Helston

infobox UK place
country= England
map_type=Cornwall
region= South West England
official_name= Helston
latitude= 50.1
longitude= -5.266667
population= 9.780 (Census 2001 [ [http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=792795&c=Helston&d=16&e=15&g=430364&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779 Neighbourhood Statistics ] ]
civil_parish= Helston
shire_district= Kerrier
shire_county= Cornwall
constituency_westminster= St Ives
post_town= HELSTON
postcode_area= TR
postcode_district= TR13
dial_code= 01326
os_grid_reference= SW664273
cornish_name= Hellys/Henlys

Helston ( _kw. Hellys or Henlys) is a small town and civil parish in the Kerrier district of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, at the northern end of the Lizard Peninsula. It is the most southerly town in the UK, being 3 km south of Penzance. In 2001 the town celebrated the 800th anniversary of the granting of its Charter, making it the second eldest town in Cornwall after Marazion. The former tin-mining and cattle market town is also known for the annual Furry Dance (known locally as the Flora Dance), said to originate from the medieval period.

Geography

Helston is situated along the banks of the River Cober in Cornwall. It was previously an inland port. However the port declined when access to the sea was blocked by a sand bar (the Loe Bar) creating the biggest natural freshwater lake in Cornwall, known as Loe Pool. This was damaging to Helston but not fatally so, and the town continued to prosper through industries such as tin mining and coining, and its cattle market. Even with the closure of the port the various enterprises persuaded Customs and Excise to maintain a Customs House, which today houses "The Angel Hotel".

Transport

Helston is not far from the main road links in Cornwall, and the nearest airport is in Newquay. Helston railway station used to be the terminus of the Helston branch line, the other end being Gwinear Road near Hayle, until the closure of the line in 1964 at the height of the Beeching cuts. A bus service linking Helston to the rail network is provided by Truonian] (T34) bus service from Redruth railway station to Helston and RNAS Culdrose [ [http://www.truronian.co.uk/index.cfm?articleid=194 Truronian: Helston Branch Line ] ] .

Currently the Helston Railway Preservation Company is undertaking the restoration of part of the line.

Economy

In recent times, with no tin mines operating in the country and no need for coining in the town, Helston has become more tourist-oriented with many bed-and-breakfasts, cafes and restaurants, public houses and specialist shops. Visitors are attracted to the area because of the wonderful local scenery, such as the Penrose walks, and the relaxing holidays available in the area. The fishing village of Porthleven located along the beach from Loe Bar is the nearest stretch of coast, only about 2 miles away.

Many people come to the town as a result of a posting at the nearby Royal Navy air station RNAS Culdrose (HMS "Seahawk"). This naval helicopter base provides employment for a large proportion of Helston's population, both directly and indirectly.

Culture

Annually, on 8th May (except when the date falls on a Sunday or Monday - Monday being Market Day - when it is the preceding Saturday) Helston hosts the Furry Dance. There are 4 dances throughout the day, the first starting at 7AM, (historically for domestic servants) the ladies in summer frocks and the gentlemen in white shirts and dark grey trousers with neckties bearing the town crest, loaned for the day. The second dance at 9.50 is when children from the town's schools dance dressed all in white, the individual schools denoted by the head dresses that the girls wear. The premier dance follows at Midday when the "gentry of the County" dance, the ladies in long ball-type gowns topped off with picture hats and the gentlemen wearing full morning dress. The final dance of the day begins at 5PM, a dance historically for the tradespeople of the town. Participants in this dance are the only dancers to dance around the town twice, having already danced in the 7AM dance. Only Helston born people can dance in the lead set in each dance and the first male and female will only lead that dance once in their lifetime. Flora Day is administered by Stewards who elect stewards therefore continuing this wonderful occasion without outside interference. Spare a thought for Helston Town Band who play that famous tune as only they can and accompany all 4 dances on a long route around the town. The dwellings and shops of the town are festooned with bluebells, campion and whatever green foliage is available. Specific dances (not including the children's dance) go into and out of various private buildings, shops and grounds. On the same day the "Hal an Tow", a celebration of the coming of spring, is performed upon the streets of the town. Both events indicate a pre-Christian celebration of the passing of winter.Fact|date=December 2007There are several churches including St. Michael's Church, a humble church with stained-glass windows and a tall bell tower which can be heard throughout the town. In the surrounding graveyard there is a monument to Henry Trengrouse, the inventor of the rocket fired safety line - a device for aiding in the saving of lives in a shipwreck.

