Pictures of Saltash

About Saltash

Famous for its two great bridges than span the River Tamar, this little town, known as 'the gateway to Cornwall' is both pretty and interesting and it is well worth breaking your journey to look around and enjoy the spectacular views of the river and bridges.

The narrow streets of Saltash are crammed with attractive old buildings. One building is the home of the wife of Sir Francis Drake.
Drake married a Saltash girl, Mary Newman, her cottage has been preserved and is open to the public. It is said that Sir Francis, used the local harbour to unload cargo from Spanish treasure ships.

It is to the river that Saltash owes its status as a town. History tells us that there has been a river crossing of the Tamar in existence since Roman times and that long before the great port of Plymouth developed, Saltash had both a port and a safe harbour.

There does not appear to be a great deal known of the early history of the town but there is little doubt that the building of the railways brought prosperity to both the town and its people. The Royal Albert Bridge which carries the railway was designed by Brunel. It was completed and commissioned for service in 1859 by H.R.H. Prince Albert. More latterly, in the year 1961 another more slender suspension bridge was built. This new bridge replaced the Saltash Ferry servce and opened up the road across to Plymouth and the rest of the country. There is a plaque in Old Ferry Road reminding the visitor that the bridge replaced a ferry service that had been in operation since the 13th-century.

Now-a-days there is a lively air and a bustle about the town, there are pleasant riverside walks with picnic areas, interesting shops and a good selection of inns and restaurants, all of which offer delicious fresh locally caught fish and good wine