Falmouth

Falmouth, a parliamentary and municipal borough and seaport in Cornwall, on a branch of the estuary of the river Fal, 79 miles S.W. of Exeter and 14 miles N.N.E. of the Lizard Point. It has an excellent harbour, 5 miles long by a mile broad; with numerous creeks. Hence it used by vessels of the royal navy and by several lines of steamers, being the most westerly port in the Channel. Pendennis Castle commands the entrance, and is faced by St. Mawes Castle on the opposite bank. The coasting trade is considerable, and the pilchard fishery employs many of the population. There is little of antiquarian interest in the town, of which nothing is known before the middle of the 17th century. With Penryn it returns one member to Parliament.