312 THE EXPANSION OF TRURO. 



ravages of the plague ; so much so, indeed, that the inhabitants 

 petitioned Richard II. to reduce their rent payable to the crown 

 from £12 Is. lOd. to £2 10s. Od. ; many houses were allowed 

 to "fall down, decay, and remain void and desolate grounds," 

 and the people seriously thought of forsaking the town and of 

 establishing themselves elsewhere. This project, however, was 

 found to be impracticable, and was consequently abandoned. 



The eastern and western entrances to the town were growing 

 points. The approaches from the east were ultimately four in 

 number; the most primitive, in all probability, being Moresk 

 ford at the bottom of Trezonian Street (Good-wives' Lane) on the 

 London Eoad. This ford was generally passable at low water, 

 but not after heavy rains. The second in point of time was, 

 perhaps, the paved ford, the remains of which were discovered 

 when the foundations of the Public Eooms were laid in 1869; 

 search was then made for its eastern end, and it was discovered 

 under the timber wharf about one hundred yards above Boscawen 

 Bridge. The road with which it was connected ran to Tregony, 

 and descended to Malpas by a steep worn track, the remains of 

 which are still extant. In consequence of the existence of this 

 passage, and of the increase of shipping, the town branched off 

 in this direction, and a small quay was built. 



The growth of Truro and the development of its trade, made 

 it necessary to provide an approach from London better than that 

 afforded by Moresk ford, and a bridge was thrown across the 

 river a short distance farther down. This bridge, still known as 

 the " Old Bridge," was not far from the church, and in due time, 

 bridge and church were connected by a short street. Com- 

 munication being now so easy across the river, several houses 

 were built on the St. Clement's side in continuation of Old Bridge 

 Street, and also others which formed the beginning of St. 

 Clement's Street. No record has been preserved which shews 

 when this bridge was built, but, if our theory is correct, it must 

 have existed before the year 1390, for in a deed of this date, 

 mention is made oE " Stret Clemens." The bridge is shown in a 

 chart of the south coast of Cornwall, published in the reign of 

 Henry VIII. , and both it and the West Bridge are noted in 

 Norden's map of 1584, and in that of Boazio, dated 1597. 



