Editing Flushing, Cornwall

{{redirect|Trefusis|people with the name|Trefusis (surname)}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2010}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
 | official_name            = Flushing
 | country                  = England
 | region                   = South West England
 | population               = 
 | population_ref           = 
 | os_grid_reference        = SW811340
 | coordinates              = {{coord|50.1651|-5.0689|display=inline,title}}
 | civil_parish             = [[Mylor, Cornwall|Mylor]]
 | post_town                = FALMOUTH
 | postcode_area            = TR
 | postcode_district        = TR11
 | dial_code                = 01326
 | constituency_westminster = [[Truro and Falmouth (UK Parliament constituency)|Truro and Falmouth]]
 | unitary_england          = [[Cornwall Council|Cornwall]]
 | lieutenancy_england      = [[Cornwall]]
 | 
 }}
'''Flushing''' is a coastal village in the [[Civil parishes in England|civil parish]] of [[Mylor, Cornwall|Mylor]], west Cornwall, UK. It is {{convert|3|mi|0}} east of [[Penryn, Cornwall|Penryn]] and {{convert|10|mi}} south of [[Truro]].<ref>Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 204 ''Truro & Falmouth'' {{ISBN|978-0-319-23149-4}}</ref> It faces [[Falmouth, Cornwall|Falmouth]] across the Penryn River, an arm of the [[Carrick Roads]]. The village is 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.

==History==
[[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]] intended to build a castle on Trefusis Point, to accompany those built at [[Pendennis Castle|Pendennis]] and [[St Mawes Castle|St. Mawes]], but due to the expensive wars was unable to finance it.

The village was founded before 1653 (Calendar of State Papers Domestic Interregnum, 1653–1654 of proceedings on July 16, 1653). There is disagreement about whether there are any houses of the late 17th century extant.<ref>Clonmore and Clinton House are said to be 17th century by Nikolaus Pevsner, but he quotes the opinion of Lady Redwood that they are 18th. 22 Treyew Road and New Quay House are also of architectural interest according to her. —Pevsner, N. (1970) ''Cornwall''; 2nd ed., revised by Enid Radcliffe. Harmondsworth: Penguin; p. 69, 69n</ref>  Nankersey, meaning ''valley of the reed swamp'' was, and continued to be, a separate dwelling on the road into the village of Flushing. The village was given its name by Dutch engineers, probably directed by Cornelius Vermuyden the elder, who built the two 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 [[Post Office Packet Service|packet ships (mail-boats)]] that docked in nearby Falmouth.<ref name=GENUKI>{{cite web |title=GENUKI website; Flushing |url= http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/Cornwall/Flushing/index.html |access-date=26 July 2010}}</ref>

[[James Silk Buckingham]] (1786–1855) spent his childhood here and writes that most of the packet captains and officers, and their families, as well as the crews, lived in the village. Dinners, balls and evening parties were held most evenings at some of the captains' houses and there were dances for the sailors at the more humble places. Much of it paid for by [[prize money]] and the profits from the contraband carried by the packet ships.{{#tag:ref|The packet ships were not subject to searches by [[HM Customs]] and [[HM Excise]], and therefore officers and crew were able to smuggle items for sale.|group=a}}<ref name="cman212">{{cite news |title=The Flushing Boy Who Became a Great Traveller |work=The Cornishman |issue=212 |date=3 August 1882 |page=6}}</ref>

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 (surname)|Trefusis family]], [[Baron Clinton|Barons Clinton]] since 1791 and [[Tregew]], together with [[Falmouth Docks]].<ref>[[John Lambrick Vivian|Vivian, J. L.]], ''The Visitations of Cornwall: comprising the [[Heraldic visitations|Heralds' Visitations]] of 1530, 1573 & 1620; with additions by J.L. Vivian'', Exeter, 1887, pedigree of "Trefusis of Trefusis", [http://ukga.org/england/Cornwall/visitations/p463.html pp. 463–8] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051534/http://ukga.org/england/Cornwall/visitations/p463.html |date=4 March 2016 }}).</ref> Wheal Clinton lead mine started in 1854 and an engine shaft was sunk to {{Convert|33|fathom}}. There was not enough ore to make a profit and the mine was wound up in 1858.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Mineral Resources of Falmouth |work=The Cornishman |issue=429 |date=30 September 1886 |page=7}}</ref> There was also briefly a copper mine on Jericho beach, but extracting the copper proved commercially unviable.

