Newquay facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Newquay Cornish: Tewynblustri
Town
View of the harbour from the Killacourt Fistral Beach The Huers House Parish Church The Island house Great Western Hotel View of the harbour from the Killacourt
Coat of arms
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Area	2.557 sq mi (6.62 km2)
Population	23,600 (2021 census)
• Density	9,230/sq mi (3,560/km2)
OS grid reference	SW815615
Civil parish	St Columb Minor (until 1918)
Unitary authority	Cornwall
Ceremonial county	Cornwall
Region	South West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	NEWQUAY
Postcode district	TR7, TR8
Dialling code	01637
Police	Devon and Cornwall
Fire	Cornwall
Ambulance	South Western
EU Parliament	South West England
UK Parliament	St Austell and Newquay
Website	newquay.gov.uk
List of places UK England Cornwall 50°24′43″N 5°04′33″W / 50.4120°N 5.0757°W / 50.4120; -5.0757

Newquay (pronounced NEW-kee) is a town on the north coast of Cornwall, England. It is a popular seaside resort and a fishing port. Newquay is also becoming a key place for aerospace industries, with an airport and a spaceport. The town is about 12 miles (19 km) north of Truro and 20 miles (32 km) west of Bodmin.

The River Gannel and its salt marsh form the southern edge of Newquay. To the north-east, you'll find the Porth Valley. The western side of town meets the Atlantic Ocean at Fistral Bay. Newquay has grown inland (south) since it was a small fishing village in the late 1800s.

In 2021, about 23,600 people lived in Newquay. During the summer, this number can jump to 100,000 or more because of all the visitors!

History

Ancient Times

Newquay has a long history, with signs of people living there thousands of years ago.

Early Settlements

On an area called The Barrowfields, you can find pre-historic burial mounds. These mounds are where people were buried up to 3,500 years ago, during the Bronze Age. Inside one, archaeologists found a cooking pot and a burial urn with the remains of a Bronze Age leader.

In 1987, a Bronze Age village was discovered at Trethellan Farm. This farm overlooks the River Gannel.

The first real settlement in the Newquay area was an Iron Age hill fort. This fort was built on Trevelgue Head around 300 BC. People lived there for hundreds of years, using the area's natural defenses and iron resources.

Medieval Period to Early Modern Times

The town we know as Newquay today wasn't mentioned in the Domesday Book (a famous survey from 1086). However, a small piece of land called Treninnick, now part of Newquay, was recorded.

Building a New Quay

In 1439, a bishop named Edmund Lacey wanted to build a new quay (a landing place for ships). He asked for donations, but the project didn't really take off. The harbour stayed mostly undeveloped until the early 1600s. It probably had small wooden piers before that.

Modern Newquay started as a small group of cottages called "Towan" in the Middle Ages. A short distance away was another settlement called "New Quay," which referred to a small harbour. The two areas were connected by a path that became today's Fore Street. People in the area mainly made a living from fishing, farming, and some mining.

The first mention of a fish market here was in 1571. Fish was likely sold at the quay and in nearby cellars. In 1615, the local lord, Thomas Stuer, got permission to build a pier. This marked the start of the modern harbour.

The Huer's Hut

The Huer's Hut is a special building in Newquay. It was a lookout point where a person called a "huer" would watch for schools of pilchard fish. When the water turned reddish-brown and seagulls gathered, the huer would shout "hevva, hevva!" or blow a trumpet. Then, they would wave tree branches to show the townspeople where the fish were. The word "huer" comes from the same root as "hue and cry."

The Huer's Hut is a very old building, possibly from the 14th century, though the current structure is mostly from the late 1700s and early 1800s. It might have also been used as a hermitage (a place for a religious hermit) and a lighthouse long ago. It was fixed up in 1836 and is now a protected historic building.

The Central Inn

The Central Inn is a well-known building in Newquay. An inn was first recorded on this spot in 1755. It was a busy place for trade. Farmers would park their wagons of grain in the square outside and do business inside. The inn was rebuilt in 1859 and was called the Commercial Inn for many years.

19th Century Growth

In 1801, about 1,300 people lived in the small settlements that would become Newquay.

In 1832, a businessman from London, Richard Lomax, bought the land that included the small harbour. He started building the north and south quays, but he passed away before finishing the harbour.

The harbour became very busy after the Cornwall Minerals Railway bought it in the 1870s. In 1872, a middle jetty was added to handle more ships.

