Truro Through Time

by Christine Parnell

Published 15 October 2010
In 1698 Celia Fiennes an intrepid traveler and relative of the Boscawen family rode into Truro on horseback and immediately loved it although she described it in her diary as 'a ruinated and disregarded place, formerly a great tradeing town'. In 1724 the author Daniel Defoe found Truro 'sadly declining as a port' and doubted whether it would ever recover so the fortunes of the town changed just as the inhabitants, buildings and roads altered over the years. In this book we see photographs that evoke memories of the Truro that once was and we can compare them with Truro today. Change is constantly with us and yet the heart of this graceful city remains little changed. Boscawen Street, Cathedral Lane, Georgian Lemon Street and our rivers are instantly recognisable and mean 'home' to Truronians wherever they may be.