Flushing 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 [[Bed and breakfast|B&Bs]] to cater for tourists; many houses in the village now lie unoccupied for most of the year as they are used as holiday homes.

==Housing and amenities==
Most of Flushing's 670 residents live in the centre of the village, on Coventry Road, Kersey Road and St Peter's Hill, although there is limited housing along Trefusis Road out as far as Kiln Beach, and there are also some houses near Trefusis Farm near the border with [[Mylor Bridge]].

The doctor's surgery is located in the Village Hall. There are two pubs, the ''Royal Standard'' on St Peter's Hill and the formerly named ''Seven Stars'', now “Harbour House” on Trefusis Road opposite Fish Cross. There is also a restaurant, ''The Waterside'', on Ferry Quay.

==Churches and schools==
;Anglican church
[[File:A church in Flushing - geograph.org.uk - 926764.jpg|thumb|St Peter's Church, Flushing]]
Flushing parish church ([[Anglican]]) is located on St Peter's Road and is dedicated to [[Saint Peter]]. It is built in the Norman style and was opened for divine worship in February 1842 (consecrated: August 1842). St Peter's was renovated in 1871 by subscriptions collected by Capt Nevill Norway RN, when a vestry was added.<ref name=GENUKI /> It is now a Grade II [[listed building]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Parish church of Flushing website|url= http://www.achurchnearyou.com/flushing-st-peter/|access-date=26 July 2010}}</ref> The parish is part of a united [[benefice]] with the parish of [[Mylor, Cornwall|Mylor]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Parish church of Mylor website|url= http://www.achurchnearyou.com/mylor-st-mylor/|access-date=26 July 2010}}</ref> in the [[Archdeaconry of Cornwall]] and [[Diocese of Truro]].

There is a Cornish cross in the churchyard. It was found in a farm building at Porloe in 1891 and moved to the churchyard. The head has a crude crucifixus figure on the front and a Latin cross on the back.<ref>Langdon, A. G. (1896) ''Old Cornish Crosses''. Truro: Joseph Pollard; pp. 287–89</ref>

;Methodist church
The [[Methodist]] chapel is located in Kersey Road and, built in 1816, is the oldest building in the Falmouth and Gwennap circuit.<ref name=GENUKI /><ref>{{cite web|title=Flushing Methodist Church website|url=http://www.fandgmc.org.uk/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8&Itemid=64|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730045916/http://www.fandgmc.org.uk/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8&Itemid=64|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 July 2012|access-date=26 July 2010}}</ref> There was also a [[Bible Christian Church|Bible Christian]] chapel in Kersey Road (built in 1833) and a [[Primitive Methodism|Primitive Methodist]] chapel in Coventry Road (built in 1866).<ref name=GENUKI />

In its 200th anniversary year (2016) the chapel was closed for public worship owing to declining membership. The chapel has now been declared as "purpose fulfilled" while community leaders – supported by the Methodist Circuit – seek a new use for the building. The chapel organ, lectern, gallery pulpit, baptismal fount, many smaller artefacts, two marble wall memorials, several brass memorial plates, some original 1816 seating and the entire contents of the Sunday School have all been preserved. Several original oil lamps from the 1866 Primitive Methodist Chapel in Coventry Road are also preserved. The Trustees gifted these objects, and a carved communion table with chairs from the demolished Pike's Hill Methodist chapel in Falmouth, to The Cornish Heritage Collection at [[Poldark Mine]], 11 miles from Flushing, and they were moved there in 2016. The pipe organ is in working order and may be played by visitors.

;Schools
The village [[Church of England]] school is in Coventry Road and caters for a maximum of eighty pupils. It serves as a feeder school for the local secondary school, [[Penryn College]], although some pupils have gone on to [[Penair School]] in Truro or the fee-paying [[Truro School]] and [[Truro High School for Girls]]. Due to its cramped location in the middle of the village it has no playing field or school hall; organised games are held on the Bowling Green at the top of the village, and school meals and plays take place in the Village Hall on Coventry Road.