Near the harbour, there were "fish cellars" in the 1800s. This is where pilchards (a type of fish) were salted and packed into barrels. Two of these old cellars, Fly Cellars and Active Cellars, still remain.

A large house called The Tower was built in 1835 for the Molesworth family. It had a tower like a castle and a private chapel. Later, The Tower became the golf club house. When passenger trains started arriving in June 1876, Newquay really began to grow, with many new houses and hotels.

Victorian Hotels

Many big hotels were built around the late 1800s. The first was the Great Western Hotel, which opened in 1879. Other early luxury hotels included the Victoria (1899), the Atlantic (1892), and the Headland (1900) near Fistral Beach. Many smaller hotels also opened, often by turning large houses into places for visitors to stay.

20th Century Development

Three churches were built in the early 1900s, including the main parish church of St Michael the Archangel, which opened in 1911. The town grew eastward, and areas like Station Road became Cliff Road. Many houses along Narrowcliff were also turned into hotels.

During the First World War, Newquay's edge was around present-day Narrowcliff. After the war, new houses and streets were built in the Chester Road area. The road to St Columb Minor, about 2 miles (3 km) away, was modernized and named Henver Road. By the Second World War, Henver Road had houses on both sides.

A successful knitting industry started in Newquay in the early 1900s. Madame Hawke began selling machine-knitted clothes in a shop in 1905. Her business grew, and she opened a factory. Other knitting companies also started in the town.

In the 1950s, more houses were built, extending the town towards Porth. Other areas like Pentire and the Trenance Valley also developed between the wars. New streets like St Thomas Road were built, leading to the town's new hospital.

Later, in the 1970s and 1980s, the Treninnick/Treloggan area saw a lot of growth. This included not just homes but also an industrial estate and large shops.

21st Century Changes

In 2007, a terrible fire happened at the Penhallow Hotel, which sadly killed three people. The hotel was later torn down and rebuilt.

In 2012, a new housing development called Tregunnel Hill began. It features 174 homes built in traditional styles.

A much larger development called Nansledan (meaning 'broad valley' in Cornish) is now being built. This plan includes over 4,000 homes, shops, a supermarket, a church, and a primary school that opened in 2019. All the street names in Nansledan are in Cornish.

In April 2012, the Aerohub enterprise zone for aerospace businesses was set up at Newquay Airport. This area helps new space-related companies grow. In 2018, a deal was signed with Virgin Orbit to launch space vehicles from a new spaceport next to the airport. The first launch from Spaceport Cornwall happened on January 9, 2023, but the rocket didn't reach orbit.

Churches & Chapels

Non-conformist Churches

The first Methodist preaching in Newquay was in 1802. The first Methodist Society was formed in 1810. They built a chapel in 1851. Over the years, different Methodist groups joined together, and the chapel became known as the Sydney Road Methodist Chapel. It closed around 1977.

The Baptists were the first to have their own building. The Newquay Baptist Church, founded in 1822, is one of the oldest religious buildings in Newquay.

The first Methodist chapel was built in 1833. Later, in 1849, some members left to build the Wesley Hill Chapel. The original chapel eventually became the Salvation Army building in 1926.

The Wesleyan Methodist Church, built in 1904, is a beautiful building designed in the Gothic style. It closed in 2009 and is now used by the Elim Pentecostal Church. This building is a protected historic landmark.

Roman Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Trinity was built in 1903.

Parish Church

The first Anglican chapel in Newquay was built in 1858. It was called St Michael's. The parish of Newquay was created in 1882. This church was made bigger twice, but it still wasn't large enough for the summer crowds.

So, a new church, the Newquay Parish Church of St Michael the Archangel, was built in 1910–11. It is dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel. The church's tower wasn't finished until the 1960s. Inside, there's a special light that stays on as a memorial to the men of Newquay who died in the First World War. The old St Michael's chapel was sold and later torn down in 1937 to make way for a new store.

Tourism

Newquay has been a very popular place for tourists for over 100 years. People come for its beautiful coastline and nine long, sandy beaches. Fistral Beach is especially famous for surfing in the British Isles.

Newquay has many places for tourists to stay. The Trenance Leisure Gardens offer walks, tennis courts, and a bowling green. A boating lake was dug here in the 1930s. Later, a mini-golf course, a swimming pool, a miniature railway, and Newquay Zoo were added.

Newquay used to host the "Run to the Sun" event, where people with Volkswagen camper vans and other custom cars would visit. This event is set to return in 2023 at a new location.

