Flushing
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Flushing shown within Cornwall | |
Population | 670 |
OS grid reference | SW811340 |
Civil parish | |
Unitary authority | |
Ceremonial county | |
Region | |
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 | |
Flushing (Cornish: Nanskersys) is a coastal village in west Cornwall, England. It is 3 miles (5 km) east of Penryn and 10 miles (16 km) south of Truro. It faces Falmouth across the Penryn River, an arm of the Carrick Roads. The village is well known for its yearly Regatta week in July.
Flushing lies within the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Almost a third of Cornwall has AONB designation, with the same status and protection as a National Park.
The village was founded in 1661; there is disagreement about whether there are any houses of the late 17th century. Originally named Nankersey, meaning valley of the reed swamp, the village was given its name by Dutch engineers from Flushing in the Netherlands who built the three main quays in the village. The grand houses on St Peter's Hill, the road that leads into the village, were owned by captains of the packet ships (mail-boats) that docked in nearby Falmouth.
Henry VIII intended to build a castle on Trefusis Point, to accompany those built at Pendennis and St. Mawes, but due to the expensive wars was unable to finance it.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, the village's economy mainly relied upon fishing, the two farms and former manors of Trefusis (the original seat of the Trefusis family,Barons Clinton since 1791) and Tregew, and Falmouth Docks. There was also briefly a copper mine on Jericho beach, but extracting the copper proved commercially unviable. Now it is principally a commuter village for the nearby towns of Penryn, Falmouth and Truro, although some commercial fishing vessels are still based in the village. There are also several B&Bs to cater for tourists; in addition, many houses in the village now lie unoccupied for most of the year as they are used as holiday homes.