Helston is also the birthplace of Bob "Ruby Robert" Fitzsimmons, the first triple world boxing champion. The house where he was born and lived in Helston is still standing and is indicated by a plaque above the door.

The Helston folk museum, founded in 1949, occupies the building originally designed as the town's Market House in 1837, with two separate buildings - one for Butter and Eggs, the other the Meat Market. The exhibits are mostly concerned with Helston's agricultural and market town history. The museum also hosts art exhibitions and has a shop selling all things Cornish.

Since 1968, Helston has been the twin city of Sasso Marconi, in Italy.

Helston also hosts The Flambards Experience, formerly the Helston Aero Park, which is a theme park with a selection of rides together with a few remaining aviation exhibits. Nearby Wendron is home to the Poldark Mine theme park, where visitors can go underground into the old workings.

The town also boasts an active sporting scene, with Helston RFC, Helston Athletic FC and Helston Cricket Club all having prominent roles within the community. Also, the Swallows Gymnastics Club is also extremely popular within the area.

The town has a King George V Playing Field. At the bottom of the town is Coronation Park which has a man made lake as its centrepiece where row boats can be hired in summer. A skate park is also situated close by the lake. The Penrose Amenity Area lies across the road from Coronation Park. National Trust-owned, this area once part of the Penrose Estate offers dog friendly walks alongside the River Cober which leads down to Loe Pool and the sea beyond Loe Bar.

Administration

The Helston parliamentary constituency elected two members to the Unreformed House of Commons. The Reform Act 1832 reduced this to one. Helston is now part of the St. Ives constituency, which covers the south-westernmost part of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and whose current member is the Liberal Democrat Andrew George, former pupil of Helston School.

chools

Helston Community College, previously Gwealhellis Secondary Modern School, has the most pupils in Cornwall. Its South Site building has a long and distinguished history as a grammar school and boasts Derwent Coleridge as a headmaster, his pupils including Charles Kingsley [cite web|url=http://www2.bc.edu/~rappleb/kingsley/Kingsleylife.html|title=Brief Biography of Charles Kingsley, 1819-1875|last=Rapple|first=Brendan A.|publisher=Boston College Libraries|accessdate=2008-04-13] , John Duke Coleridge, Richard Edmonds, Thomas Rowe Edmonds, John Rogers, Henry Trengrouse and James Trevenen. [cite book|last=Rowse|first=A. L.|authorlink=A. L. Rowse|title=Matthew Arnold: Poet and Prophet|publisher=Thames and Hudson|location=London|date=1976|pages=p. 25|chapter=Chapter 2 "Oxford"|isbn=050001163X] [The further alumni are cited as Helston students in ODNB articles on them.] .

The School Houses in grammar school days were Coleridge, Kingsley and Tennyson. Alfred Tennyson's local connection was through his writing. Much of the Arthurian Legend was set in this area.

Helston has three primary schools. These are St. Michael's, Parc Eglos and Nansloe. The catchment area of Helston School includes these and many other schools from the surrounding villages.

Local Newspapers

Helston is served by two local paid-for newspapers, The West Briton and The Packet. Both offer a selection of news and local pictures.The West Briton, featuring the columnist Scrutineer, is understood to be the more popular of the two, despite costing almost twice the price of the Packet, which features the Skipper's column.The Helston News & Advertiser is a free weekly tabloid sized publication also available in the area. The area is also covered by a small advertising only publication called the Helston & District Free Gazette.

Twinning

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References

External links

* [http://www.helstontc.com/Contact_Us.html Helston Town Council]
* [http://www.helstonhistory.co.uk/ Helston History]
* [http://crocat.cornwall.gov.uk/dserve/dserve.exe?dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqCmd=Overview.tcl&dsqSearch=((text)='helston') Cornwall Record Office Online Catalogue for Helston]