Cornwall Industrial Settlements Initiative ST BLAZEY (with St Blazey Gate and West Par)

Transcription

1 Report No: 1999R089 Cornwall Industrial Settlements Initiative ST BLAZEY (with St Blazey Gate and West Par) June 1999 Historic Environment Service (Projects) Cornwall County Council

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3 CORNWALL INDUSTRIAL SETTLEMENTS INITIATIVE Conservation Area Partnership Name: ST BLAZEY (with St Blazey Gate & West Par) Study Area: St Austell Council: Restormel Borough Council NGR: SX 0653 Location: Main period of industrial settlement growth: Between St Austell and Fowey, close to South Cornwall Coast (and later) Industrial history and significance Existing CA? Main industry: No, but new CA proposed for St Blazey. China clay and mining Until the early 19 th century St Blazey was a small agricultural village based on a medieval church and surrounded by farming and fishing hamlets. From the 1820s, however, Joseph Treffry developed the Luxulyan Valley and the area to the south as a centre for the extraction and export of tin and copper ores and china clay and stone. With the construction of the Par Canal, Par Harbour, and (later) the Cornwall Mineral Railway (CMR), St Blazey expanded into a small town and industrialised settlements also developed at Par and St Blazey Gate (the growth of the latter also resulting from its location on a turnpike road). Owing to the continuation of the china clay industry and Par Docks, the industrial function of these settlements persisted until recent times, and in the case of Par in particular continues to the present day. Despite modern redevelopment and housing estates, many historic industrial features survive - for example, 19 th and early 20 th century terraced houses, religious and municipal buildings, and shops, together with William West s foundry, the Par Canal, the CMR and its impressive locomotive depot. Recommendations Historic areas CA proposed around St Blazey. Prepare a full CA Appraisal. Although it is outside the study area, consider a complementary new conservation area for the Luxulyan valley. Historic buildings. Prepare a list of locally significant buildings (some of which may be candidates for statutory listing). Carry out a Buildings-at-risk survey. Apply to English Heritage for grant aid for St Blazey Locomotive Depot Policy and management Consider area grant scheme (such as THI or HERS) to encourage repair and reinstatement. 3

4 Prepare tourist guidance for the whole area, including a Town trail. Consider provision of a TIC. Consider traffic management schemes for St Blazey and St Blazey Gate. 4

5 Conservation Area Partnership Cornwall Industrial Settlements Initiative ST BLAZEY (with St Blazey Gate and West Par) (St Austell study area) The Conservation Studio and Cornwall Archaeology Unit June

6 Acknowledgements This report presents the results of an assessment carried out by The Conservation Studio (Eddie Booth and Chezel Bird), following historical research by Cornwall Archaeological Unit (Adam Sharpe). Assistance was also provided by Terry Clarke, Conservation Officer, Restormel Borough Council. The report text was prepared by Chezel Bird and edited by Jeanette Ratcliffe (CAU Senior Archaeologist and CISI Project Manager). The report maps were produced by John Brinkoff and Martin Bunt (CCC Planning Directorate Technical Services Section) from roughs prepared by Adam Sharpe. Front cover illustration 1985 air photograph of St Blazey, with Fore Street curving north from St Blaise Church, and Church Street and Station Road leading up from the south. Note William West s foundry in the bottom right hand corner of the photo and the now demolished Moons Aberdeen Steam Laundry in the top right hand corner next to St Blazey Bridge. The area to the south of the laundry has since been infilled with modern housing. (CAU F4/73). Cornwall County Council 1999 Cornwall Archaeological Unit, Planning Directorate, Cornwall County Council, Kennall Building, Old County Hall, Station Road, Truro, Cornwall TR1 3AY. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior permission of the publisher. 6

7 Contents Page List of figures 8 Abbreviations 8 1 Introduction Background Project aims Methodology 9 2 Location and setting Geographical location landscape setting 10 3 History 10 4 Physical development Pre-industrial Industrial ( , and later) Modern 13 5 Surviving historic components Pre-industrial Industrial 14 6 Character Buildings St Blazey West Par St Blazey Gate Spaces, views and panoramas Landscape Materials Local details 17 7 Designations Scheduled Monuments Listed buildings Conservation Areas Other designations 17 8 Current Issues Current uses Forces for Change 17 7

8 8.3 Extent of loss 18 9 Industrial significance Recommendations Historic areas Historic buildings Policy and management References Primary sources Publications 19 Appendix: Gazetteer of archaeological sites and key historic buildings 20 List of figures 1. Location map 2. Historical development 3. Surviving historic components 4a. St Blazey North: Gazetteer sites, existing designations, and recommendations 4b. St Blazey South: Gazetteer sites, existing designations, and recommendations 5. The medieval church of St Blaise 6. The late 18 th century town hall at St Blazey 7. Fore Street, St Blazey 8. The House of Shells and adjoining early 19 th century cottage in Fore Street, St Blazey 9. William West s Foundry in Station Road, St Blazey 10. Leekseed Wesleyan Chapel and Sunday School, St Blazey Gate aerial view of the CMR locomotive depot and West Par Abbreviations CA Conservation Area CISI Cornwall Industrial Settlements Initiative ERDF European Rural Development Fund(ing) HERS Heritage Economic Regeneration Scheme HLF Heritage Lottery Fund(ing) LB Listed Building PD Permitted Development SPG Supplementary Planning Guidance THI Townscape Heritage Initiative TIC Tourist Information Centre [1] Site number on Figures 4a/4b and in the gazetteer (Appendix) 8

