Grampound
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Coordinates: 50°18′N 4°54′W / 50.3°N 4.9°W
Grampound is a village in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated on the A390 road six miles (10 km) west of St Austell.[1]
Grampound with Creed is the civil parish of which the village of Grampound and the village of Creed are the main settlements. Formerly, part of Grampound was in the parish of Creed and part was in the parish of Probus.
The name Grampound comes from Norman French: grand (great), pont (bridge), referring to the bridge over the River Fal. The population was recorded as 638 residents in the 2001 census.
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[edit] History and geography
Grampound with Creed lies in the beautiful valley of the River Fal. It was settled in prehistoric times, and in the early medieval period the parish of Creed and the manor of Tybesta were established here. Grampound grew after the Norman conquest as the main crossing place on the Fal, a focus for travellers and traders moving between west Cornwall and England. Thus Grampound became one of the most important towns in medieval Cornwall with a rich and vibrant history. The bridge from which the town took its name is first recorded in 1296. The first charter was granted by the Earl of Cornwall in 1332 and the town remained important until the 15th century. Thereafter it declined and John Norden refers to the inhabitants as "few and poore" in his account published in 1584.[2]
Grampound's linear layout is of Norman origin, with long thin burgage plots extending away from the main street, Fore Street (A390). Most of the village core is a Conservation Area, and there are many listed buildings on Fore Street, for example the local school and the Post Office. There is a range of buildings of different ages, including houses built in the 1980s, but these were in executive style, and many local people, particularly young families, are unable to afford them.
It was formerly considered a town, having been granted a charter some time before the year 1334. The Grampound constituency elected two members to the Unreformed House of Commons from the reign of Edward VI until it was disenfranchised in 1821, after a corruption scandal that led to the conviction and imprisonment of several men for bribery. MPs who represented the town include William Noye, John Hampden, Grey Cooper and Charles Wolfran Cornwall. The seal of the borough of Grampound was A bridge of two arches over a river, the dexter end in perspective showing the passage over at the sinister and a tree issuing from the base against the bridge on the centre an escutcheon of the arms of the family of Cornwall viz. Arg. a lion rampant Gu. within a bordure Sa.[3]
About 1.5 miles north west of the village is Grampound Road, this does not form part of Grampound with Creed parish, but is instead part of Ladock parish. The railway station of that name was situated here; it was opened on 4 May 1859 and closed in 1964. A small village known as Grampound Road grew up around the railway station and continues to expand despite the station closing (along with other stations on the line) on 5 October 1964.
[edit] New housing proposal
In 2005, plans were submitted for a two-phase redevelopment of the Manor Tannery, which included a mixture of housing and possibilities for commercial and retail units in the preserved tannery buildings. A local building company, Rosemullion Homes, has an option to develop the site and adjacent land. Another company, LHC Urban Design, was commissioned to develop a master plan for the site. Its intention is to include; some social housing to rent or buy, and some low market-value housing suitable for first-time buyers.
The plan is to have a mix of housing, which would be sympathetically designed to blend in with the existing village character. However, some local people have expressed concern about the impact on the landscape. The area is designated as being of 'very high landscape value', which is one category away from Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Another concern is the biodiversity. Various ecological surveys have been taken to ensure the conservation of open space and endangered species such as bats and dormice. Movement patterns and access points is also a concern. The A390 is busy and hazardous, and funding for a bypass is unlikely. At present vehicular access to the site is at three points, all of which are narrow lanes.
[edit] Transport
The main A390 road now runs through the town, bringing with it the problems of traffic, but Grampound remains a beautiful location with a rich community life and spirit.
The main A390 road that runs through the village is an issue for residents. It is one of Cornwall's few major roads, and in summer when the A30 is congested, the A390 is an alternative route. Pavements in some parts of the village are narrow or non-existent. The village is on a steep hill and vehicles travelling at speed have been known to come off the road and hit houses on Fore Street. A bypass was considered in 1996, when a route north of the village was favoured, but the plans were rejected, partly due to local protests and partly because Grampound is not large enough to warrant a bypass.
A half hourly bus service runs to Truro, the county town, 13 km to the west, and St Austell, 10 km to the east. Many people commute to work in these two towns.
[edit] Additional information
The primary school has recently been extended, and the new village hall was opened in 2004 with National Lottery funding. A small museum, the Grampound with Creed Heritage Centre, is located in the village.
- Village of the Year
Villagers in Grampound celebrated after being named Calor Cornwall Village of the Year for 2007. A total of seven villages entered the competition which is organised by Cornwall Rural Community Council and sponsored by gas supplier Calor. Grampound took the title beating off competition from Kingsand/Cawsand, Gorran Haven, Mawnan Smith, Crafthole, Mullion and St Day. The competition is judged on all aspects of a thriving community village. The contest was close but judges were extremely impressed with Grampound and commended the community atmosphere of the area. As Cornwall was village of the year Grampound went forward to represent the county in the Village of the Year for England competition, unfortunately the village did not win but everyone was very proud to have reached the finals and to be a runner-up.
- Produce markets
Transition Grampound have started to hold local produce markets in the Village Hall. They are on the last Saturday in each month, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The market features produce from local farms. It is also open to any business, community group or individual within the parish who wishes to sell produce, crafts or other items or just wants to advertise their business.
- Carnival
In 2008 Grampound resident Colin Terry, a Chief Superintendent in the local police service on secondment to the Home Office, appeared in a fancy dress parade at the Grampound Carnival dressed in a comical cartoon costume of Osama bin Laden. The police service promptly issued a statement deploring his actions as "misguided" and "inappropriate", and reported him to the Independent Police Complaints Commission. This prompted a storm of protest including e.g. The Times, Daily Mail, Metro, and the local paper. Many people responded the stories by suggesting that this was an example of inappropriate political correctness, an infringement of free speech, and possibly a breach of Terry's human rights.
- Borough seal
The seal of the borough shows a bridge of two arches over a river combined with a tree and an escutcheon bearing the arms of the family of Cornwall (Arg. a lion rampant Gu. within a bordure Sa.)[4]
[edit] See also
- Grampound (UK Parliament constituency) (1553–1821)
[edit] References
- ^ Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 204 Truro & Falmouth ISBN 9780319231494
- ^ Balchin, W. G. V. (1954) Cornwall. London: Hodder & Stoughton; p. 87
- ^ Pascoe, W. H. (1979). A Cornish Armory. Padstow, Cornwall: Lodenek Press. p. 133. ISBN 0902899767.
- ^ Pascoe, W. H. (1979) A Cornish Armory. Padstow: Lodenek Press; p. 133
[edit] External links
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Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Grampound. |
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