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Summary

In 1989 an excavation revealed that between the former Central Hotel on Quay Street and the River Allen there was a high water mark in the early C18 and this area wall infilled behind a wall on the mudflats.

Protected Status

• Conservation Area: TRURO

Other References/Statuses

• Primary Record No. (1985-2009): 18992

Monument Type(s):

• QUAY (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• TIMBER POND (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Full description

The site centred at SW 8281 4483 between the former Central Hotel on Quay Street and the River Allen was investigated prior to its development in 1989 (h1-3,b3). Four trenches, mechanically excavated, were trowelled and drawn in plan and section (b3). It was found that prior to the early C18; high water mark - defined by a substantial stone retaining wall - ran half way across the site, a deposit of natural alluvium approx 1.15m thick lying beyond it (b3). A wall approx 12.0m into the tidal mud may have been a free-standing quay wall, or perhaps more likely, the wall of a timber pond. At some time in the early-mid C18, the foreshore was reclaimed by dumping material from quarries and demolition rubble behind a wall on the mudflats. The context for this development would seem to be the purchase of the tenement on the east side of the site by Samuel Enys. He constructed the Old Mansion House there from 1710 (see PRN 18993). The Central Hotel river frontage seems to have been part of his Enys Quay (see PRN 18944). The later history of the site may include use by a cooperage business in Quay Street.

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Site history:
2: 1989. HARTGROVES,S & YOUNG,A/CAU
3: 1989. HARTGROVES,S & YOUNG,A/CAU
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Hartgroves, S, 1989, Central Hotel Site, Quay St, Truro. An Archaeological Assessment (Report). SCO999.

<1> SYMONS, 1842, MAP OF TRURO (Unedited Source). SCO5947.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1880s, 1st Edition 1:2500 Map (Cartographic materials). SCO4048.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Finds

• FCO3439 - BOTTLE (Unknown date)
• FCO1841 - SHERD (Unknown date)
• FCO1842 - UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Unknown date)
• FCO3440 - UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Unknown date)

Associated Events

• ECO518 - Central Hotel Truro
• ECO65 - Central Hotel, Truro: Evaluation and Excavation, 1997 (Ref: 1997R032)

Related records: none recorded

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