Saltash in historic gazetteers

Gazetteer of the British Isles (Edinburgh: Bartholomew, 1887). John Bartholomew

Saltash, market town and township with ry. sta., St Stephen's by Saltash par., Cornwall, on river Tamar, 3 miles NW. of Devonport, pop. 2563; P.O., T.O., 1 Bank. Market-day, Saturday. Saltash was an ancient corporate town, possessing charters from Richard III. and subsequent monarchs, and was at one time a place of great importance, mainly on account of its being one of the passes into Cornwall. It was represented in Parliament by 2 members until 1832, and suffered great decline until the railway era, when it rapidly revived in prosperity and underwent considerable extension. It is a port of some consequence, and carries on malting, fishing, and an active coasting trade; grapes are largely cultivated in and around the town. The Albert Bridge, a celebrated railway bridge, 2240 ft. long and 240 in height, carries the railway across the estuary of the Tamar at a height of 100 ft. above water level.