I grew up in and around Truro and thought I knew the city quite well. True, I knew all the lanes, alleys and short cuts having spent hours roaming or cycling around as a child but today I saw and learned so much more! We went on a guided tour, Truro Now and Then and discovered more than I can possibly tell you about. I will give you a gallery with captions and wish I could remember all the fascinating stories we heard! Next time you are in Truro, book a tour with Viv Robinson, Blue Badge guide and have the secrets unfurled as you walk around. Click on any photo for the detail and the caption.
Boscawen Street was not always so wide. There were houses and shops down the middle, called Middle Row
Squeeze Guts Alley, named not as we always thought for the tiny alleyway but because the fish market was next door and the fish were gutted there!
The Cathedral from St Mary’s Street
Just outside the cathedral, the road had wooden cobbles to keep down the noise of the carriages for those inside at the service. The wood can still be seen where the tarmac has worn away.
The architect, John Loughborough Pearson, who designed Truro Cathedral
The Cathedral was built to incorporate St Mary’s Church
This Gryphon appears to be protecting her young. This wasn’t part of the tour, just something that caught my eye.
See the damaged lead and the very blue glass? A naughty boy shot a hole in the original and it was couldn’t be replaced by the original window maker as his shop in London had been bombed. Temporary glass was put in and is still there.
The damaged pane of glass from inside the Cathedral
The spire from St Mary’s Church is in the grounds at the back of the Cathedral
The old Assembly Rooms built in 1780 which had inside a ballroom and a theatre hence Mr Garrick and Mr Shakespeare having their portarits in stone on the frontage
David Garrick
William Shakespeare
Victorian public toilets which later became a Police station and more recently an art gallery!
The oldest building in Truro
This bronze sculpture by Tim Shaw was unveiled in 2011 by Queen drummer Roger Taylor, who was born in Truro, and is meant to symbolise the spirit of Cornwall
Inside and upstairs of The Cornish Food Box premises. It is a listed building as the beams have Socialist slogans from the 1920’s painted on them
Walsingham Place
GARY SMITH
April 29, 2016 at 5:35 pm
Under our shop false floor at Bridge Antiques they relaid the wooden block floor after some of it was removed from the cathedral
Grannymar
May 18, 2015 at 5:47 pm
Squeeze Guts Alley, I love it and how it got the name. I have yet to make it as far as Truro or any part of Cornwall. My time on the mainland was usually spent in the north east.
utesmile
May 18, 2015 at 5:30 pm
Lovely to walk around Truro with you. I remember the Cathedral and Boscowan street. Nice to hear all the little stories and insides! Well I walked around as a tourist and it is lovely!
mybeautfulthings
May 18, 2015 at 7:45 pm
I thought of you as I did the post and hoped you would see it and enjoy the stroll! All the best to you 🙂
heatherdawnfineart
May 18, 2015 at 12:57 pm
This is a very beautiful post, I have never been to either Truro, but maybe will some day. Thank you for sharing.
valeriedavies
May 18, 2015 at 1:34 am
gorgeous Sally. I
I’ve saved your other post with pictures of Truro too…can’t get enough of them….such a beautiful little city
mybeautfulthings
May 18, 2015 at 9:27 am
Maybe one day you will visit! 🙂
lovetotrav
May 18, 2015 at 12:54 am
This was kind of funny as I was first thinking Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada but then as I was looking at the pics… I thought… no way… Truro isn’t this nice and doesn’t look this quaint… this must be Europe.
mybeautfulthings
May 18, 2015 at 6:56 am
This is Europe! It is Truro in Cornwall, UK. We went to Truro on Cape Cod a couple of years ago, also very different from our little city. Thank you for calling in and taking the time to comment – much appreciated. 🙂
Minuscule Moments
May 17, 2015 at 8:17 pm
What a beautiful city I have never heard of it, so thank you for sharing your tour.
mybeautfulthings
May 18, 2015 at 7:04 am
There is much more to see and tell too! 🙂