View source for Torpoint

{{Short description|Town in Cornwall, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox UK place
|country =                 England
|map_type=                 Cornwall
|coordinates = {{coord|50.376|-4.205|display=inline,title}}
|label_position=           left
|official_name=            Torpoint
|cornish_name=             Penntorr
| population = 7,444
| population_ref = (Parish, 2021)<ref name=2021census>{{cite web |title=2021 Census Parish Profiles |url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/sources/census_2021_pp |website=NOMIS |publisher=Office for National Statistics |access-date=31 March 2025}} (To get individual parish data, use the query function on table PP002.)</ref><br>{{nowrap|7,160 (Built up area, 2021)<ref name=bua>{{cite web |title=Towns and cities, characteristics of built-up areas, England and Wales: Census 2021 |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/housing/articles/townsandcitiescharacteristicsofbuiltupareasenglandandwales/census2021 |website=Census 2021 |publisher=Office for National Statistics |access-date=8 August 2023}}</ref>}}
|civil_parish=             Torpoint
|unitary_england=          [[Cornwall Council|Cornwall]]
|lieutenancy_england =     [[Cornwall]]
|region=                   South West England
|constituency_westminster= [[South East Cornwall (UK Parliament constituency)|South East Cornwall]]
|post_town=                TORPOINT
|postcode_district =       PL11
|postcode_area=            PL
|dial_code=                01752
|os_grid_reference=        SX438552
|website=                  http://www.torpointtowncouncil.gov.uk
|static_image_name = Torpoint War Memorial - geograph.org.uk - 72337.jpg
|static_image_caption= 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''' ({{langx|kw|Penntorr}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.magakernow.org.uk/pdf/placename_masterlist.pdf|title=List of Place-names agreed by the MAGA Signage Panel|access-date=11 January 2015|publisher=Cornish Language Partnership|date=May 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729194902/http://www.magakernow.org.uk/pdf/placename_masterlist.pdf|archive-date=29 July 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>) is a town and [[civil parish]] on the [[Rame Peninsula]] in southeast [[Cornwall]], England, United Kingdom. It is situated opposite the city of [[Plymouth]] across the [[Hamoaze]] which is the tidal estuary of the [[River Tamar]].<ref>Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 201 ''Plymouth & Launceston'' {{ISBN|978-0-319-23146-3}}</ref> At the [[2021–2022 United Kingdom censuses|2021 census]] the parish had a population of 7,444 and the built up area had a population of 7,160.

Torpoint is linked to Plymouth (and [[Devonport, Devon|Devonport]]) by the [[Torpoint Ferry]]. The three vessels that operate the service are [[Cable ferry|chain ferries]] &ndash; 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.

==Origin of name==
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".<ref>{{cite book|last=Mills|first=A. D.|title=The Popular Dictionary of English Place-names|publisher=Parragon Book Service Ltd and Magpie Books|year=1996|pages=332|isbn=0-7525-1851-8}}</ref>

==History==
Torpoint is an eighteenth-century planned town. The grid-based design for the town was commissioned by [[Reginald Pole Carew]] in the [[Antony, Cornwall|Parish 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, the ''Viper'', and a large party of armed liquor [[smugglers]], in which one person was killed and five people seriously wounded.<ref>Codd, Daniel. ''Paranormal Devon'' (2013). Amberley Publishing. p.9-10. {{ISBN|9781848681668}}.</ref>

Due to the presence of [[HMNB Devonport|Devonport Dockyard]], the town grew as Dockyard workers settled there. The establishment of the [[Royal Navy]]'s main training facility, [[HMS Raleigh (shore establishment)|HMS ''Raleigh'']] also increased the population of Torpoint.<ref name=History>{{cite web|title=History of Torpoint|url=http://www.torpointtowncouncil.gov.uk/history.htm|publisher=Torpoint Town Council|access-date=16 December 2011}}+{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}</ref>

=== Parish churches ===
Torpoint has four parish churches known at "Maryfield Church", "Torpoint Cornerstone Church" , "Catholic Church of Saint Joan of Arc" and "St James Church"

===Notable people from Torpoint===
''See [[:Category:People from Torpoint]]''
*[[John Langdon Down]] was born in Torpoint in 1828. He later described the medical condition which is now referred to as [[Down syndrome]]. He was called back on a number of occasions to help his father in his local business until his father's death in 1853.
* [[Jack Stephens (footballer)|Jack Stephens]] a footballer for [[Southampton F.C.]]

