The village is on the northeast bank of the Carnon River at its confluence with Restronguet Creek, a tidal creek which flows into Carrick Roads above Falmouth. Devoran is at the Normal Tidal Limit (NTL) of the creek[2] but until the 20th-century the tidal limit stretched much further up the valley than now.[3]
The name Devoran comes from the Cornish languageDeveryon, meaning 'waters'.[4]
Devoran played an important role in the tin and coppermining industry. It developed as a small port engaged in the export of mined minerals and the import of mining materials and coal.[5] The Redruth and Chasewater Railway, an early industrial line which served the many mines a few miles to the north, terminated at the port (although there was an extension to wharves at Point on which trains were hauled by horses rather than locomotives). Today, this long-disused railway forms part of a coast-to-coast footpath and cycle route.
A ruined engine house of Carnon Mine is on the bank of the estuary near Devoran. The tin mine was in operation from 1824 to 1830.[6]
The church of St John and St Petroc (architect John Loughborough Pearson) was built in 1855–56 and consists of a nave and chancel only.[7] It was renovated in 1879.[8]Thomas Lobb, Victorianbotanist and plant hunter is buried in Devoran churchyard. The parish war memorial by H J Martin lists seventeen names "in grateful memory of the men of the parish of Devoran who fell in the Great War 1914–1919". A further section of eight names was added of Second World War casualties.[9]