==Culture==
[[File:DSCN2008FlushingRainbow.jpg|thumb|Flushing harbour from Fish Strand Quay, Falmouth]]
[[File:DSCN2009FlushingBigHouses.jpg|thumb|Houses in Flushing, from Fish Strand Quay, Falmouth]]
The Flushing Sailing Club celebrated its centenary in July 2021, with a visit from the [[Princess Royal]], in her role as President of the [[Royal Yachting Association]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Court Circular |url=https://www.royal.uk/court-circular |website=Royal Family}}</ref>

Flushing Regatta Week is held annually during late July or early August, and features water-based activities such as bathtub racing, rowing, swimming and sailing races, sand-castle building contests, a [[marathon|mini-marathon]] through Mylor and Flushing, an open-air church service, a [[pub quiz]], crab catching, and a carnival on Saturday night, and has achieved marked popularity locally. Every year, two residents of Flushing who have contributed to the life of the village over a period of time are selected to be the Presidents; their responsibilities include judging competitions and opening events.

The Nankersey Male Choir perform regular concerts throughout the year, raising money for local causes, and classical concerts and recitals are often held in the Methodist chapel. The village has two gig clubs, Nankersey Rowing Club and Flushing & Mylor [[Pilot gig|Pilot Gig]] Club.

Due to its position, Flushing is said to be one of the warmest villages in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web|title=Holiday Cottages in Flushing|url= http://flushingholidaycottages.co.uk/#/flushing/4535573107|access-date=26 July 2010}}</ref><ref>"Flushing ... said to enjoy the mildest climate in England"--Ward, C. S. & Baddeley, M. J. B. (1908) ''South Devon ... and South Cornwall ...''. (Thorough Guide Series; VII.) London: Thomas Nelson & Sons; p. 173</ref><ref>"Flushing ... much frequented by invalids suffering from chest complaints"--''Guide to South Cornwall''; 14th ed. London: Ward, Lock, [c. 1955]; p. 51</ref> The beaches at Kiln are extremely popular in the summer months, particularly with tourists, offering superb views of Falmouth Docks, the [[Carrick Roads]] and St Anthony's Head. There is also another beach further around the coast known as Jericho, which is only accessible from the houses directly above the beach or by rowing boat, and is therefore popular with locals.

===Cornish wrestling===
[[Cornish wrestling]] tournaments, for prizes, were held in Flushing in the 1800s.<ref name="RCG15061811">Royal Cornwall Gazette, 15 June 1811.</ref>

==Notable people==
{{See also|Category:People from Flushing, Cornwall}}

* [[Morwenna Banks]], actress, was born there<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120915083740/http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2ba4a33aa4 BFI]</ref>
* [[James Silk Buckingham]], author, politician and social reformer, was born there
* Architect sisters [[Ethel Charles]] and [[Bessie Charles]], the first women members of the [[Royal Institute of British Architects]], set up a practice at Clift Cottage in Flushing. Their most notable work was a Bible Christian Chapel at [[Mylor Bridge]] (1907).<ref name=":1">{{Cite ODNB|url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-63129|title=Charles, Ethel Mary (1871–1962), architect|year=2004|language=en|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/63129|access-date=2020-08-23|last1=Walker|first1=Lynne}}</ref><ref name="RIBApix">{{cite web |title=Proposed Bible Christian Chapel, Mylor Bridge, near Falmouth: plan, elevations, sections |url=https://www.ribapix.com/proposed-bible-christian-chapel-mylor-bridge-near-falmouth-plan-elevations-sections_riba99244# |website=RIBApix |access-date=13 October 2021}}</ref>
* [[Harrison Hayter]], engineer, was born there
* [[Donald Prell]], an American futurist, lived there for a number of years
* The naval family of [[Bartholomew James Sulivan]] (1810–1890) maintained a house there, as did many Royal and merchant Navy officers in the nineteenth century. Sulivan as a young naval officer in the 1830s was a friend and shipmate of [[Charles Darwin]] on the historic {{HMS|Beagle}} voyage (which docked in [[Falmouth, Cornwall|Falmouth]] on 2 October 1836, an event briefly recorded in Darwin's journal of the voyage).

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=a}}

==References==
{{Portal|Cornwall}}
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*Redwood, Ursula M., ''Lady'' (1967) ''The Story of Flushing, Cornwall, and a guide to the village''. Flushing: St Peter's P.C.C.
* --do.-- (1987) ''Trefusis Territory''. Flushing: St Peter's P.C.C.
* Marquis, John: ''Flushing: A People's History'' (Paperback) 2014.
* Marquis, John: ''The Old Days in Flushing'' (Booklet) 2015.
* Marquis, John: ''Bygones: A pictorial history of Flushing'' (Booklet) 2015.
* Marquis, John: ''Flushing: A People's History (Revised and expanded hardback collectable edition)'' 2016.

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Falmouth, Cornwall]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Cornwall]]
[[Category:Villages in Cornwall]]