Penryn

Penryn is perhaps one of the oldest towns in the Cornwall districts. It was founded in 1216, receiving a royal charter from King James’s I in 1621. Before Falmouth’s rise to prominence in Tudor times, Penryn was the controlling port at the mouth of Carrick Roads. At one time, granite quarried close by was shipped from here all over the world, in fact, some of the most prominent dwellings and world renowned monuments were built from the granite stone quarried in Penryn; to name a few- London Bridge and Singapore harbour.

Centuries ago, the small port town served as home and educational quarters for many priests in training. The Glasney College or Priory was founded in the mid 12th century; but later demolished in the 15th century. Today, visitors are permitted to view the relics of what is left of the famous college. Since Penryn’s beginnings were built on education it seemed only right when Penryn was asked to be the new home of the University of Exeter’s Institute of Cornish Studies and world-renowned Camborne School of Mines. One of the specialists in mining education, Robert Hunt, is remembered here in the school’s impressive Geological Museum, which displays minerals and rocks from all over the world.

Penryn was the home of Thomas Pellow (born circa 1704) who spent two decades as a white slave in Morocco. Pirates captured him in 1715 when he was just 11-years-old. He stayed 23 years as a captive before escaping back to England. Pellow’s story is told in his autobiography, The History of the Long Captivity and Adventures of Thomas Pellow (1740) and in White Gold: The Extraordinary Story of Thomas Pellow and North Africa’s One Million European Slaves (2007) by Giles Milton. A fascinating insight into local history can be found at Penryn’s museum, located on the ground floor of the town hall.

Another reminder of the town’s maritime past is the illusive tale of a family wiped out through greed, which forms the basis of the play, The Penryn Tragedy. After years at sea, a young sailor from Penryn returned to his parents’ home, Bohelland Barn, and, as a joke, he disguised himself as a rich man but not before telling his sister of his plan. His parents, overcome with temptation on meeting this rich stranger, murdered the young man for his money. Next morning, the sister came in search of her brother and the full horror of their crime caused her parents to commit suicide. The particulars connected with this horrid deed, were preserved in a small pamphlet, which was published in 1618, the same year the event is said to have taken place. This curious pamphlet, however, no longer appears to be in existence.