314 THE EXPANSION OF TRURO. 



lu the beginning' of the seventeenth century the corpoi'ation 

 disfigured the town by erecting a Market House, Town Hall, and 

 other buildings in the middle of Boscawen Street. The more 

 northern of the two streets thus formed was really a continuation 

 of Coinage Hall Street, and may have been called by the same 

 name ; the other retained the name of Powder Street. 



The existence of the Friary attracted houses in that 

 direction, and led to the building of Kenwyn Street, which, 

 although much shorter than at present, was an important 

 thoroughfare. Leland (1533-1550) expressly mentions both it 

 and St. Clement's Street, and notes that each of them had its own 

 church, in addition to the " paroche church." 



For a considerable period prior to AD. 1754 the growth of 

 the town seems to have been arrested. After this date, however, 

 a tnore enterprising spirit prevailed, and, urged onward by the 

 ever-increasing necessities of the community, aud the facilities 

 the government offered for the repair of the highways, the 

 corporation and others commenced a series of improvements and 

 extensions, which completely changed the aspect of Truro. 



The first of these referred to the approaches to the town. 

 In a petition to the House of Commons, dated 16 January, 1754, 

 it was stated that the roads radiating from the Borough of Truro 

 " are become very ruinous, and many j^laces thereof are so narrow 

 that carriages cannot pass each other, aud many j)arts, especially 

 in the winter and rain}' seasons are so deep and founderous, that 

 wheel carriages, horses laden, and even travellers, pass in great 

 danger." The Government accordingly gave permission for 

 widening and repairing the following roads : — those leading S. W. 

 to Penryn ; N. to Shortlane's End ; W. to Eedruth ; E. to 

 Lostwithiel ; N.E. to St. Columb ; and a sixth to Tretheage 

 Bridge. 



This important work suggested another great undertaking, 

 the planning of Lemon Street, so called from Sir William. Lemon, 

 who was at that time one of the most j)rominent men connected 

 with the town. The design provided for the erection of a noble 

 street of handsome houses, with broad foot-paths and carriage 

 way, which should exceed in grandeur everything of its kind in 

 the county. The old King's Head Inn, which occupied the site 

 on which the Poor Clare's Nunnery is said to have formerly 



