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The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland - 1868
"TRURO, comprising the parishes of St John, St George, St Mary, and St Paul; it isa seaport, market town, municipal and parliamentary borough, in the W. division of Powder hundred, county Cornwall, 11 miles N. of Falmouth, and 21 S.W. of Bodmin. It is a station on the Cornwall and West Cornwall railway. Truro, which is first mentioned in the 12th century under the name of Triueru, occupies the point of land between the two small rivers Kenwyn and Allen, at the head of Truro Creek, a branch of Falmouth Harbour. This river or creek at spring tide swells into a lake 2 miles in length, and of sufficient depth to be navigable for vessels of 100 tons burden, giving to the town the advantages of a capacious port. It is supposed to have obtained its first charter of incorporation about 1130, which was confirmed by Queen Elizabeth in 1589, and has returned two members to parliament since the year 1294, the mayor being the returning officer. The borough was formerly limited to the parish of St. Mary, but since the improvement Act obtained in 1794, comprises the whole town, extending into the parishes of St. Clement's and Kenwyn. By the municipal Act it is now divided into two wards, and is governed by a mayor, 6 aldermen, and 18 councillors. Within the present century it has greatly increased in size and prosperity, and is considered the largest and neatest town in Cornwall. The population of the borough in 1851 was 10,733, and in 1861, 12,000. The streets are well paved, lighted with gas, and regularly built. The principal public buildings are the townhall, a modern structure in the Italian style; the market-house, also recently erected; the borough gaol, a police-station, union workhouse, assembly rooms, theatre, savings-bank, the Cornish Bank, the county infirmary, a dispensary; the Royal Cornwall Institution and Museum, established in 1818, containing a collection of Cornish minerals, birds, and antiquities; the county library, containing 3,000 volumes; and Cornish Horticultural Society; there are also the lying-in institution, humane society, and a granite column, erected to the memory of the two Landers, the famous African explorers, who were natives. Public rooms are about to be built near the eastern bridge, together with a large room for the reception of the library belonging to the Bishop of Exeter, which he has presented to the clergy of Cornwall. The trade of the town, which is considerable, is chiefly connected with the mining interest. Large quantities of tin ore are run into bars and ingots for exportation to the Mediterranean and India, and copper ore is exported to Swansea to be smelted, while coals, iron, and timber are largely imported for consumption in the mines, one of which, the East Huel Rose, is close to the town. Crucibles of a superior quality are made at Calenick, near Truro. The coinage of tin was a privilege enjoyed by this town as early as the reign of John; the process is still carried on only here and at Penzance. The court of the Vice-Warden of the Stanneries is also held here quarterly. The Easter quarter sessions and petty sessions for the western division of Powder are held at the townhall, also county courts monthly. The Poor-law Union of Truro comprises 24 parishes and townships. Two weekly newspapers, the Royal Cornwall Gazette and the West -Briton and Cornwall Advertiser are published on Thursday. The archdeacon's visitations are held here. The living of St. Mary's is a rectory in the diocese of Exeter, value £150. The church of St. Mary, situated in High Cross, is a gothic structure of white granite, erected in 1518, with a tower and spire 125 feet high, erected in 1769. In the interior are several monuments. The old altar-piece representing Moses and Aaron has been lately removed, and a Caen-stone reredos, carved and illuminated, placed in its stead. The organ is one of the finest in the W. of England. There are also the parish churches of St. Clement's and Kenwyn, situated out of the town, besides the district churches of St. George, in Carvedras, St. John's, in Lemon-street, and St. Paul's, in Tregoles-road, all of which are modern. The Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists, Baptists, and Independents have chapels. There are a grammar school, with a small endowment and two exhibitions of £30 per annum to Exeter College; a mining school, held at the Royal Institution; a central school on Dr. Bell's plan; also National, Sunday, and infant schools in connection with the several churches. The diocesan female training college is a modern structure situated at the eastern border of the town, near St. Paul's Church. The local charities include a hospital or almshouse for ten widows, founded by Henry Williams in 1631. Near the town is an eminence called Castle Hill, where formerly stood a castle of the earls of Cornwall, but which was in ruins before Leland's time. Besides the brothers Lander, Foote the comedian and Polwhele the historian were born here. Market days are Wednesday and Saturday, the former chiefly for grain. Fairs are held on 5th March, 14th May, 19th November, and 8th December."