Home of the historic Packet Ship Service 1688-1850
The Packet Ship Service was initially organised and run by the Post Office. It's operation was later taken-over by the Admiralty in 1823.
Although, packet boats and ships operated out of Britain at times over the years from Bristol, Dover, Harwich, Great Yarmouth, Falmouth, Plymouth, Milford Haven and Holyhead, Falmouth was home to the Premier service. The location of Falmouth, on the southern tip of Cornwall ensured the least amount of disruption, with easy access to the Atlantic and the European continent. Throughout the 18th and early 19th century Britain was almost continually at war and the importance of safe lines of communication were essential. More often than not Falmouth was, literally, the first port of call and the first to hear news of world events.
For a detailed list of all Packet Ship sailings please see the following comprehensive listings compiled by John S Olenkiewicz.
This historic chart of Falmouth and the 'Carreg Roads' from 1779 is available here from the Heritage Charts website - just click on the picture below:
Modern day Falmouth maintains its close connections with the sea and amongst the monuments and memories it contains are these plaques located on the Prince of Wales Landing Pier dedicated to the 622 sailors and Commandos who took part in Operation Chariot - the raid on St Nazaire on the 28th March 1942. 168 were killed and 5 Victoria Crosses were awarded :
If you would like more information of this raid please click the button below.
Falmouth has enchanted me over the years I have been visiting and there is still much for me to see and discover. It's link with the American War for Independence runs through a great deal of my research into the maps, charts, plans and surveys in the Heritage Charts collections.
Cheers Falmouth!
