Falmouth, Cornwall

Falmouth Cornish: Aberfal or Peny-cwm-cuic
Falmouth Harbour
Falmouth
Falmouth shown within Cornwall
Population	26,767 (2011 Census)
OS grid reference	SW810325
Civil parish	Falmouth
Unitary authority	Cornwall
Ceremonial county	Cornwall
Region	South West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	FALMOUTH
Postcode district	TR11
Dialling code	01326
Police	Devon and Cornwall
Fire	Cornwall
Ambulance	South Western
EU Parliament	South West England
UK Parliament	Truro and Falmouth
List of places UK England CornwallCoordinates: 50°09′N 5°04′W / 50.15°N 5.07°W / 50.15; -5.07

Falmouth (/ˈfælməθ/; Cornish: Aberfala) is a town, civil parish and port on the River Fal on the south coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It has a total resident population of 26,767.

See also: Miss Susan Gay's Falmouth chronology

The name Falmouth is of English origin, which recent Cornish language enthusiasts have translated to "Aberfal" (or "Aberfala") based on Welsh precedents. It is claimed that an earlier Celtic name for the place was Peny-cwm-cuic, which has been Anglicized to 'Pennycomequick'.

Falmouth was the site where Henry VIII built Pendennis Castle to defend Carrick Roads, in 1540. The main town of the district was then at Penryn. Sir John Killigrew created the town of Falmouth shortly after 1613.

In the late 16th century, under threat from the Spanish Armada, the defences at Pendennis were strengthened by the building of angled ramparts. During the Civil War, Pendennis Castle was the second to last fort to surrender to the Parliamentary Army.

After the Civil War, Sir Peter Killigrew received Royal patronage when he gave land for the building of the Church of King Charles the Martyr, dedicated to Charles I, "the Martyr".