A Compilation of Taverns, Inns and Public Houses of Truro

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A compilation of Truro public houses, past and present, up to the year 2000, researched and compiled by Tony Mansell, Bard of Gorsedh Kernow and a member of St Agnes Old Cornwall Society, and Bob Teague, a member of Truro Old Cornwall Society.

Introduction

Following this introduction and the overview, you will find information about Truro’s many public houses. In addition to the basic facts about the pubs and their licensees, we have included incidents and references which reflect national and local events, together with stories of some of the characters who frequented the pubs. Hopefully, this helps to show how our pubs are such an important part of our history and culture, whether they were a rather grand hotel used for civic and social occasions or a lowly beer house where the ordinary people could seek some comfort from the bleakness of their everyday lives.

With so many pubs closing in recent years due to economic pressures, changing social habits and the greed of the larger pub companies and some brewers, it seemed important to record what information we had so as to provide a record, albeit incomplete, of the past pub scene in Truro.

Overview

In 1577, there were three ale taverns in Truro. Confusingly, it is also recorded that the wine taverns in Truro Borough were held by Henry Chapman, John Pascow and Christian Danyell (widow) and the ale taverns by John Manswell, Henry Allan, Peter Drew, Richard Pytford, Peter William, Victor Kestell and Olyver Vyan. (An account of all inns, taverns and alehouses in the kingdom)

During the late 1700s and early 1800s the proliferation of drinking houses across Cornwall was directly related to the increased mining activity and the popularity of such places led people like John Wesley (1703 to 1791) to conclude that Cornwall was a place that did indeed need “saving”. For some folk, alehouses were the ruination of their lives and the destroyer of family life, but to others they were a break from their stressful lives and havens from the daily grind of the workplace. They were somewhere to socialise and a place of relaxation where news could be heard and gossip exchanged. Some provided food and lodging to the traveller, and stabling and fodder for his horses. These early alehouses were the forerunners of the modern public house.

In 1742, Andrew Brice of Exeter described his experiences in Truro and it is clear from his comment that he was less than impressed with the local ale. They have good Wine and Brandy here…but their Ale, at least when I was some Months here, was, generally, an Abomination to the Guts as well as Gust, and that, in some Houses, & on some Times, brewed one Day, and guzzled down the next, if not, more than lukewarm, in the Afternoon of the same Day. (The mid-1700s writing of Andrew Brice of Truro / The Grand Gazetteer or Topographic Dictionary 1759)

In 1822, the Gazette reported, We are pleased to hear that the Innkeepers of Truro have determined to lower the price of beer to 5d a pot. It also stated that the quality was to be improved.

By 1826, there were 27 Inns and Public-Houses in Truro.

In 1828, the Alehouse Act established a General Annual Licensing Meeting to be held in every city, town, division, county and riding, for the purposes of granting licences to inns, alehouses and victualling houses to sell excisable liquors to be drunk on the premises. The Beer Act of 1830 (referred to as the Goulborn Act) liberalised the regulations and enabled anyone to brew and sell beer on payment of a licence costing two guineas (£2.10). The intention was to increase competition between brewers. It resulted in the opening of hundreds of new beer houses, public houses and breweries throughout the country. The Act’s supporters hoped that, by increasing competition, the price of beer would be lower and the population weaned off more harmful drinks such as gin. For this reason, even the Evangelical Church and the Temperance movements initially encouraged the consumption of beer which they considered to be harmless, nutritious and certainly healthier than water. For many though, this relaxation was controversial. They claimed that it removed from local magistrates the power to regulate local trade in alcohol and even promoted drunkenness.

By 1841, 45,500 licences had been issued across the country and the easing of regulations during the reign of William IV led to many taverns and public houses being named in his honour. It is suggested that he remains the most popular monarch among pub names.

In 1866, no town in Cornwall could match Truro where there were 44 licensed houses. Penzance had 24 and Falmouth had 19. Additionally, there were 30 beershops in Penzance, 15 in Truro and 7 in Falmouth. Altogether there were 686 licensed houses, and 170 beershops in Cornwall – about two for every thousand people.

Further licensing laws were introduced in 1869 as in some towns, a brew was available in almost every other house. This was the beginning of local magistrates exercising greater control on the sale of alcohol and in the following years, this led to a decline in the number of pubs as magistrates refused to renew licences in areas where there was a proliferation of pubs. This applied to parts of Truro which had a number of pubs in close proximity.

1883: It was a continuing battle, abstinence verses alcohol, for Truro’s population could be tempted by any of the proprietors of three breweries, nine beer houses, seven wine, spirit, ale or porter merchants, or any one of the thirty-seven licensed inns or hotels. (About the City by David Mudd)

Pub names were, and still are, very varied and we are left to wonder at the actual connection with the suggested activity. In some cases the name struck a chord with the landlord who took it with him when he moved to a new house. There are some examples of that in this paper.

In recent years, many public houses have undergone considerable change with small rooms giving way to open plan and the provision of food becoming the main attraction. Many have found it necessary to close due to regulations, re-development or for financial reasons. It is now difficult to find a traditional “spit and sawdust” pub, but it is still possible to find one where the locals can be observed playing their traditional games such as euchre, spoof and darts.

Maps

The location maps are used under a licence between Cornwall Council and St Agnes Old Cornwall Society.

Notes on Street Names

Over time, some street names in Truro have changed. Kenwyn Street has had differing names and locations. Changes that might call into question the location of a pub are listed below, although the address(es) of each pub are shown as found in various sources.

Back Lane is now City Road
Church Lane is now Cathedral Lane
Kenwyn Street was Carvedras Street
Kenwyn Road (north end of Pydar Street) was once Kenwyn Street.
Kenwyn Street also once included Victoria Place/Square.
Calenick Street was also known as Street Newham (a very old name) and Shute Street.
Carclew Street was Orange Street until the 1830s
New Bridge Street sometimes referred to as East Bridge Street (e.g. 1871 census)

Also, in some streets the house numbering will have changed over time.

Copyright, Additions and Errors

There are no copyright restrictions on the use of this material but if you can provide additional information or correct errors then please do so using these contact details so that the resultant revisions can be included.

Tony Mansell 01872 552098 / Mob: 07812 463746 / tonymansell4@outlook.com