of the fastest-growing regional airports in the UK, the services and destinations are constantly expanding. The airport offers regular flights to and from London Gatwick, London Stansted and other cities around the country, the Isles of Scilly and Dusseldorf in Germany, winter services to Geneva in Switzerland and Chambéry in France and summer services to Alicante and Girona in Spain, Zurich in Switzerland and Saint-Brieuc in France.
Also available is a boat link to Falmouth along the Rivers Truro and Fal, four times daily, tide permitting. The small fleet run by Enterprise Boats and part of the Fal River Links also stops at Malpas, Trelissick, Tolverne and St Mawes.
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Education
Educational institutions in Truro include:
- Polwhele House Preparatory School — now educates the choristers from Truro Cathedral School.
- Truro School — a public school founded in 1880.
- Truro High School for Girls — a female-only public school, for ages 3–18.
- Penair School — a state school, co-educational science college, for children aged 11–16.
- Richard Lander School — a state school, co-educational technology college, for children aged 11–16.
- St. Michael's Catholic Small School — a small, privately run co-educational school for children aged 3–16.
- Truro College — A further and higher education college. Part of the Combined Universities in Cornwall.
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Development
Truro has many proposed development schemes and plans, the majority of which to counter the main problems it faces, notably traffic congestion and lack of housing.
Major proposals include the construction of a distributor road to carry traffic away from the very busy Threemilestone-Treliske-Highertown corridor, reconnecting at either Green Lane or Morlaix Avenue. This road will also serve the new housing planned for that area.[10] Construction of a Park and Ride scheme began in late 2007 is expected to begin operation in mid-2008.[11]
Major changes are also proposed for the city centre, such as pedestrianisation of the main shopping streets, beautification of a list of uncharacteristic storefronts built in the 1960s,[10] and improvements to Victoria Square.[12] Also, new retail developments on the current Carrick District Council site and Garras Wharf waterfront site will provide more space for shops, open spaces and public amenities and also turn rather ugly areas of the city into attractive new destinations.[10] Along with the redevelopment of the waterfront, a tidal barrier is planned to dam water into the Truro River which is currently blighted by unsightly mud banks which appear at low tide.[10]
Controversial developments include the construction of a new stadium for Truro City F.C. [13] and the Cornish Pirates, and the relocation of the city's golf course to make way for more housing. A smaller project is the addition of two large sculptures in the Piazza.[14].
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Notable residents
- See also: Category:People from Truro
- 16th century
- Giles Farnaby — a madrigalist of the Elizabethan age.
- 18th century
- Edward Boscawen — an admiral of the Royal Navy. A cobbled street at the centre of Truro and a park are named in his honour.
- 19th century
- Frederic Conquer — a philanthropist. Originally born in Truro before moving to London and spending his fortune helping and aiding the poor.
- Joseph Antonio Emidy — a former slave turned violinist.
- James Henry Fynn sometimes James Henry Finn — a recipient of the Victoria Cross.
- Samuel Foote — an actor and playwright.
- Richard Lemon Lander — an explorer of West Africa. A local secondary school is named in his honour and a monument to his memory stands at the top of Lemon Street.
- 20th century
- Matthew Etherington — a professional football player playing for West Ham United.
- Henry Louis Gibson — an expert in medical uses of infrared and pioneer of its use in detecting breast cancer.
- Nick Nieland — a Commonwealth Games javelin gold medallist.
- Barbara Joyce West — second to last survivor of the RMS Titanic.
- Tom Voyce — an English rugby union footballer who plays at wing or fullback for the London Wasps and England.
- Roger Meddows-Taylor — drummer from the rock band Queen.
- Robert Goddard — novelist.
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See also
- Diocese of Truro
- Edward Boscawen
- List of topics related to Cornwall
- People from Truro
- Richard Lemon Lander
- River Truro
- Truro Cathedral
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References
- ^ a b Census 2001 Key Statistics for urban areas in England and Wales (pdf). National Office of Statistics. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
- ^ Oliver Padel A popular dictionary of Cornish place-names, Penzance, A. Hodge, 1988 ISBN 090672015X
- ^ History of Truro (htm). Truro Town Site. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
- ^ Building Stastics - Truro Cathedral, Truro (htm). Emporis. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
- ^ Daytripper - Sheer Indulgence in Truro (htm). Truro City Council. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
- ^ Call to boycott St George event (htm). BBC News (2007-02-26). Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
- ^ Renewed hope for sports stadium (htm). BBC News (2007-12-21). Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
- ^ Homes in smaller cities cost more (htm). BBC News (2006-05-20). Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
- ^ Councillors & Wards (htm). Truro City Council. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
- ^ a b c d Truro and Threemilestone Action Plan (htm). Carrick District Council. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
- ^ Park-and-ride construction starts (htm). BBC News (2007-11-22). Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
- ^ Changes to city centre discussed (htm). BBC News (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
- ^ Truro City Football Club (Soccer) see Sports, above
- ^ The Lemon Quay Sculptures (htm). Truro City Council. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
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External links
- Official websites
- History
- Guides
- Webcams
- Official map
- Development
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