Penryn

Penryn (Corn., 'head of the river'), a town of Cornwall, at the head of a creek of Falmouth harbour, 3 miles NW. of Falmouth town, with which it returns one member to parliament (till 1885 two). Scarce a trace remains of Glasney College, founded in 1264 for thirteen Black Augustinian Canons; and none of a palace of the bishops of Exeter. Neighbouring quarries supply the famous Penryn granite—the material of Waterloo Bridge, the Chatham Docks, and other great public works; and the town has besides some manufactures of paper, woollen cloth, gunpowder, &c. Incorporated by James I., it was taken by Fairfax in 1646. Pop. (1851) 3959; (1891) 3256.