9 1 Introduction 1.1 Background Cornwall s industrial settlements are the subject of a Conservation Area Partnership under the heading Cornwall Industrial Settlements Initiative (CISI). This partnership between English Heritage (with the Heritage Lottery Fund), Cornwall County Council, and the District Councils is intended to assess the character and significance of the county s 112 industrial settlements. These include villages, ports, and towns associated with Cornwall s 19 th century industrial revolution, based on metalliferous mining, slate and granite quarrying, and china clay extraction. The historic importance and distinctive character of such settlements has previously been undervalued, and their existing status does not adequately represent the industrial history of the county. CISI is aimed at redressing this imbalance. 1.2 Project aims The aim of CISI is to produce a settlement by settlement analysis in order to obtain an overview of the history, present character and importance of Cornwall s industrial settlements. This will help determine where, for example, new Conservation Areas should be designated (and existing ones revised), and could provide the basis for Conservation Area Statements (to be drawn up subsequently by District Conservation Officers). 1.3 Project methodology The methodology involved historical research, followed by a site visit(s). For the historical research, a date range of 1750 to 1945 was chosen, as this represented the period of industrial growth and decline in Cornwall. Archaeological and historical sources housed at CCC (see Section 11.1) were consulted, together with Listed Building data supplied by the District Councils. Using this information, ordnance survey base maps were hand coloured to show: the different phases of historical development; surviving historic components from each development phase; archaeological sites, key historic buildings, and statutory designations. These maps (which formed the basis for Figures 2-4), together with copies of the primary sources consulted, were bound into a folder for each settlement, for use during site visits. The focus of the site visits was to assess settlement character and consider ways in which this could be protected and enhanced in the future. This was achieved using a checklist drawn from Conservation Area Practice: English Heritage s guidance on the management of Conservation Areas (1995) and Conservation Area Management - A Practical Guide (published by the English Towns Forum, 1998). The maps compiled during the historical phase were enhanced during the site visits, particularly with information relating to the survival and significance of historic buildings, and a general photographic record (colour prints) was made of each settlement. Meetings on site were arranged with the District Conservation Officers in order to discuss current initiatives and recommendations for future management. 9

10 2 Location and setting 2.1 Geographical location St Blazey is situated between St. Austell and Fowey (Fig 1), at what was once the lowest crossing point of the River Par. To the south lies the silted-up river valley (now drained and developed) leading through West Par down to the harbour at Par, and to the south-west lies St Blazey Gate, which developed along the turnpike road to St Austell. 2.2 Landscape setting St Blazey sits on an area of raised ground overlooking to the south a flat-bottomed valley which was until the 16 th century the estuary of the River Par. West Par is positioned close to the canal and railway which runs down through the silted-up the valley to Par Docks, the whole being enclosed to the east and west by gently rolling hills which lead northwards towards the heavilywooded Luxulyan valley. St. Blazey Gate lies on the top of an escarpment leading south-west towards St. Austell, with a landscaped park forming its most westerly boundary. 3 History The church of St Blaise (named after Bishop Blaise) was built between 1440 and 1445 on a spit of land overlooking what was once an estuary. This replaced an earlier church which was mentioned in 1294 and which was itself probably on an earlier medieval site. Early Cornish place-names for the site (such as Landrait in 1235 and more recently Landreath) mean the church on the sand, or more accurately the early Christian enclosure on the sand. Such an enclosure, also suggested by the circular churchyard, would have contained a chapel, hermit s house and cemetery. The parishes of St Blazey and St Austell were granted to Tywardreath Priory until the Reformation, when the patronage of the living was vested in the king. The two parishes were finally separated in By the beginning of the 19 th century the land to the south of St Blazey had become marshes, caused by centuries of tin streaming. In the 1820s Joseph Treffry, a local landowner from Fowey, started expanding his commercial interests by purchasing a copper mine at Lanscot. Later he bought Fowey Consols mine, and, to enable easier transportation of the copper ore, in 1829 he started building a new canal through the Par valley and a new harbour at Par (or Porth, as it was called then). By 1835 the canal was complete and Par harbour fully operational, with its own blacksmiths, ship repairers, lime kilns, coal wharves, timber pickling pits, smelting works, and later a flour mill. Treffry acquired a wide variety of interests including: Par Consols mine above Par harbour; shipping based in Fowey and Par; granite quarries in the Upper Luxulyan Valley; and clay works further inland at Hensbarrow. To facilitate further expansion, Treffry set about improving communications inland, although his first scheme, the construction of a horse-drawn tramway up the Luxulyan Valley, was eventually abandoned, possibly because of the ineptitude of the chosen contractors. Considering a trans-peninsula route, in 1838 Cornwall he purchased the (then) tiny fishing village of Newquay on the North Cornwall coast, from which he hoped to export ore and import coal. Treffry then set about a more ambitious scheme in 1839 called the Carmears Incline. This was a massive inclined plane (powered by a large waterwheel), which rose 300ft from Ponts Mill to the high point on the eastern side of the Luxulyan Valley. It took until 1841 to build, but meanwhile Treffry had commenced another project the Treffry Viaduct which would provide access to the granite quarries of Colcerrow. This fulfilled a dual purpose, carrying the tramway across the 10