Another big event is the Boardmasters music festival, which brings about 50,000 visitors in August. It takes place at Watergate Bay and Fistral Beach. The 630 mi (1,014 km) South West Coast Path also runs through the town.

Town Trail

The Newquay Discovery Trail is a fun way to explore the town. It has 14 Cornish slate discs, each about 1 meter (39 inches) wide, placed in the ground at different spots. Each disc has special words carved into it by a sculptor named Peter Martin. The trail starts in the town center at the Killacourt.

Education

Newquay has several schools and a university campus.

Higher Education

Newquay University Centre is part of the Combined Universities in Cornwall Partnership. It offers courses in subjects like Zoological Conservation, Marine Aquaculture, and Animal Science. This campus is conveniently located near Newquay Zoo.

Plans were made for a new International Aviation Academy near the Airport and Spaceport. This academy would help students get qualifications related to air and space.

Secondary Schools

Newquay has two secondary schools: Newquay Tretherras, which is an academy specializing in technology, and Treviglas Academy, which focuses on business and enterprise.

World War II Impact

During the Second World War, many schools were moved to Cornwall for safety. For example, 240 boys from Gresham's School were evacuated to Newquay from 1940 to 1944. They stayed in hotels like the Bay Hotel and the Pentire Hotel.

The Royal Air Force also used Newquay hotels as training centers for aircrew from 1940 to 1944. Recruits learned basic flying theory and service rules. Several hotels, including the Atlantic Hotel and the Headland Hotel, were used as hospitals for soldiers, airmen, and sailors.

Hospital and Emergency Services

Newquay has various emergency services to keep people safe.

Police and Fire Services

The Devon and Cornwall Constabulary has a police station in Tolcarne Road. The modern fire station in Tregunnel Hill is run by Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service. It has 24-hour cover in the summer and is staffed during the day in winter. There's also a special fire service at Newquay Airport.

Ambulance and Rescue Services

Ambulance services are provided by the South Western Ambulance Service from a station in St Thomas Road. The Cornwall Air Ambulance is based just outside town, near the airport. The airport is also one of ten UK bases for the Search and Rescue service, which uses helicopters to help people in trouble.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution's Newquay Lifeboat Station is at the harbour, ready to help people at sea. There's also a coastguard rescue team.

Newquay Community Hospital

Newquay Hospital opened in 1931. It's a community hospital with clinics and a minor injuries unit. For serious emergencies, people go to Cornwall’s main hospital in Truro. There are plans for a new, larger hospital in the future.

Transport

Railway

Newquay railway station is the end point of the Atlantic Coast Line from Par. The railway was first built in the 1840s to carry minerals to the harbour. Passenger trains started on June 20, 1876, and Newquay quickly grew as a resort after that. The station is close to the beaches on the eastern side of the town center.

Newquay has direct train services to and from Plymouth, Exeter, and London from May to September. It's special because it's the only branch line in Britain still served by regular intercity trains.

Railway History

The original goods line, opened in 1846, used horses to pull wagons from inland mines to the harbour. Parts of this old line still exist today. For example, a wide footpath from Cliff Road to East Street, known as the "tram track," was once part of it.

The last trains ran all the way to Newquay Harbour around 1924. The passenger station was made bigger several times. The wooden viaduct (a bridge for the railway) just outside the station was rebuilt in 1874 and again before World War II.

A second passenger route used to leave the Par line between 1906 and 1963. This route went to Chacewater, west of Truro, and offered direct trains to Truro and Falmouth.

Mid Cornwall Metro

The Mid Cornwall Metro project was approved in 2023. This project will bring many improvements to Newquay's railway. A second platform will be restored at Newquay station, and there will be other upgrades.

The goal is to have hourly train services between Newquay, Par, St Austell, Truro, and Falmouth Docks. Work is currently underway, and the hourly service is expected to start in May 2025, with extensions to Truro and Falmouth in 2026.

Airport

Newquay Airport connects Newquay to many other parts of the United Kingdom. It also handles a growing number of international flights. It is the main airport for Cornwall.

Until 2008, the airport shared facilities with RAF St Mawgan, a Royal Air Force base. But in December 2008, the military handed over most of the site to Cornwall Airport Limited. The airport has been growing and developing ever since. Its official name is now Cornwall Airport Newquay.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the airport was getting much busier, with many flights to different places, including Germany.

Spaceport

Newquay has a special license to operate as a spaceport, called Spaceport Cornwall. This means it can be used to launch satellites into space. The plan also includes the space tracking station at Goonhilly in south Cornwall.