==Education==
Educational institutions in Torpoint include:<ref>{{cite web|title=Education|url=http://www.torpointtowncouncil.gov.uk/education.htm|publisher=Torpoint Town Council|access-date=16 December 2011}}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}</ref>

*Torpoint Infant School &mdash; a medium-large [[infant school]].
*Carbeile Junior School &mdash; a large [[primary school]].
*[[Torpoint Community College]], a small secondary school.

==Governance==
[[File:York Rd - geograph.org.uk - 5186521.jpg|thumb|Council Hall, corner of York Road and Buller Road (built 1904 as United Methodist Church)]]
There are two tiers of local government covering Torpoint, at [[Parish council (England)|parish]] (town) and [[Unitary authorities of England|unitary authority]] level: Torpoint Town Council and [[Cornwall Council]]. The town council meets at the Council Hall at the corner of York Road and Buller Road and has its offices in an adjoining pair of converted houses at 1-3 Buller Road.<ref>{{cite web |title=Council meetings |url=https://www.torpointtowncouncil.gov.uk/meetings.php |website=Torpoint Town Council |access-date=14 September 2025}}</ref>

===Administrative history===
Torpoint historically formed part of the [[ancient parish]] of [[Antony, Cornwall|Antony]] in the [[East Wivelshire]] Hundred of Cornwall.<ref name=AntonyVoB>{{cite web |title=Antony Parish |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10090647#tab02 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=14 September 2025}}</ref>

Torpoint was made a separate [[ecclesiastical parish]] from Antony in 1873, although it remained part of Antony for civil purposes until 1904.<ref name=Kelly>{{cite book |title=Kelly's Directory of Cornwall |date=1914 |page=343 |url=https://leicester.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16445coll4/id/296395/rec/1 |access-date=14 September 2025}}</ref> When elected parish and district councils were created under the [[Local Government Act 1894]], Antony was given a parish council and included in the [[St Germans Rural District]].<ref name=AntonyVoB/> The first chairman of Antony Parish Council was Joseph Shepheard of Torpoint.<ref>{{cite news |title=Antony |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000329%2F18950223&page=6 |access-date=14 September 2025 |work=Western Morning News |date=23 February 1895 |location=Plymouth |page=6 |quote=Mr Joseph Shepheard JP... the first chairman of the Antony Parish Council...}}</ref>

In 1904 Torpoint was removed from the civil parish of Antony and the St Germans Rural District to become its own [[Urban district (England and Wales)|urban district]].<ref name=Kelly/> In 1933 Torpoint Urban District Council bought the former United Methodist Church (built 1904) at the corner of York Road and Buller Road and converted it to serve as its meeting place and a public hall, renaming it the Council Hall.<ref>{{cite news |title=Methodist Church as offices: Torpoint Council negotiations |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000329%2F19330204&page=10 |access-date=14 September 2025 |work=Western Morning News |date=4 February 1933 |location=Plymouth |page=10}}</ref><ref name=TChistory>{{cite web |title=History of Torpoint |url=https://www.torpointtowncouncil.gov.uk/mobile/menu_page.php?id=2 |website=Torpoint Town Council |access-date=14 September 2025}}</ref> The building was formally re-opened in its new role in November 1934.<ref>{{cite news |title=Silver key ceremony at new Council Hall |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000329%2F19341102&page=7 |access-date=14 September 2025 |work=Western Morning News |date=2 November 2025 |location=Plymouth |page=7}}</ref> The council built itself offices adjoining the Council Hall in 1937.<ref name=TChistory/>

Torpoint Urban District was abolished in 1974 under the [[Local Government Act 1972]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Torpoint Urban District |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10023798 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=14 September 2025}}</ref> The area became part of the new [[Caradon]] district.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972|year=1972|number=2039|accessdate=3 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973|year=1973|number=551|accessdate=3 March 2023}}</ref> A [[successor parish]] called Torpoint was created at the same time, covering the area of the abolished urban district.<ref name=successor>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Local Government (Successor Parishes) Order 1973|year=1973|number=1110|access-date=31 August 2025}}</ref> As part of the 1974 reforms, parish councils were given the right to declare their parishes to be a town, allowing them to take the title of town council and giving the title of [[Mayors in England|mayor]] to the council's chairperson.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1972|year=1972|chapter=70|section=245|access-date=13 April 2024}}</ref> The new parish council for Torpoint exercised this right, taking the name Torpoint Town Council. Ron Widdecombe was the first mayor.<ref name=TChistory/>