11 Valley to Cam Bridges and Luxulyan, and water from the hills above down to the Carmears Waterwheel and the Fowey Consols Leat. By 1845 this extraordinary industrial complex was fully operational. Inwards traffic from Par included lime for agriculture and coal for the mines and clay works of Hensbarrow; outwards traffic was china clay, granite from Luxulyan valley, and lead ores from the mines at Newlyn Downs for the smelter at Par. With this expansion came a rapid increase in population, and St Blazey grew into a bustling small town with shops, a large number of Non-Conformist chapels, and a range of specialist works and businesses, including the sadly-demolished Moon s Aberdeen Laundry at St Blazey Bridge. However in the 1840s copper production from Fowey Consols Mine halved, partly due to the exhaustion of many of the richest seams of ore, but also to the drop in the price of the copper itself. In 1844 over 12,000 tons of copper ore was produced and sold for over 65,000, but by 1847 only 6,000 tons were being produced and the income was only just over 32,000. The continuation of the tramway to Newquay was well under way but Treffry s health was failing and when he died aged 68 years in 1850 the line was not complete. Treffry's successor to his estate did complete the tramway to Newquay, and in the 1850s he built a new horse-drawn tramway from Ponts Mill to Par, which replaced the canal in function. In the 1850s, however, copper prices dropped further and no further expansion took place. Tin mining was tried for a while, but for the remaining part of the 19 th century granite became the premier export. After 1900 the Luxulyan granite quarries were acquired by the Penryn company of John Freeman, but demand dropped after this time. By 1870 the Treffry tramway system through the valley was one of only two remaining in Cornwall, and was definitely considered to be out-of-date. In 1872 a consortium of local businessmen, led by a speculator called Roebuck, purchased the entire tramway and set about converting it into a modern railway system. The Cornwall Mineral Railway (CRM) followed the basic route from Par to Newquay, with lengthy branches into the china clay district and an extension from Par to Fowey. William West, who had built a foundry in St Blazey in 1848 (together with an associated gasworks, with a connecting tramway), provided the ironwork for many of the bridges and other works, and with his old colleague William Pease planned a new route through the Luxulyan Valley, rendering the Carmears Incline and Treffry Viaduct obsolete. The centrepiece of the new system was the headquarters in St Blazey, where Sir Morton Petoe built a locomotive depot in The impact of this new railway, which revolutionised transport within the area, was not necessarily beneficial to the local inhabitants. Horses were largely made redundant and with their demise went a whole range of skills and facilities which were no longer needed. There was less local work available so depopulation followed. In Pont s Mill, for instance, a population of 80 in 1841 had fallen to just 11 by Par harbour continued to be an important port and a major employer, with its many different businesses - smithies, ship repairers, a mill, timber yards, smelting works, and coal yards. However the decline of mining after the 1870s resulted in a change from tin and copper ore to china clay as its main export. In 1875 a mill to grind china-stone was built close to Ponts Mill, which used china stone brought down from Hensbarrow. This was powered using the waste water from the Fowey Consols leats. A coal-fired pan-kiln was also built in Ponts Mill to process china clay piped down from Hensbarrow. These facilities expanded during the early 20 th century and eventually the complex became the largest group of stone mills in the country. They were purchased by ECLP (now ECCI) and used until the 1960s when the kilns and stone mills were closed down. The main Ponts Mill kiln was then converted to a modern oil-fired drier and this is now the only industry 11

12 still active in the Luxulyan Valley. Par Harbour was largely rebuilt by ECCI in the 1960s, although Treffrey s stone harbour arm, stone quays, and sluicing pond remain amongst a plethora of modern buildings. St Blazey and the surrounding area now relies upon employment in St Austell, as apart from Par harbour and a few local businesses, the earlier industries have gradually disappeared. 4 Physical development (Fig 2) 4.1 Pre-industrial Until 1500 St Blazey overlooked Tywardreath Bay and the sea lapped at the base of a rocky outcrop on which the parish church had been built between 1440 and The original St Blazey Bridge (replaced during the early 20 th century) was built around During medieval and later times the economy of the area was based on agriculture, with small manorial farms scattered between St Blazey, Tywardreath and St Austell. By the beginning of the 19 th century, St Blazey was a small village divided into Bridgetown and Churchtown, the main focus of the settlement being around the church, along Fore Street and around the square containing the Pack Horse Hotel and Town Hall. St Blazey was linked to St Austell by a road (later turnpiked), which passed through unimproved land to St Blazey Gate (itself a small hamlet). To the south and east of St Blazey Gate were the farm estates of Biscovey and Trenovissick, whose field patterns (some preserving fossilised medieval strips) were later to define the extent of St Blazey Gate s development. A handful of other farms also lay to the east, including the medieval manor of Roselyon, whose owners, the Carlyon family, controlled much of the land in the Par Valley and beyond. A small village, associated with farming, fishing and a ferry crossing, had also begun to develop at Par. 4.2 Industrial ( , and later) During the early 19 th century St Blazey began to develop as the mining concerns in its immediate hinterland expanded, and after 1829, when Treffry started building his canal and the new harbour at Par, rapid growth took place. What had once been a quiet rural economy with some localised mining suddenly changed. New buildings were needed to house workers, and new facilities had to be provided for them. In St Blazey a vicarage and graveyard extension were built (in 1834 when the parish of St Blazey was established), together with new inns and chapels (3), a market hall, shops and terraced houses. By 1840 St Blazey was a densely developed town with buildings closely packed along the road from St Blazey Bridge to St Blaise s Church (ie along Bridge Street and Fore Street), and further south down Church Street and the top of Station Road. Limekilns and cottages were also built below St Blazey Bridge on the east side of the Par Canal. In the early 19 th century a turnpike gate and toll house were erected in St Blazey Gate and as a result this settlement expanded to the extent that a new church and vicarage were needed in Around the same time 3 Non-conformist chapels were also built. By 1840 nearby Biscovey had grown from a farming hamlet to a small village, and linear expansion had also taken place at Par, where the river crossing (now a bridge) was served by two malthouses. In between the three settlements of St Blazey, St Blazey Gate and Par, there were a number of isolated developments, such as the semi-detached and terraced cottages at Doubletrees, Middleway, and Quarry Terrace (to the south-east of Middleway), and the large detached houses of Rosehill and Moorshill (built by the Blamey family). 12

