Plaques in honour of town heroes unveiled

PLAQUES commemorating a naval hero and one of Victorian England's wealthiest men now adorn two of Penzance's best-known buildings.

Town mayor Jan Ruhrmund formally unveiled the Penzance Heritage Plaques on Tuesday at the Turk's Head pub and at the thatched Hawkes Cottage, near the top of Alexandra Road.

Hawks Farm, Alverton, Penzance. Unveiling of the first Penzance Heritage Plaque in memory of Admiral Sir Edward Pellew, Bart. 1st Viscount Exmouth 1757 - 1833 who lived here from 1765 - 1770. LR Judith Parkin, Jon Pender, Penzance Mayor, Jan Ruhrmund, Teresa Fogarty and Penzance Town Clerk Simon Glasson. PZPM20110719B-001_C.jpg
At Hawkes Cottage, Penzance, town mayor Jan Ruhrmund unveiled a heritage plaque in honour of naval hero Sir Edward Pellew, who went on to become the first Viscount Exmouth. She was watched by the current owners of the house Johanna Moriarty and Michael Murray.
Hawks Farm, Alverton, Penzance. Unveiling of the first Penzance Heritage Plaque in memory of Admiral Sir Edward Pellew, Bart. 1st Viscount Exmouth 1757 - 1833 who lived here from 1765 - 1770. PZPM20110719B-003_C.jpg
A plaque in honour of Thomas Holloway was unveiled at the Turk's Head pub in Penzance, by Derek Le Helyer-Holloway, a distant relative of the Victorian multi-millionaire and philanthropist. Buy these pictures at www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/buyaphoto
The TurkÕs Head Pub Penzance. Unveiling of Penzance Heritage Plaque in memory of Thomas Holloway. The plaque is unveiled by Derek Le Helyer-Holoway (centre) the 4 times removed great nephew of Thomas Holloway, pictured with the LandlordÕs of the Turks Head, Jonathan and Helen Gibbard. PZPM20110719C-002_C.jpg
The TurkÕs Head Pub Penzance. Unveiling of Penzance Heritage Plaque in memory of Thomas Holloway. The plaque is unveiled by Derek Le Helyer-Holoway (2nd left) the 4 times removed great nephew of Thomas Holloway, pictured with the LandlordÕs of the Turks Head, Jonathan and Helen Gibbard (right & left) and Penzance Mayor Cllr Jan Ruhrmund. PZPM20110719C-003_C.jpg
The TurkÕs Head Pub Penzance. Unveiling of Penzance Heritage Plaque in memory of Thomas Holloway. PZPM20110719C-004_C.jpg

At Hawkes Cottage, the plaque commemorates Sir Edward Pellew, whose courage during the American War of Independence and the Napoleonic Wars saw him made the first Viscount Exmouth.

He lived at Hawkes Cottage, now the home of Michael Murray and Johanna Moriarty, for five years as a boy.

The Turk's Head was the childhood home of Thomas Holloway, who made his fortune selling patent medicines, but who in later life became a philanthropist, gifting to the nation Royal Holloway College and the Sanatorium in Surrey which is named after him.

Helping the mayor unveil the plaque at the pub was Derek Le Helyer-Holloway, a distant relative of Thomas Holloway and an active member of the society which celebrates his life and achievements.

Pub landlady Helen Gibbard said: "My husband, Jonathan, and I now need to do our homework and get our facts right about Thomas Holloway for when people come in and ask about him."

The town council-funded scheme to put up the plaques was the brainchild of town councillor David Nebesnuick.

"I really hope it will become a rolling programme," he said. "Until now, Penzance has only had five of these plaques and I think it's important that people know that the town is not just about Humphry Davy."

He added; "Putting up these plaques is a way in which we can show our pride in Penzance."