Penzance

Penzance originated as a medieval fishing village on Mounts Bay. It held a weekly market from the 14^th century but was not a borough until 1614. It was a ‘coinage town’ (for the taxation of tin produced in the region) from 1663. By the early 19^th century Penzance had become a prosperous commercial focus for West Cornwall and developed additional functions as a port and resort after the through railway route across the Tamar was opened in 1859. Penzance lies in Penwith District in the extreme west of Cornwall, 10 miles from Land’s End, the most south-westerly town not only of Cornwall, but of Britain as a whole. It sits on the north-west shore of the spectacular sweep of Mount’s Bay. With the most temperate climate in Britain, the town is particularly noted for its sub-tropical trees and plants, as well as fine 18^th and 19^th century buildings, high quality streetscapes and spectacular views.

Penzance is a port, rail and coach route terminus, and also the major interchange for local rail, road and bus networks. Sea links with the Isles of Scilly operate from Penzance harbour and air routes from the heliport and nearby Land’s End airport. The town is on the A30, the major spinal route through Cornwall linking to the M5 at Exeter. This ceases to be a national trunk road on the eastern edge of Penzance. The harbour is the most westerly major port in the English Channel, the first reached from the Atlantic and the principal commercial port west of Falmouth.

These connections give Penzance a strategic importance that outweighs its remote location – approximately 300 miles from London – and, in the wider regional context, small size. It is one of the larger towns in Cornwall, with a population in the wider urban area (including Newlyn) of about 21,000.
 

Downloads:
The downloads offered below represent the different elements of the CSUS Penzance Report including the core text, seven illustrative figures and nine character area summaries.