13 The second half of the 19 th century saw the construction of more terraced housing, for example: on the north-west side of St Blazey and along Station Road, on either side of the iron foundry (and associated gasworks) built by William West in 1848; along St Austell Road north-east of St Blazey Gate; and along Par Lane, on the west side of Par, where the CMR locomotive works was built in A new vicarage was built at St Blazey Gate, a new chapel at Par, and a further graveyard extension was required at St Blazey. In addition, a range of commercial and municipal buildings were erected in the three settlements - inns/hotels (5), post offices (3), banks (2), shops, schools (2), a drill hall, seamen s institute and a meeting room - and Moon s Aberdeen Laundry was built near St Blazey Bridge. Five new houses for the gentry were also built in the study area - Bay View, Penarwyn House, Tredenham (Willam West s home), and two house at Roselyon. At the end of Station Road, St Blazey an ornamental fountain with lamp was constructed in 1897 to commemorate Queen Victoria s silver jubilee. During the first half of the 20 th century terraced housing was built along Station Road and St Austell Road, and at Par. The first housing estates were also erected (off St Austell Road and Trenovissick Road) during this period. A limited amount of municipal building also took place (for example, the institute in Station Road and a school at St Blazey Gate), St Blazey Bridge was rebuilt, and a couple of municipal open spaces were established - St Blaise Park football ground (1906) and King Edward s Garden (1910). 4.3 Modern Development since the World War Two is characterised largely by the housing estates, which since the 1960s have progressive infilled the triangular area between the 3 component settlements of St Blazey, St Blazey Gate and Par. These extensive estates have increased the size of the overall settlement by at least a third. 5 Surviving historic components (Fig 3) 5.1 Pre-industrial The earliest surviving archaeological feature within the study area is the curving boundary around Biscovey Infants School (see Fig 4), which may represent the remains of an Iron Age/Romano-British round (enclosed settlement). The most important early building is St Blaise Church, built in the 15 th century. With its circular churchyard, it is the only medieval building within the study area, although in the 19 th century churchyard at St Blazey Gate there is an early medieval cross/inscribed stone (moved here in 1896 after being used as a gatepost on Biscovey Farm) and a later medieval wayside cross (possibly originally from near Par Station). The only other surviving pre-19 th century structures are: the Pack Horse Hotel and town hall in St Blazey (now converted to residential use); three cottages in St Austell Road, St Blazey Gate; and Old Roselyon Manor. All of these are late 18 th century, apart from the Pack Horse Hotel which is pre Industrial Despite modern expansion and rebuilding, a significant proportion of the existing terraced housing and shop frontages in St Blazey are of early to mid 19 th century origin, and this is true to a lesser extent in St Blazey and West Par. Surviving historic components of this period also include prominent features such as the Par Canal (with limekilns), St Mary s Church (St Blazey Gate), Part of William West s Foundry, St Blazey Market Hall and Vicarage, together with three 13

