442 NOTES AND QUEBIES. 



of local slate laid without cement. This probably was the 

 foundation of the keep, but no traces of the outer walls were 

 found, although a small room adjoined the entrance, which was 

 on the south-east side. 



That Truro was of some importance in the early half of the 

 twelfth century is also shown by its charter, which dates from 

 that period. The town crept down the hill from the castle 

 towards the quay, and thus Pydar Street was first formed. 

 Tonkin calls this street St. Pancras Street, but I can find no 

 evidence to support this surmise. The approaches to the town 

 from the east were two in number; over Moresk ford, and by 

 another paved ford, which was discovered when the foundations 

 of the Public Rooms were put in, crossing the river, where, on 

 the eastern bank, it has been found under the timber wharf 

 opposite. This road ran to Tregony, and descended to Mopus 

 by a steep worn track to the ferry, which may still be traced. 



But this ford at Moresk became inconvenient as the town 

 increased, and a bridge was thrown over the river, about a third 

 of a mile below it, and it still exists, and bears the name of Old 

 Bridge. 



I am not aware of any record of the date at which this 

 bridge was built; but as it is shown in a chart of the south 

 coast of Cornwall drawn in the reign of King Henry VIII, it 

 must have been prior to this period. Both it and the "West 

 Bridge appear in Norden's map, 1584, and in that of Baptista 

 Boazio, dated 1597, so that we have clear evidence that both 

 these bridges were in existence in the 1 6th century. The parish 

 church was built and consecrated in 1259 ; and its high altar 

 was dedicated and the church was probably enlarged in 1328. 

 Numerous fragments of this early English church were dis- 

 covered during the erection of the Cathedral, but no foundations 

 by which its plan could have been traced were laid bare. As 

 was very general in Cornwall, this building was pulled down in 

 the early part of the 16th century, and St. Mary's Church then 

 re-built, a portion of which still stands as the south aisle of the 

 choir of the Cathedral. Truro Church was always dedicated to 

 St. Mary, although many churches had their dedication altered 

 at the time of the Reformation. I find that in a document of 



