Truro Gallery

Williams Almshouses, Pydar Street, Truro, Cornwall. 1890s

Inner courtyard with monument and resident ladies. The almshouses were built in 1631 to the memory of Henry Williams, a woollen draper in Truro. Williams died in 1629, bequeathing land and money in a charitable trust for almshouses to be built in Pydar Street to house 10 poor widows. The trust provided them with clothes and 4 shillings per week in money. The almshouses have since been demolished with the plaque moved to the gardens of the senior citizens' bungalows of William's Court, Union Street, Truro, which were built to replace the almshouses. The monument seen in the photograph was relocated to Dairyland Farm World, Tresillian Barton, Summercourt, Newquay. Photographer: Argall

© From the collection of the RIC

River Street, Truro, Cornwall. Late 1800s

A view of River Street, looking east, showing the Truro Savings Bank and Baptist Chapel, later to become the Royal Cornwall Museum. The architect of both buildings was Philip Sambell (1798-1874). Truro Savings Bank was built in 1847. The bank closed in 1894 and became Henderson's School of Mining in 1897. The School of Mining closed in 1907 and the Royal Institution of Cornwall purchased the building in 1908 to house their growing collections. Truro Baptist Chapel was built in 1850. The chapel was purchased by the RIC in 1985 as an extension to the museum. Extensive refurbishment and additions followed, including the 'link' between the two buildings. An upper floor was added to the Baptist Chapel creating the Treffry gallery. Recorded in 1852-1853 at 27 River Street, was the premises of J. Hugo, a dyer. The business had moved to Kenwyn Street by 1878 and the building is now, in 2017, occupied by Simpsons of Cornwall. The photograph also shows a horse drawn cart and several people. Photographer: Unknown

© From the collection of the RIC

Passmore Edwards Free Library, Truro, Cornwall. Around 1899

The Passmore Edwards Free Library and technical school on the corner of Pydar Street and Union Place. Funded by Passmore Edwards and designed by Silvanus Trevail, the school was built in 1899 as a Technical College for men and women. It became a secondary school for boys aged 11-15 in the 1930s. The school was built as an extension to the Passmore Edwards Free Library which had been built in 1896. Both buildings were later used as Truro Community Library. A group of mainly school children pose for the camera. Probably taken not long after the school opened. Photographer: Arthur William Jordan

© From the collection of the RIC