Caradon district was abolished in 2009. Cornwall County Council then took on district-level functions, making it a unitary authority, and was renamed Cornwall Council.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Cornwall (Structural Change) Order 2008|year=2008|number=491|access-date=19 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Local Government (Structural Changes) (Miscellaneous Amendments and Other Provision) Order 2009|year=2009|number=837|article=3}}</ref>

==Sport and leisure==
Torpoint has a [[non-league football]] club, [[Torpoint Athletic F.C.]], which plays at The Mill.

===Cornish wrestling===
[[Cornish wrestling]] tournaments, for prizes, were held in Torpoint in the 1700s.<ref name="M Tripp Thesis">Tripp, Michael:  ''PERSISTENCE OF DIFFERENCE: A HISTORY OF CORNISH WRESTLING'', University of Exeter as a thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 2009, Vol I p2-217.</ref>

==Twinning==
Torpoint is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with [[Benodet]] (Benoded) in [[Brittany]], France.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.torpointtwinning.org.uk/about_us | publisher= Torpoint & District Twinning Association | title= About Us | access-date= 5 December 2011 | url-status= dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120426022147/http://www.torpointtwinning.org.uk/about_us | archive-date= 26 April 2012 | df= dmy-all }}</ref>

== Town Events and Holidays ==
Freedom of Torpoint march<ref>{{Citation |title=Freedom of Torpoint Parade 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPC4QoWjYMA |access-date=2024-02-22 |language=en}}</ref>

St Piran's day<ref>{{Cite web |title=Torpoint Town Council - Happy St Piran's Day everyone. Proud to fly the flag at Sparrow Park. Enjoy your socially distanced pasties and scones....... don't forget jam first..... on the scones not the pasties!😂😋 ❤️ {{!}} Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/torpointtowncouncil.gov.uk/photos/a.1274031816085801/1973573739464935/ |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en}}</ref>

Armed Forces Day<ref>{{Cite web |title=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=591632313147599&set=pb.100069025065951.-2207520000&type=3 |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=www.facebook.com}}</ref>

Commonwealth Day<ref>{{Cite web |title=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=537631381881026&set=pb.100069025065951.-2207520000 |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=www.facebook.com}}</ref>

Day of Accession Council and Principal Proclamation<ref>{{Cite web |title=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=407991011511731&set=pb.100069025065951.-2207520000&type=3 |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=www.facebook.com}}</ref>

Merchant Navy Day<ref>{{Cite web |title=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/torpointtowncouncil.gov.uk/posts/pfbid01Q2V4j7V35FJ1bsi8SCTcaBoK1gXD9eVqfuWYxiUg6UjkWAGkAX5kusV3LxNrvGvl |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=www.facebook.com}}</ref>

St George's Day<ref>{{Cite web |title=Torpoint Town Council - Happy St George's Day! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 {{!}} Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/torpointtowncouncil.gov.uk/photos/a.1274031816085801/2013452282143747/ |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en}}</ref>

Christmas Lights Switch On<ref>{{Cite web |title=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/torpointtowncouncil.gov.uk/posts/pfbid037FtKykQhRHxpARsvknojhrfUjqWn4q3KgoF42uU3mRDj8L4JyAcBwDEd9zB2GBNfl |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=www.facebook.com}}</ref>

Civic Service<ref>{{Cite web |title=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/torpointtowncouncil.gov.uk/posts/pfbid05PzKaRotjbdDBQZ88wUCjnN9AfVtwK3JadZfiUPKBLYNxHb1ewcmcBVKbdTPBe14l |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=www.facebook.com}}</ref>

==References==
{{Portal|Cornwall}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Torpoint}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090123053024/http://torpoint.org/  Torpoint website]
* [http://crocat.cornwall.gov.uk/dserve/dserve.exe?dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqCmd=Overview.tcl&dsqSearch=((text)='torpoint') Cornwall Record Office Online Catalogue for Torpoint]

{{Cornwall|state=collapsed}}
{{South East Cornwall CP navigation box}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Cornwall]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Cornwall]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Cornwall]]