14 chapels and a Sunday school, the Cornish Arms and 2 malthouses, Par Bridge and 3 quarries. Moorshill, Rosehill, Bay View and Penarwyn houses are also of this period. Most of the later 19 th and early 20 th century housing and religious, educational, commercial, and municipal buildings described in Section 4.2 survive today (albeit often in a much altered state). The Cornwall Mineral Railway dominates the eastern side of the settlement, with its locomotive works and other buildings (the old St Blazey station, a goods shed, crossing house and signal box). A notable loss is Moon s Aberdeen Laundry, which until 1986 was a prominent landmark on the west side of St Blazey Bridge. 6 Character 6.1 Buildings (Fig 4a & 4b) St Blazey St Blazey contains the greatest concentration of listed buildings and good quality unlisted buildings within the study area. Most of the buildings date from the time of the greatest growth, between 1820 and 1870, although there is later, good quality housing of the 1880 s and 1890 s in Station Road, no doubt as a result of the development of the Cornish Minerals Railway after Within the proposed conservation area are fairly continuous groups of mid- to late-19 th century buildings, particularly in Fore Street and Station Road, with most of the buildings being built on the plot front boundaries, close to the pavement. In the town centre the medieval parish church of St Blaise, grade II*, is the most impressive building [25], and this forms an important group with the adjoining vicarage [28] and Cornish Arms P H [26], both grade II. Other lesser listed buildings are situated in Fore Street and Station Road the House of Shells, nos. 8 and 10 Fore Street [24], the Market Hall, with its interesting Doric granite columns [21], the Pack Horse Hotel, Fore Street [9], nos. 2 and 4 Station Road [27], and William West s former iron foundry in Fore Street [nos. 38 and 39]. Notable unlisted buildings include: St Blazey Junior School, Church Street [32], housing in Fore Street [101, 102 and 103], the former Town Hall, Fore Street [8], the former Mount Pleasant Wesleyan Chapel [7] and Chapel Terrace [100], the limekilns by St Blazey Bridge [3] and the bridge itself [2], the Post office in Fore Street [23], the Trinity United Methodist Free Church, Station Road [29], housing in Station Road [105,106, and 107], late 19 th century housing in Station Road [108 and 109], the St Blazey Co-op, Station Road [43], and terraced housing in Middleway [110]. Other buildings and sites, noted in the gazetteer, but of less townscape significance are: Tredenham, Rosehill Road, William West s former home [41], Moorshill House, Rose Hill Road, built for the Blamey family [42], and the bank [33], the St Blazey Ebenezer Primitive Methodist Chapel [35], and the St Blazey Youth Club [37], all in Station Road. At the southern end of Station Road are two 20 th century buildings of social importance, the club house and adjacent drill hall [46 and 47], with the King Edward s Public Gardens terminating the road at its junction with Middleway [44]. To the south west of this junction is Jubilee Junction, containing a decorative Edwardian lamp and fountain [45]. On the other side of the Par Canal is the site of a mine and hammer mill [104] next to the side of a former tramway connecting the iron foundry to the canal [1]. 14

15 6.1.2 West Par West Par contains only one listed building, the former Locomotive Works, grade II* [54] although Old Roselyon Manor, situated about half a mile from West Par is grade II [75]. Many of the other more interesting buildings in West Par date from before the construction of the depot, suggesting that West Par had already grown as a result of the development of Par Harbour after the 1830s. However, there is much modern housing surrounding West Par although there are open fields to the west of the hamlet. Notable unlisted buildings include mainly terraced housing in Lamb Park [97] and in Par Lane [98], both dating from between 1840 and Other buildings of note are also situated in Par Lane the Par Inn [65], the bank [64], the Post Office [63], the former malthouse [62], the Seaman s Institute [61], the Sloop Inn [60], the Old Telephone Exchange [59], the former school [58], the former Sunday school [57], the former Chapel [56], and another malthouse [55]. To the north and west towards St. Blazey is another railway building of c [53], Roselyon School [52], Middleway Quarry [50], St. Blazey CMR Station, now closed [51], Roselyon House, Middleway [49], and further west still, Penarwyn of c [77]. To the west is a disused mine chimney [66] and to the south of West Par are redundant mining shafts [69] and Bayview, a 19 th century house on the site of a former smithy [70] St Blazey Gate There are three grade II listed buildings in St Blazey Gate, St. Mary s Church [85], nos. 29 and 31 St Austell Road [88], and St Mary s Cottage, St Austell Road [81]. The church is by far the most important building, sitting back from the road surrounded by large trees and separated from the road by an old quarry [93] and the former school, now an art gallery [86]. Opposite the church are several other important buildings, another former school [87], a meeting room [90], and further along St Austell Road, the Post Office [82]. In front of the church is a vicarage, which might have also been designed by Street, although it has modern windows [68], and the Bible Christian Chapel, now a club [83]. Towards St Blazey is the Leekseed Wesleyan Chapel and Sunday school [78 and 79], and then Edgcumbe Terrace, a good example of mid-19 th century housing [96]. On the south side of the road is the Four Lords public house, an early 19 th century inn surprisingly unlisted [80]. Outside the immediate hamlet is a disused mine shaft at Par Consuls Mine [71], Biscovey Farm [94] and another disused mine shaft at West Par Consuls Mine [112]. Of note is the Iron Age Round at Biscovey Infants School [92]. 6.2 Spaces, views and panoramas Because of the modern development mentioned previously, the study area contains a variety of unconnected historic settlements which have lost much of their 19 th century setting. There are however some notable spaces with striking views including the area around St Blazey Gate church, with its former school and quarry; Fore Street in St Blazey with its curved street above which lies the church and terraced housing; and most importantly the Par canal and railway leading down to Par harbour, which although altered, has a bustling commercial character all of its own. From the northern edge of St Blazey are views up the Luxulyan valley with trees and winding roads along which can be seen some remnants of the mining and china clay industries. 6.3 Landscape Owing to the valley setting, on either side of St Blazey are rolling hills with stone-walled fields and mature trees. To the north is the very heavily wooded Luxulyan Valley with the River Par splashing down through it and other remains of Treffry s enterprises, notable the Treffry 15

