"Home of The Furry Dance"

Helston an ancient market town, was first granted its charter in 1201. Two main streets intersect the town and the widest, Coinagehall Street, was described by John Betjeman as "It takes a beautiful curve like the Oxford "High" and is well terminated at either end."

Helston was one of the ancient coinage towns where tin ingots were assayed and stamped to assess the duty to be paid to the Duke of Cornwall. During this process a corner or "coign" was cut off to be assayed for quality.

In early times Helston was a thriving port at the head of the Cober estuary but from the 13th C onwards, the estuary began to silt up and a great shingle bank "The Loe Bar" was formed at the mouth of the estuary making the largest freshwater lake in Cornwall. The estates round this lake are part owned by The National Trust and there are delightful walks to be taken in this area.