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HER Number:165670
Name:CORNWALL RAILWAY - Post Medieval railway

Summary

The Cornwall Railway was opened between Plymouth and Truro in May 1859.

Grid Reference:None recorded

Protected Status: None recorded

Other References/Statuses

  • Primary Record No. (1985-2009): 165670

Monument Type(s):

  • RAILWAY (Constructed, 19th Century to Unknown - 1859 AD)

Full description

In 1845 the Cornwall Railway surveyed a line to link Plymouth with Truro and Falmouth, together with several branches. I K Brunel was the engineer and J T Treffry of Place was Chairman of the company. The bill received the Royal Assent in August 1846, and the first sod was cut at Buckshead in August 1847. Owing to various company financial and wider economic problems, the line was built in stages.
Some work was completed on the Truro to St Austell section between 1847 and early 1849, when money ran out while Brunel was making test soundings for the bridge across the Tamar. In 1851 Brunel proposed building the railway as a single-line route rather than double, as originally planned, to reduce costs. Capital was re-arranged and the work between Truro and St Austell was re-started. By the end of 1852 a further 22 miles from St Austell to Liskeard had been let to contract, and the contract for the Saltash bridge was let in early 1853. Work still proceeded slowly, as shareholders defaulted on calls and fresh capital had to be obtained from the GWR and its associated companies. In all, the 63 miles from Plymouth to Falmouth required seven tunnels, 43 viaducts and over 180 bridges, a massive and very costly amount of civil engineering.
In May 1859 the single broad-gauge line from Plymouth to Truro across Brunel's famous Royal Albert Bridge over the Tamar was finally opened to traffic, thirteen years after its act was passed. It was the last broad gauge main-line railway to be built by Brunel. The railway had 34 timber fan viaducts to standard Brunel designs. Stations were situated at Saltash, St Germans, Menheniot, Liskeard, Lostwithiel, Par, St Austell, Grampound Road and Truro. Bodmin Road was opened a little later, and Doublebois and Burngullow were added in 1863. The Cornwall Railway was leased to the Great Western, Bristol and Exeter, and South Devon Railways jointly from 1861, having been partly financed by them as early as 1855. The single line to Falmouth, started in 1853 but abandoned in 1854 after the contractor went bankrupt, was eventually completed in August 1863. The standard-gauge branch to Bodmin from Bodmin Road was opened in 1887. The Cornwall Railway was finally amalgamated with the Great Western on 1 July 1889.


<1> Woodfin, RJ, 1972, The Cornwall Railway (Bibliographic reference). SCO5068.

<2> Keast, J, 1982, The King of Mid-Cornwall, 145 (Bibliographic reference). SCO3763.

Sources / Further Reading

[1]SCO5068 - Bibliographic reference: Woodfin, RJ. 1972. The Cornwall Railway.
[2]SCO3763 - Bibliographic reference: Keast, J. 1982. The King of Mid-Cornwall. 145.

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

  • ECO3839 - Railway Signal Boxes (Ref: RRS No 28-2012)

