Cornwall Attractions

Truro is Cornwall's only city in the county, and it is
the most southern city in Great Britain. Truro initially
grew as an important centre of trade from its port
and then as a stannary town for the mining industry.

The city is well known for its cathedral (completed in
1910), cobbled streets, open spaces and Georgian
architecture.

The origin of Truro's name is debated. It is said to be derived from the Cornish tri-veru meaning "three rivers". The earliest records and archaeological findings of a permanent settlement in the Truro area originate from Norman times. A castle was built in the 12th century by Richard de Luci, Chief Justice of England in the reign of Henry II, who was granted land in Cornwall for his services to the court, including the area surrounding the confluence of the two rivers.

He planted the town in the shadow of the castle and awarded it borough status to further economic activity (the castle has long since gone). By the start of the 14th century Truro was an important port, thanks firstly to its inland location away from invaders and its prosperity from the fishing industry, but also to its new role as one of Cornwall's stannary towns for the official assaying and stamping of locally-produced tin and copper in Cornish mines.

However, the Black Death soon arrived and with it,
a trade recession, resulting in a mass exodus of the
population and, as such the town was left in a very
neglected state

Click here to view a map of Truro
and all the local visitor attractions.