Cornish town has to beat some Goliaths to be the new St Davids
A TINY Cornish town is attempting to become the UK’S smallest city, arguing that “size doesn’t matter”.
Marazion, one of the county’s most popular tourist destinations, has applied for city status as part of a competition for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
It will be in the running with other towns including Reading, Bournemouth and Southend-on-sea, with judges weighing up issues such as civic pride, heritage and innovation.
If Marazion is successful, it would become the smallest city in the UK, with only 1,440 residents recorded at the time of the last census.
Cllr Richard Stokoe, chairman of the council’s Queen’s Platinum Jubilee committee, said: “Marazion deserves to be celebrated and given city status. The wonderful people, the fascinating history, stunning beauty and incredible community spirit mean that Marazion would be a fitting and popular place to become the next town to be honoured with becoming a city.
“As it is often said, size is not important. Despite being a David in a field of Goliaths applying for city status, anyone who has ever lived, worked [in] or visited Marazion knows that there is something for everyone and that it would be a worthy winner of the award.”
Some 400,000 British and international visitors travel to Marazion every year. It was given chartered status in 1257 by Henry III, and this was reaffirmed by Elizabeth I in 1595. Marazion is now the oldest chartered town in the UK. St Michael’s Mount is metres from the town’s shoreline.
The Queen will confer city status on one or more towns next year to mark her 70-year reign.
Paul Elliott, chair of the Marazion Chamber of Commerce, said that obtaining city status would “stimulate local businesses” in the west Cornish town.
St Davids, in Wales, is currently the smallest UK city, with 1,600 inhabitants. It was awarded the status in 1994, to mark its role in Christian heritage.
City status is rarely granted – in 2012, 25 towns applied and only three were granted the status.
No money has been spent on Marazion’s application for city status, the town council said.
The name Marazion derives from the important fairs and markets that were held there, with the earliest recorded in 1070.