16 Viaduct which cannot actually be seen from St Blazey. The Par canal, which really starts just north of St Blazey at the railway crossing, creates a long green lung through modern development and down to the sea. The canal is probably the most important landscape feature (although man-made) in the study area. 6.4 Materials The dominant building material in St Blazey and St Blazey Gate is granite (e.g. St Blaise s Church and vicarage) with granite rubble for the less important buildings, with dressed granite for the quoins and other architectural embellishments. Some of the buildings, like the Pack Horse Inn, have very large slabs of granite incorporated into its walls. Many of the lesser 19 th century buildings are rendered over rubble or cob. A soft red brick is sometimes used for window and door arches (there was a brick works in Par harbour at the end of the 19 th century), but more commonly slabs of granite create a lintel. An unusual example of local artistry can be seen at no.8 Fore Street, St Blazey Town, where the whole of the front elevation has been decorated with sea shells. Delabole slate is common for the roofs, although many have been replaced with artificial slate. Windows were traditional multi-paned painted timber sashes or casements, but many of the unlisted buildings (particularly the residential terraces) have replacement windows in upvc or stained hardwood. 6.5 Local details Granite is used throughout St Blazey and St Blazey Gate to create window and door lintels and quoins, and to form doorways and gates. Boundary walls are granite rubble without any copings. 7 Designations 7.1 Scheduled monuments There are two scheduled monuments in the study area - the early medieval cross/inscribed stone known as the Biscovey Stone and a later medieval cross, both of which stand in St Mary s Churchyard, St Blazey Gate [85]. 7.2 Listed buildings There are only 12 listed building entries for the study area, with most of them being found in St Blazey, 2 in St Blazey Gate, and a small number of isolated farmsteads. 7.3 Conservation areas There are no existing CAs within the study area, but one is suggested for St Blazey and for the Luxulyan Valley (out of the study area). 7.4 Other designations None. 16

17 8 Current Issues 8.1 Current uses Within the study area is a wide range of uses (residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural) of which the residential and industrial are the most obvious. Owing to the close proximity of St. Austell, there are few shops within the locality apart from St Blazey which has a small selection, including banks and a Post Office. Otherwise there are some small, local shops in St Blazey Gate and a Post Office in West Par. Overall the character of the area is residential, although with busy industrial uses based either at Par Harbour or else close to it. Between St Blazey and Par there are some commercial premises but these tend to be on backland sites, somewhat concealed from public view, so their impact on the public view is lessened. 8.2 Forces for change There will no doubt be pressure over the years for further housing to infill the open fields mentioned previously. At present, however, demand appears to be low for new housing or indeed for any new buildings because economic activity is low. It is hoped that any further development will recognise the historic character of parts of the study area and that, where appropriate, special care will be taken to ensure high quality design. The Par Canal area is a particularly feature of the area and this must be protected and given special consideration. 8.3 Extent of loss The impact of modern housing throughout the study area has already been referred to, as has the adverse effect of clearance schemes around St Blazey Town. Traffic congestion, particularly caused by commercial vehicles, is a serious problem in the whole area and although this is to a degree inevitable given the proximity of Par harbour, some traffic management schemes should be considered. 9 Industrial significance The St Blazey area is of immense importance to the industrial history of Cornwall and the contribution made by Treffry and his colleagues to the development of improved mining methods and to better communications was without parallel. The Par Canal, the Carmears Incline, the Treffry Viaduct, the development of Par Harbour, and later the Cornish Minerals Railway all contributed to Cornwall s industrial success and the area is still important for china clay, with Par Docks remaining the principal port for its export in the country. St Blazey, Par and St Blazey Gate developed as result of this industrial revolution and retain may historic industrial features that bear testimony to it. These are good examples of Cornish industrial settlements that continued to develop during the 20 th century and will be directly influenced by china clay industry of the future. 10 Recommendations 10.1 Historic areas Consider the designation of a CA around St Blazey, and prepare a full Conservation Area Appraisal. Although it is outside the study area, consider a complementary new CA for the Luxulyan Valley. 17

18 10.2 Historic buildings In association with the CA Appraisal, prepare a list of locally significant buildings which contribute substantially to the character of the settlement. This may contain candidates for statutory listing. Carry out a Buildings-at-risk survey. Apply to English Heritage for grant aid for the St Blazey Locomotive Depot Policy and management Consider the possibility of an area grant scheme (such as THI or HERS) to encourage repair and reinstatement. Prepare tourist guidance for whole area, including a Town Trail, and consider the provision of a TIC. Consider traffic management schemes for St Blazey and St Blazey Gate. 11 References 11.1 Primary sources 1807 OS drawings 1840 Tithe Map 1880 OS 25 inch map 1908 OS 25 inch map 1946 RAF air photographs 1995 CCC air photographs 11.2 Publications Brokenshire, V, A parish portrait St Blazey. Borough of Restormel Local Plan. Deposit Draft (March 1995) CAU October Report on St Blazey Locomotive Depot. CAU The Luxulyan Valley. An Archaeological and Historical Survey. Lewes, J, A richly yielding piece of ground. Pevsner, N, The buildings of England. Wilson, J, Around St Austell Bay. Bossiney Books. 18