Related records

MCO54726Parent of: APPLETREE LANE - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54973Parent of: AVENUE ROAD - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55182Parent of: BAG LANE - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54975Parent of: BAR ROAD - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
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172774Parent of: BODMIN ROAD - C19 railway station, C19 signal box (Monument)
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169809Parent of: BOLITHO VIADUCT - Post Medieval railway viaduct (Monument)
MCO55069Parent of: BRANSTON BRIDGE - Post medieval railway bridge (Monument)
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MCO54612Parent of: BROWNQUEEN - Post Medieval railway tunnel (Monument)
MCO55063Parent of: BROWNQUEEN - Post Medieval railway tunnel (Monument)
MCO55064Parent of: BROWNQUEEN - Post Medieval railway tunnel (Monument)
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MCO54661Parent of: BUCKSHEAD - Post Medieval railway tunnel (Monument)
MCO54662Parent of: BUCKSHEAD - Post Medieval railway tunnel (Monument)
MCO55003Parent of: BUCKSHEAD - Post Medieval railway tunnel (Monument)
MCO54922Parent of: BUDOCK - Post Medieval accommodation bridge (Monument)
MCO54687Parent of: BURNGULLOW - Post Medieval accommodation bridge (Monument)
MCO54688Parent of: BURNGULLOW - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54680Parent of: BURNGULLOW - Post Medieval railway station (Monument)
38302Parent of: CARNON - Post Medieval railway viaduct (Monument)
MCO55122Parent of: CARTUTHER - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55197Parent of: CARTUTHER - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
169808Parent of: CARTUTHER - Post Medieval railway viaduct (Monument)
MCO54650Parent of: CARVEAN - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
141245Parent of: CARVEDRAS - Post Medieval viaduct (Building)
MCO55151Parent of: CHUBACOOMBE - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54755Parent of: CHYCOWLING - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54720Parent of: CLIFDEN ROAD - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
169813Parent of: CLINNICK - Post Medieval railway viaduct (Monument)
MCO55130Parent of: COLDRENNICK VIADUCT - Post Medieval railway viaduct (Monument)
MCO54807Parent of: COLLEGE HILL - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
169804Parent of: COLLEGE WOOD - Post Medieval railway viaduct (Monument)
MCO54626Parent of: COOMBE - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54635Parent of: COOMBE - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54637Parent of: COOMBE - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
169817Parent of: COOMBE - Post Medieval railway viaduct (Monument)
MCO55227Parent of: COOMBE ROAD - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55219Parent of: COOMBE VIADUCT - Post Medieval viaduct (Monument)
169802Parent of: COSAWES - Post Medieval accommodation bridge (Monument)
MCO54769Parent of: COSAWES - Post Medieval railway (Monument)
MCO54770Parent of: COSAWES - Post Medieval railway (Monument)
MCO55183Parent of: CRIFT LANE - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54675Parent of: CRUGWALLINS - Post Medieval accommodation bridge (Monument)
MCO54676Parent of: CRUGWALLINS - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55230Parent of: CULVER ROAD - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54648Parent of: CUSKAYNE - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
165920Parent of: CYPRESS AVENUE - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55101Parent of: DERRICOMBE - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
169812Parent of: DERRICOMBE - Post Medieval railway viaduct (Monument)
MCO55109Parent of: DOUBLEBOIS - Post Medieval railway station (Monument)
MCO55108Parent of: DOUBLEBOIS ROAD - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54623Parent of: DOWGAS - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54624Parent of: DOWGAS - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55102Parent of: DRAW WOOD - Post Medieval railway viaduct (Monument)
MCO55062Parent of: DUCHY - Post medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55114Parent of: DULOE ROAD - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
60522Parent of: EAST LARGIN - Post Medieval railway viaduct (Monument)
MCO55045Parent of: EASTCLIFFE ROAD (Monument)
178187Parent of: ERTH LANE - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
169818Parent of: FAL VIADUCT - Post Medieval railway viaduct (Monument)
MCO54923Parent of: FALMOUTH - Post Medieval accommodation bridge (Monument)
MCO54974Parent of: FALMOUTH - Post Medieval engine shed (Monument)
MCO54976Parent of: FALMOUTH - Post Medieval railway housing (Building)
MCO55044Parent of: FALMOUTH - Post Medieval railway station (Monument)
MCO55188Parent of: FARM - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54971Parent of: FENWICK ROAD - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55194Parent of: FORDER VIADUCT - C19 railway viaduct (Monument)
169816Parent of: GOVER - Post Medieval railway viaduct (Monument)
MCO54642Parent of: GRAMPOUND ROAD - Post Medieval accommodation bridge (Monument)
MCO54644Parent of: GRAMPOUND ROAD - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
172669Parent of: GRAMPOUND ROAD - Post Medieval railway station (Monument)
MCO55049Parent of: GREAT TREVERRAN - Post medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55050Parent of: GREAT TREVERRAN - Post medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54761Parent of: GREENWITH - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55131Parent of: GRETNA WOOD - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55070Parent of: GREY MARE PLANTATIONS - Post medieval railway bridge (Monument)
178184Parent of: GROVE TURF - Post Medieval accommodation bridge (Monument)
MCO55191Parent of: GROVE VIADUCT - Post Medieval railway viaduct (Monument)
MCO55041Parent of: GYLLYNGVASE COTTAGE - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54750Parent of: HALLEGGO FARM - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54740Parent of: HALONMOOR - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54749Parent of: HELSTON WATER - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54615Parent of: HENN POINT - Post Medieval railway (Monument)
