A nineteenth century re-enactment took place in Perranwell on Saturday to mark the unveiling of The Trafalgar Way plaque.

The Trafalgar Way was inaugurated in 2005 on the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar, and marks the known route taken by the Naval messenger, Lt John Richards Lapenotiere, who travelled back from the coast of Spain with the official despatches, to tell his superiors and the country at large that the battle was won, but that Lord Nelson had died.

It was the 39th plaque to be erected along the 271-mile coaching route from Falmouth to the Admiralty in London.

Director of The Trafalgar Way, Kathy Brown, said: "We were alerted to Perranwell's role in the historic journey of Lt Lapenotiere by local resident Stuart Douglas, who had spotted an old road strip map hanging in the pub showing distances from Hyde Park Corner.

"A tiny village today, Perranwell was clearly depicted as the main route out of Falmouth in those days and a regional coaching junction in its own right."

There are already plaques in Falmouth, Penryn and Truro, however Perranwell resident Stuart Douglas became aware that the original post-chaise route out of Falmouth would have tracked through the village, which was a minor coaching junction in the early nineteenth century.

Mr Douglas found an interesting "road strip map" hanging in The Royal Oak in the village, which confirmed the route and contacted The 1805 Club, who are the custodians of The Trafalgar Way.

The programme for the day included a small re-enactment of the arrival of Lapenotiere with the despatches, in a replica yellow post-chaise with two horses.

The period carriage, pulled by two horses with a postilion rider, carried Midshipman Ben Cunningham from RN College Dartmouth and actor Tom Blyth, playing the part of Lt John Richards Lapenotiere, who was Captain of HMS Pickle, one of the 27 ships present at Trafalgar in 1805.

It was Lapenotiere who was selected by Vice Admiral Collingwood after the famous sea battle to carry home the official dispatches from the coast of Spain to the Admiralty in London.

His report advised that a great victory had been won, but also announced the tragic death of Admiral Lord Nelson. Lapenotiere’s instructions were to lose no time in taking the news home and to guard the despatches closely.

A new plaque marking Lapenotiere's historic journey was unveiled by Cornwall's Lord Lieutenant, Colonel Edward Bolitho, witnessed by local constituency MP Sarah Newton, local councillors and village residents and schoolchildren.

A guard was provided by Falmouth and Penryn Sea Cadet Unit, and a bugler was on hand with a fanfare.

Perranarworthal Parish Council raised funds to finance the plaque, which recognises not only the momentous journey of Lapenotiere, but also the contribution of men from Perranwell and surrounding villages who took part in the naval action off Trafalgar in 1805.

At least two are known to have participated in, and survived, the battle.

Kathy added: "It was the very great pleasure of The Trafalgar Way, which is an initiative of heritage charity The 1805 Club, to work with Perranwell to procure the plaque and put together the 19th century re-enactment ceremony."

The plaque is fixed to the front of the Royal Oak pub to provide information to visitors and travellers keen to explore away from the main A39 trunk road.