| Saltash | |
| Cornish: Essa | |
Tamar Bridge and Royal Albert Bridge |
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Saltash
Saltash shown within Cornwall |
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| Population | 14,964 (2001) |
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| OS grid reference | SX4257 |
| Parish | Saltash |
| Unitary authority | Cornwall |
| Ceremonial county | Cornwall |
| Region | South West |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | SALTASH |
| Postcode district | PL12 |
| Dialling code | 01752 |
| Police | Devon and Cornwall |
| Fire | Cornwall |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament | South East Cornwall |
| List of places: UK • England • Cornwall | |
Saltash (Cornish: Essa) is a town and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It has a population of 14,964.[1] It lies in the south east of Cornwall, facing Plymouth over the River Tamar. It was in the Caradon district until March 2009 and is known as "the gateway to Cornwall". Saltash means ash tree by the salt mill. Saltash is the largest town within the East Cornwall area and is one of the largest in Cornwall.
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Saltash is the location of Isambard Kingdom Brunel's Royal Albert Bridge, opened by HRH Prince Albert on May 2, 1859. It takes the railway line across the River Tamar. Alongside it is the Tamar Bridge, a toll bridge carrying the A38 trunk road, which in 2001 became the first suspension bridge to be widened whilst remaining open to traffic.
Saltash railway station is close to the town centre. It was hoped that the empty buildings could be restored as a visitor centre for the bridge, but they have instead been purchased by a property developer. The station is served by a regular train service, with some direct High Speed services to and from London Paddington.
The cottage of Mary Newman, Sir Francis Drake's first wife, can be found in Saltash on Culver Road downhill from Saltash railway station.
Nearby are the castles at Trematon and Ince, as well as the nature reserve at Churchtown Farm, where there are some wonderful walks, with stunning views of the river. Burrell House near Saltash was built in 1621 and has a wing dated 1636. The entrance side was altered in the 18th century.[2]
The town expanded in the 1990s with the addition of the large new estate Latchbrook, and is currently growing further with the recent building of another housing area, Pilmere. In the summer of 2009 the Saltash postcode area was judged as the most desirable place to live in Great Britain in a survey that included statistics from school results and crime figures.[3]
There is no doubt that the history of Saltash is linked to the passage, or ferrying place across the Tamar. The original ferry became established by fishermen for those passing to and from the monastery at St Germans and to Trematon Castle.
After the Norman Conquest, Robert, Count of Mortain, who held the castle and manor at Trematon, took the market from the canons at St. Germans and established it at Saltash. The Count granted Trematon and other manors to the de Valletorts, who had then to provide for the ferry boat. In the twelfth century a borough was founded (1190), and Saltash became the only franchised seaport between Dartmouth and Fowey. This fact has given rise to the Saltash saying, Saltash was a borough town, when Plymouth was a fuzzy down ('fuzzy' = 'fursy' i.e. covered in gorse), as the town of Plymouth and its seaport did not exist in 1190. In medieval times the ferry was part of the manor of Trematon, held by the Valletorts.[4]
The Charter of Incorporation refers to the place as 'Essa' (Latin for 'Ash'). However, the spelling of the town has changed over the years. For example, in Edward the Confessor's time it was called and spelt 'Aysche'. In the 1584 Charter it is stated that Essa is now commonly called Saltash. A family called Essa lived in the twelfth century at their property near Ashtor Rock, where the Manor Courts were once held. The 'Salt' part of the name was added to distinguish it from other places called Ash.
Roger de Valletort (Reginald de Valle Torta) sold out in 1270 to Richard, Earl of Cornwall and King of the Romans while Edward, the Black Prince, became the first Duke of Cornwall, and a visitor to Trematon Castle.
in 1549 there was a Cornish insurrection against the introduction of the Protestant liturgy, and the rebels under Humphrey Arundell, for which he was beheaded at Tyburn, gained possession of Trematon Castle by treachery, capturing Sir Richard Grenville, the elder, in the process. They then carried out acts of barbarity on their surprised visitors.
The arms of Saltash are Az. the base water proper in pale an escutcheon Or thereon a lion rampant Gu. within a bordure Sa. bezantee ensigned with a prince's coronet of the third on either side of the escutcheon an ostrich feather Arg. labelled Or.[5] There are seals of Saltash: A three-masted ship with sails furled at anchor; and An escutcheon charges with a lion rampant within a bordure bezantee resting upon water surmounted by a coronet composed on crosses patee and fleurs-de-lis and either side an ostrich feather; with the legends "Sigillum aquate Saltash" and "Sigillum Saltashe" respectively.[6]
The parish church of Saltash was until 1881 at St Stephen by Saltash, one mile from the town. Though of earlier foundation the structure of the building is largely 15th century: there are two aisles and the tower is west of the north aisle.
Bishop Cornish C of E VA Primary School is a registered Church of England primary school with seven year groups taking in children aged 4-11. The majority of intake choose to progress to the nearby saltash.net secondary school, although some still choose to move onto different institutes. The school has roughly 200 students attending. The head-teacher is Mrs. Jenny Thomas. It is named after John Rundle Cornish, Bishop of St Germans from 1905 to 1918.[7]
The community school in Saltash was designated as a Science and Mathematics & Computing Specialist College in September 2004, and renamed saltash.net community school. It recently topped the list for schools in South East Cornwall.
Cornwall College has a campus in Saltash.
Saltash hosts a number of annual festivals: Saltash Mayfair takes place in and around Fore Street during early May, and Saltash Town Regatta brings music and entertainment to the Waterside area in the summer. On the water there are intense Gig races with the best teams taking part, along with Flashboat rowing and dinghy racing, and the now infamous 'England and back' race between local organisations. For 2008 a new five towns challenge has been added to the list of events, pitting Saltash against Liskeard, Callington, Looe and Torpoint. Ashore you will find many stalls, music and marquees. See the Regatta and Mayfair websites listed below for more information.
Saltash is the home of Caradon Pilot Gig Rowing Club.
Livewire Youth Project, a music themed youth club, is located on the banks of the River Tamar. The club boasts a recording studio, band practice rooms, and a 300 person capacity music venue. Well known bands such as The Damned and The Hoosiers have played at the project. Social, romantic and sexual health advice and support is offered by Livewire as well.[11]
Saltash Leisure centre is not far from the town centre, providing a leisure pool, gym and fitness facilities. Not far to the north is the China Fleet Country Club which has an 18 hole championship standard golf couse, a swimming pool with spa and other fitness facilities. The Farm House restaurant is located within China Fleet and has been awarded an AA Rosette award for the past 3 years in a row.
The Saltash Sailing Club caters for all ages with over 100 cadets out on the water on a Friday night. There are dinghy and yacht races and activities organised for those less competitive. Members have won many local and international trophies and compete at national and international levels.
A BMX and skatepark are available in the Saltmill Park along with pieces of public art. Saltmill is also home to a newly developed all-weather pitch available to local organisations.
Saltash Tennis Centre, which is located behind the Leisure centre. The tennis centre consists of two grass courts and two hard courts, along with a clubhouse with male and female changing. The club currently has 3 mens team in the Plymouth and District league (P&D league) and a womans team in the associative ladies P&D league. The club also has two junior teams in the U19 P&D leagues.
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There have been both real and fictitious Royal Navy ships named HMS Saltash. "Saltash" is also a popular traditional Cornish tune.
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