422 TRURO GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 



The area in front of the school is 30 feet by 13. The lower 

 backlet 47 feet by 30. The passage between them 48 feet by 9.* 



Unfortunately (in Polwhele's opinion), and much to the 

 detriment of Conon's successors as head masters, Mr. Conon 

 consented to receive ten pounds per annum in lieu of a house 

 which the Corporation would have provided for him. This sum, 

 with the original endowment of fifteen pounds, was all that Dr. 

 Cardew, a succeeding headmaster, ever received from the Corpor- 

 ation, — but the patrons, or representatives of the borough, for 

 some years contributed twenty-five pounds per annum towards 

 the support of an usher. 



Whilst the masters lived on the spot, the play-place at the 

 back of the school was a garden. And there was a tradition 

 that what is now known as The Green (the bowling green) was 

 once allotted as a play-place for the use of the boys of the Truro 

 Grammar School. The writer remembers joining with other old 

 Truro Grammar School boys in a somewhat violent assertion of 

 this supposed right. 



" This tradition," says Polwhele, " I had often heard, as 

 well as my schoolfellows : and often had we acted upon it, 

 entering the green with confidence, and looking on the bowlers 

 as usurpers of our right ; but I did not then know that my own 

 family were once in possession of the bowling-green. Among 

 my old papers I lately met with the following letter, super- 

 scribed, " Bro. Franc, aboute Trurowe greene." In this letter, 

 dated June the first, 1642, Francis Polwhele thus addresses his 

 lovinge brother, John Polwhele, Esq., at his chambers in 

 Lincoln's Inn. — 



" Good brother * * * * The materialls are in place for the 

 new building of the decaied houses on the greene. I have 

 priuately conferred with divers ould people ; most tell me, they 

 have known it a sporting-place ; and some have heard it 

 accounted Polwhele's land. All agree they remember the 

 greatest part taken from the sea by the towne. Tou may take 

 this into consideration. 'Tis of value, and noe reason that what 

 is taken from the sea, and your's, should be their's. You may, 



*See the exterior and interior views of the School which accompany this 

 article. 