19 Appendix: Gazetteer of archaeological sites and key historic buildings Codes: PRN : Primary Record Number in Cornwall Sites & Monuments Record. NGR : National Grid Reference. LB : Listed Building. SM : Scheduled Monument. NM No: National Monument Number Periods: IA : Iron Age. RB : Romano-British. EM : Early Medieval. PM : Post-Medieval. C = century. c = approximately. No Name Site type Date Status SM or LB No PRN NGR 1 Par Canal Canal SX SX St Blazey Bridge Bridge Pre-1535, rebuilt early C20 th 5107 SX St Blazey Bridge Limekilns Limekilns Pre SX Bridge Inn, St Blazey Inn (site of) Pre-1880, post-1840 SX Moon s Aberdeen Laundry Laundry (site of) c1889, rebuilt 1925, demolished c1990 SX St Blazey Smithy, Bridge St Smithy (site of) Pre-1840 SX Mount Pleasant Wesleyan Chapel Former Chapel (now flats) Pre- 1808, rebuilt 1825, closed 1957 SX St Blazey Town Hall Former Town hall & market (converted to residential use) Pre-1840, prob. late C18 th (fire 1991) SX The Pack Horse Hotel, Fore St, St Blazey Inn Pre-1777 LB II SX /544 SX Old Pack Horse Public house (beer house sited near Pack Horse Hotel) PM Not located 11 St Blazey Boy s School, Station Road, St Blazey School, institute (site of) Pre-1880, post 1840 SX

20 No Name Site type Date Status SM or LB No PRN NGR 12 California, Bridge St, St Blazey Former public house (unlocated miners pub) PM Not located 13 Duke of Wellington Former public house PM Not located 14 Market Inn, Church Street Former public house PM Not located 15 Masons Arms Former public house PM Not located 16 Fountain Inn, Bridge St, St Blazey Former public house PM Not located 17 Tinners Arms, St Blazey Churchtown Former public house PM Not located 18 The Union Former public house PM Not located 19 Duke William Former public house PM Not located 20 Martin s Ship Biscuit Maker Former bakery (in back of cottage near Spar shop) PM Not located 21 The Market Hall Former market hall , extended 1881 (datestone) LB II SX /548 Listing (wrongly?) gives date as late C18 th /early C19 th SX St Blazey Temperance Hotel Former hotel (opposite Market Hall) Pre-1889 Not located 23 St Blazey Post Office Post office Pre Post 1840 SX The House of Shells, Cottages early C19 th, pre-1840 LB II SX /547 SX & 10 Fore Street 20

21 No Name Site type Date Status SM or LB No PRN NGR 25 St Blaise s Church Lann EM SX Church (former) Pre-C15 th Parish Church c1440, restored 1839 & LB C SX /536 Wall, gateway 1824 LB II SX / The Cornish Arms, St Blazey Public house Pre-1840 LB II SX /539 SX & 4 Station Road, St Blazey House, former shop Pre-1880, post 1840 LB II SX /549 SX The Vicarage, St Blazey Vicarage, graveyard 1834 (graveyard disused by 1908) LB II SX /538 SX Trinity United Methodist Free Church, Station Road, St Blazey Former chapel, with Sunday School 1846, closed 1969 SX Old Grave Yard, Church St, St Blazey Former graveyard Pre-1880, post 1840, disused by 1908 SX Church St, St Blazey Quarry Pre SX St Blazey Junior School, Church St School (formerly St Blazey Girls School) Opened 1908 SX Bank, Station Road, St Blazey Bank Pre-1880, post 1840 SX St Blaise Park Football ground 1906 SX St Blazey Ebenezer Primitive Methodist Chapel Site of chapel (built on site of pre-1832 Mission Hall) , rebuilt 1860 & late C19 th demolished 1992 SX St Blazey Ebenezer Primitive Methodist Sunday School Former Sunday School 1878 Not located 21

22 No Name Site type Date Status SM or LB No PRN NGR 37 St Blazey Youth Club Fomer St Blazey Boys School 38 St Austell Foundry Former iron foundry (part of) - the 2 listed ranges 39 St Blazey Foundry Former iron foundry - other buildings & yard Pre-1880, post 1840 SX , closed 1890 LB II SX /614 SX , closed SX St Blazey Gasworks Gasworks (site of) 1848, closed SX Tredenham, Rosehill Road House (home of William West) 42 Moorshill House House (built by Blamey Family) Pre-1840 SX Pre-1840 SX St Blazey Co-op, Station Rd Shop 1905 SX King Edward s Garden Pleasure gardens 1910 SX Jubilee Triangle Lamp, fountain 1897 SX Club building, Station Road Institute Pre-1930, post 1908 SX Station Road Drill Hall Drill hall Pre-1908, extended by 1930 SX St Blazey Slaughter House Abattoir Pre-1930, Post-1908 SX Roselyon House, Middleway House Pre-1880, post 1840 SX Middleway Quarry Quarry Pre SX St Blazey CMR Station Former railway station c SX Roselyon School House, school Pre-1880, post 1840 SX

