The Packet Station

In 1688, the Post Office chose Falmouth as a packet station, or port, for handling overseas mail.

This led to the building of a special fleet of fast, lightly armed ships known as Falmouth Packets, and the heroics of packet captains, such as John Bull. Falmouth remained the leading packet station until the mid 19th century. A granite memorial to the packet service stands in the middle of Bodmin Moor.