MCO54734Parent of: HIGHERTOWN - Post Medieval railway tunnel (Monument)
MCO54808Parent of: HILLHEAD - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54724Parent of: HOLMBUSH ARCH - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55047Parent of: HOMEWARD HILL - Post medieval railway bridge (Monument)
169585Parent of: INCE LANE - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54782Parent of: KERNICK ROAD - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55121Parent of: KITTY CROSS - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55103Parent of: LARGIN - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55106Parent of: LARGIN - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55136Parent of: LISKEARD - Post Medieval railway bridge plate (Monument)
174299Parent of: LISKEARD - Post Medieval railway station (Monument)
MCO55110Parent of: LISKEARD ROAD - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55124Parent of: LISKEARD ROAD - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55119Parent of: LISKEARD VIADUCT - Post Medieval railwayviaduct (Monument)
MCO54677Parent of: LITTLE CRUGWALLINS - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54744Parent of: LITTLE SPARNOCK - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55051Parent of: LITTLE TREVERRAN - Post medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO56903Parent of: LOSTWITHIEL - C19 signal box (Building)
26963Parent of: LOSTWITHIEL - Post Medieval railway carriage works (Building)
172768Parent of: LOSTWITHIEL - Post Medieval railway station (Monument)
MCO55128Parent of: LOWER CLICKER - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54666Parent of: LOWER TREGURRA - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54776Parent of: LOWER TRELUSWELL - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
169805Parent of: MARKWELL LANE - Post Medieval accommodation bridge (Monument)
MCO54969Parent of: MARLBOROUGH AVENUE - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55046Parent of: MARSH BRIDGE - Post medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54972Parent of: MELVILLE ROAD - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
174314Parent of: MENHENIOT - Post Medieval railway station (Monument)
MCO55129Parent of: MENHENIOT ROAD - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54728Parent of: MERTHEN FARM - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55056Parent of: MILLTOWN - Post medieval railway bridge (Monument)
168433Parent of: MILLTOWN - Post Medieval railway cutting (Monument)
169814Parent of: MILLTOWN - Post Medieval railway viaduct (Monument)
MCO55055Parent of: MILLTOWN ROAD - Post medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54982Parent of: MINE LEAT - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55116Parent of: MOORSWATER - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55117Parent of: MOORSWATER - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
169810Parent of: MOORSWATER VIADUCT - Post Medieval railway viaduct (Building)
MCO54722Parent of: MOUNT CHARLES - Post Medieval aqueduct (Monument)
MCO55177Parent of: MOUNT PLEASANT - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54667Parent of: NANCEMERE - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55073Parent of: NEWBRIDGE ROAD - Post medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55072Parent of: NEWBRIDGE WOOD - Post medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55071Parent of: NEWBRIDGE WOOD No 2 - Post medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55125Parent of: NORTH TREVIDDO - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55190Parent of: NOTTAR VIADUCT - Post Medieval railway viaduct (Monument)
178185Parent of: ORCHARD - Post Medieval accommodation bridge (Monument)
MCO55174Parent of: PADDERBURY ROAD - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54981Parent of: PAR HARBOUR - Post Medieval railway viaduct (Monument)
MCO55311Parent of: PASCOE VIADUCT - Post Medieval railway viaduct (Monument)
MCO55246Parent of: PENADLAKE - Post Medieval railway viaduct (Monument)
MCO55100Parent of: PENKESTLE DOWNS - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54968Parent of: PENMERE HILL - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54970Parent of: PENNANCE ROAD - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54777Parent of: PENRYN - Post Medieval railway (Monument)
MCO54778Parent of: PENRYN - Post Medieval railway (Monument)
MCO54779Parent of: PENRYN - Post Medieval railway viaduct (Monument)
MCO54774Parent of: PENVALE - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54738Parent of: PENWETHERS - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
169823Parent of: PENWETHERS - Post Medieval railway viaduct (Monument)
MCO54737Parent of: PENWITHERS - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54765Parent of: PERRAN - Post Medieval railway tunnel (Monument)
MCO54766Parent of: PERRAN - Post Medieval railway tunnel (Monument)
MCO54987Parent of: PERRAN - Post Medieval railway tunnel (Monument)
169798Parent of: PERRAN VIADUCT - Post Medieval railway viaduct (Monument)
MCO54760Parent of: PERRANWELL - Post Medieval goods shed (Building)
MCO54759Parent of: PERRANWELL - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54947Parent of: PERRANWELL STATION - Post Medieval railway station (Monument)
MCO55057Parent of: PILL FARM - Post medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55058Parent of: PILL LANE - Post medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55178Parent of: POLMARKYN - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55179Parent of: POLMARKYN - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54664Parent of: POLPERROW - Post Medieval accommodation bridge (Monument)
MCO54658Parent of: POLPERROW - Post Medieval railway tunnel (Monument)
MCO54659Parent of: POLPERROW - Post Medieval railway tunnel (Monument)
MCO55006Parent of: POLPERROW - Post Medieval railway tunnel (Monument)
169799Parent of: PONSANOOTH - Post Medieval railway viaduct (Monument)
MCO54967Parent of: PORTLAND GARDENS - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54645Parent of: RESPARVETH - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
