FASCINATING PAINTING OF TRURO

Just arrived at the Lander Gallery is this painting of Truro which is about two centuries old.

TRURO  HIGH CROSS, c 1800.

This is a unique piece of history.

WHAT CAN YOU SEE?

The church in the centre is the old St Mary’s, as it was before the construction of the cathedral. We know the clock and spire were added in the 1770s. Around the church is the old graveyard wall, before it was given iron railings in 1824. When the cathedral was built, the church was demolished and only the south aisle was preserved as part of the new building. So the cathedral covered the area of the churchyard and moved out to fill much of the open space seen in this painting. The West door of the cathedral is now not far from the elegant grey building on the left. This still stands today- it now houses offices and a baker’s shop. When it opened in 1787 it was the Assembly Rooms, containing a theatre and various rooms for cards and entertainments. In this picture the building looks smart and new. Some of the buildings on the left have gone but it is recognisable.

There is a big redbrick house on the left with the ground floor as the ironmonger’s called Carkeek. Clearly defined in the window are domestic wares such as candlesticks, cutlery, plates and a clock face. Now it is PHONES 4U

To the right of the picture, the sign for King Street hangs on the house which is now Swarovski’s.

WHAT CAN YOU SEE?

THE COBBLES

The KING STREET sign

THE LEAT runs through the channel- as it still does- but there is a woman washing clothes in it.

The PUMP

The STOCKS for criminals

THE COWS

RICH MAN, POOR MAN, SHOPKEEPER, SERVANT,  FARMER

The artist has chosen the figures with care to show a cross section of Truro society . There are representatives of the labouring classes, the tradespeople the farmers, the servants and the gentry.

The whole scene has a tranquil serenity which is not so easy to imagine on a busy day today as cows have given way to cars and the village pump is no more use than the leats for washing clothes.

The painting has an interesting history. In the 19^th century, it was sold as a view of old Kensington and went to a fine collection in Berkshire. By chance a Cornishman happened recognise High Cross. He wrote to a friend in Truro and the story was published in the Royal Cornwall Gazette on Boxing Day 1884.

Who painted it? We do not know the artist and there is no signature.