In July 2018, a partnership was announced with Virgin Orbit to create the spaceport. The aim was to launch satellites from Newquay within three years. The first attempt to launch satellites happened on January 9, 2023, but it was not successful. A new building, the Centre for Space Technologies, is also being built next to the Spaceport.

Newquay Bus Station
Newquay Bus Station
Location	Manor Road, Newquay, Cornwall, TR7 1JQ
Owned by	Transport for Cornwall
Bus routes	19
Bus stands	2
Bus operators	Western Greyhound (until 2015) Go Cornwall Bus Kernow (bus company)
Other information
Website	https://www.visitnewquay.org/visitor-information/newquay-bus-station-p1539193

Bus Services

The bus station is on Manor Road, close to the main shopping area. It was upgraded in 2018 with a new waiting area and accessible toilet.

There are regular bus services from Newquay to many places in Cornwall, including St Austell, Truro, Camborne, Falmouth, and Padstow. There are also local services, including a night bus on Saturday nights during the summer. Buses are operated by First Kernow and Go Cornwall Bus. National Express also serves the town.

During the summer, Go Cornwall runs frequent services from a park and ride site near Hendra Holiday Park.

Sport and Leisure

Newquay has several sports clubs for different interests.

Football and Rugby

Newquay has a non-league association football club called Newquay A.F.C., which plays at the Mount Wise Stadium. Newquay Hornets rugby football club plays at Newquay Sports Centre.

Cricket

Newquay has a four-team cricket club, also based at the sports center. Their top team competes in Cornwall's County One. The club has helped develop many talented young players who have gone on to play for Cornwall.

Running

Newquay is home to the Newquay Road Runners, a running club also based at the sports center.

Cornish Wrestling

Newquay has a history of hosting Cornish wrestling tournaments. The town hosted the Interceltic games several times in the 20th century.

Surfing

Newquay is known as the surf capital of the UK. You'll find many surf shops, board makers, and places to rent surf gear in town.

Fistral Beach is at the heart of Newquay's surfing scene. It's famous for its powerful waves and is considered one of the best surf spots in Cornwall.

Fistral Beach has hosted international surfing competitions for about 20 years. The yearly Boardmasters Festival takes place here, with a music festival held at Watergate Bay.

Newquay is also home to a famous reef break called the Cribbar. Waves here can reach up to 20 feet (6 meters)! It needs very specific weather conditions to break, so it's not surfed often. It was first surfed in 1965. In 2004, Chris Bertish surfed the biggest wave ever seen there.

Other beaches near town, like Towan, Great Western, and Tolcarne, as well as nearby Crantock and Watergate Bay, also offer great surfing.

Notable People from Newquay

• William Golding, the famous novelist who wrote Lord of the Flies and won the 1983 Nobel Prize in Literature, was born in Newquay.
• Ruarri Joseph, a singer-songwriter, lives in the Newquay area.
• Chris Morris, a former footballer for Sheffield Wednesday and Celtic, was born in Newquay.
• James Morrison, a singer-songwriter, grew up near Newquay and went to Treviglas College.
• Neil Halstead, a singer-songwriter, lives in the area.
• Phillip Schofield, a television presenter, went to Newquay Tretherras School.
• Sir David Willcocks, a famous choral conductor and composer, was born here in 1919.
• Richard David James (also known as Aphex Twin), a musician, lives in Newquay.
• Katie Robinson, a footballer for the England national team.

Twin Town

Newquay is twinned with Dinard in Brittany, France.

Newquay in Films

• The Headland Hotel, next to Fistral Beach, has been used in films like Wild Things (1988) and The Witches (1990).
• The Beatles filmed parts of their Magical Mystery Tour movie in Newquay. Scenes were shot at the Atlantic Hotel and Towan Beach.
• Some scenes from the film Blue Juice (1995) were also filmed in Newquay.

Geography

Climate

Newquay has a maritime climate, which means it has cool summers and mild winters, like the rest of the British Isles. The nearest weather station is at Newquay Airport. Temperatures have ranged from 31.3°C (88.3°F) in June 1976 and August 1995 to -9.0°C (15.8°F) in January 1987.

Geology

The rocks under Newquay are from the Devonian age. They are made of layers of mudstone, siltstone, and sandstone, with some limestone. The western part of town also has sand deposits. There are also some lead and silver minerals found near Fistral Beach.

Images for kids

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  Newquay, harbour, Atlantic Hotel and headland from Tolcarne Beach

See also

In Spanish: Newquay para niños