170734Parent of: RESPRYN - Post Medieval railway station (Monument)
MCO55066Parent of: RESPRYN ROAD - Post medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55061Parent of: RESTORMEL - Post medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54756Parent of: RINGWELL - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55263Parent of: RINGWELL - Post Medieval railway viaduct (Monument)
MCO54762Parent of: RISSICK - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55059Parent of: RIVER FOWEY - Post medieval railway bridge (Monument)
6296Parent of: ROYAL ALBERT BRIDGE - Post Medieval railway bridge (Building)
174333Parent of: SALTASH - Post Medieval railway station (Monument)
MCO55115Parent of: SANDY LANE - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
178199Parent of: SHILLINGHAM - Post Medieval accommodation bridge (Monument)
169584Parent of: SHILLINGHAM PATH - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
178192Parent of: SHILLINGHAM POINT - Post Medieval accommodation bridge (Monument)
MCO55126Parent of: SOUTH TREVIDDO - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54745Parent of: SPARNOCK - Post Medieval railway tunnel (Monument)
MCO54746Parent of: SPARNOCK - Post Medieval railway tunnel (Monument)
MCO54986Parent of: SPARNOCK - Post Medieval railway tunnel (Monument)
MCO54748Parent of: SPARNOCK FARM - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54693Parent of: ST AUSTELL - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
169815Parent of: ST AUSTELL - Post Medieval railway viaduct (Monument)
MCO54983Parent of: ST BLAZEY ROAD - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
174319Parent of: ST GERMANS - Post Medieval railway station (Monument)
MCO55189Parent of: ST GERMANS - Post Medieval railway viaduct (Monument)
60601Parent of: ST PINNOCK - Post Medieval railway viaduct (Monument)
172513Parent of: STATION ROAD - Post Medieval railway bridge (Building)
MCO55118Parent of: STATION ROAD - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55048Parent of: STONEY BRIDGE - Post medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55180Parent of: TIDEFORD ROAD - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55127Parent of: TORR FARM ROAD - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55186Parent of: TREBOUL CROSS - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55134Parent of: TREBROWN ROAD - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55111Parent of: TREBURGIE - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
178188Parent of: TREDOWN - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
169819Parent of: TREGARNE - Post Medieval railway viaduct (Monument)
169820Parent of: TREGEAGLE - Post Medieval railway viaduct (Monument)
MCO54966Parent of: TREGENVER LANE - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54652Parent of: TREGURNO - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55113Parent of: TREHEATH FARM - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54780Parent of: TRELIEVER ROAD - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54775Parent of: TRELUSWELL - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55112Parent of: TREMABE - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54613Parent of: TRENANCE ROAD - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55150Parent of: TRENETHICK - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54639Parent of: TRENOWTH - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54640Parent of: TRENOWTH - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54641Parent of: TRENOWTH - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55181Parent of: TRERULEFOOT - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54928Parent of: TRESCOBEAS ROAD - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54657Parent of: TRESOURNES - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
169806Parent of: TRESULGAN - Post Medieval railway viaduct (Monument)
MCO55132Parent of: TRESULGAN FARM - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
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MCO55052Parent of: TREVERRAN - Post medieval railway tunnel (Monument)
MCO55053Parent of: TREVERRAN - Post medieval railway tunnel (Monument)
MCO55054Parent of: TREVERRAN - Post medieval railway tunnel (Monument)
169807Parent of: TREVIDDO - Post Medieval railway viaduct (Monument)
MCO54764Parent of: TREWEDNA - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54674Parent of: TREWITHEN - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
168432Parent of: TREWITHEN - Post Medieval railway bridge, Post Medieval railway embankment (Monument)
MCO54689Parent of: TREWOON - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54691Parent of: TREWOON - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54647Parent of: TREWORGANS - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
174695Parent of: TRURO - Post Medieval goods shed (Monument)
MCO54670Parent of: TRURO - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO54671Parent of: TRURO - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
141244Parent of: TRURO - Post Medieval viaduct (Building)
MCO54646Parent of: VENTONGLIDDER - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
172499Parent of: WAINSFORD - Post Medieval railway bridge (Building)
MCO54719Parent of: WATERING - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55067Parent of: WATERLAKE - Post medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55217Parent of: WEARDE - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55215Parent of: WEARDE QUAY ROAD - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
MCO55196Parent of: WEARDE ROAD - Post Medieval railway bridge (Monument)
6654Parent of: WEST LARGIN - Post Medieval railway viaduct (Monument)
71533Parent of: WESTWOOD - Post Medieval quarry (Monument)
169811Parent of: WESTWOOD - Post Medieval railway viaduct (Monument)
MCO55060Parent of: WHETTERS - Post medieval railway bridge (Monument)
178189Parent of: WIVELSCOMBE - Post Medieval accommodation bridge (Monument)
MCO55193Parent of: WIVELSCOMBE VIADUCT - Post Medieval railway viaduct (Monument)
MCO56174Part of: TRURO - Post Medieval boundary marker (Monument)