23 No Name Site type Date Status SM or LB No PRN NGR 53 Cornwall Minerals Railway (CMR) Railway SX Central NGR in study area 54 CMR locomotive works Locomotive sheds, workshops, smithy, engine house, boiler house, coal and water facilities , in use until 1986 LB II SX05SE 10/ SX St Blazey Road Malthouse Pre SX Off Par Lane (Former?) chapel - Primitive, Bible Christian, Methodist) Pre-1880, post 1840 SX Par Lane (Former?) Sunday School Pre-1880, post 1840 SX Par Lane Former school Pre-1880, post 1840 SX Old Telephone Exchange, Par Lane Telephone exchange Pre-1930 (building pre- 1880?) SX Sloop Inn, Par Lane Inn Pre- 1880, post 1840 SX Seaman s Institute, Par Lane Former institute Pre-1908, post 1880 SX Par Lane Former malthouse Pre SX Par Post Office Post office 1880s SX Bank, Par Lane Post office, bank Pre 1908, post 1880 SX Par Inn Inn Pre 1880 (?pre1840) SX Par Consols Mine chimney C19 th 20475? SX

24 No Name Site type Date Status SM or LB No PRN NGR 67 Cornwall Railway Railway 1859 SX NGR in study area 68 St Blazey Gate Vicarage Pre-1908, post 1880 SX Par Consols Mine, engine houses C19 th 20475? SX SX Bay View House on site of smithy 1840 (smithy), pre-1880 (house) SX Par Consols, St Blazey Gate Diused mine shaft Pre ? SX St Blazey Site of pool Pre-1840 SX Jubilee Triangle (SE of), St Blazey CMR Signal Box c 1872 SX Rosehill House House c1840 SX Old Roselyon Manor Settlement MD House C18 th 1923, restored after LB II SX05SE 10/378 SX Roselyon Round House Whim house Pre-1840 Not located 77 Penarwyn House c1850 SX Leekseed Sunday School, St Austell Rd Sunday school (still in use) 1925 SX Leekseed Wesleyan Methodist Chapel Chapel, with Sunday School 1824, refurbished 1893, chapel rebuilt 1903, still in use 80 The Four Lords, St Austell Road Inn Pre-1880 (building pre- 1840) SX SX

25 No Name Site type Date Status SM or LB No PRN NGR 81 St Mary s Cottage, St Austell Road House late C18 th LB II SX05SE 10/556 SX St Blazey Gate Post Office Post Office Pre 1880, post 1840 SX St Blazey Gate Bible Christian Chapel Former chapel (Ebenezer, Bible Christian), now club 1844 SX St Blazey Gate Bryanite Chapel Chapel 1842 Not located 85 St Mary s Church (Former) Parish church LB B SX05SE 10/ SX Cross Late MD SM NM No SX Biscovey Stone Cross, inscribed stone EM SM NM No SX St Blazey Gate Former school Pre-1880, post 1840 SX St Blazey Gate Former school Pre-1930, post 1908 SX & 31 St Austell Road House Late C18 th LB II SX05SE 10/557 SX St Blazey Gate Toll House Toll house/turnpike gate Pre SX NB. Not located on Fig 4b - needs further fieldwork 90 Biscovey Road Meeting room Pre-1908, post 1880 SX Trenovissick Mine openwork PM Not located 92 Biscovey Round Round IA, RB SX St Blazey Gate Quarry Pre-1840? 20586? SX Biscovey Farm, Former manor EM, MD SX St Blazey Bridge CMR Crossing house c SX Edgcumbe Terrace, St Blazey Gate Houses Pre-1880, post 1840 SX

26 No Name Site type Date Status SM or LB No PRN NGR 97 Lamb Park, Par Houses Pre-1880 & pre-1908 SX Par Lane Houses Pre-1880, post 1840 SX St Blazey Site of tramway (from foundry) Pre1908, post 1880 SX Chapel Terrace, St Blazey Houses Pre1880, post 1840 SX Fore St, St Blazey Houses Pre-1840 & pre-1880 SX Fore St (both sides), St Blazey Houses Pre-1840 SX Fore St/Station Road, St Blazey Houses Pre-1840 SX Wheal Union Site of mine and hammer mill Pre SX Station Road, St Blazey Houses Pre-1840 & pre-1880 SX Station Road, St Blazey Houses Pre-1880, post 1840 SX Station Road, St Blazey Houses Pre-1880 & pre-1908 SX Station Road, St Blazey Houses Pre-1908 (& a few pre- 1930) 109 Station Road, St Blazey Houses Pre-1908 (north end), rest pre Middleway Houses Pre-1908 (west end), Pre-1930 (east end) SX SX SX Par Bridge Bridge Pre-1840 (since rebuilt) 20588? SX West Par Consols, St Blazey Gate Disused mine shaft Pre ? SX

27 Figure 5 The medieval church of St Blaise [25], built on an area of raised ground overlooking (now the silted up) Par Estuary. Figure 6 The late 18 th century town hall at St Blazey [8], now converted to residential use.

28 Figure 7 Fore Street, St Blazey, lined with terraced houses and shops of early 19 th century origin [102]. Figure 8 The House of Shells and adjoining early 19 th century cottage in Fore Street, St Blazey [24].

29 Figure 9 William West s Foundry [38, 39] in Station Road, St Blazey, with late 19 th and early 20 th century terraced housing opposite [107] and to the south [108, 109]. The trees in the distance are part of King Edward s Gardens [44]. Figure 10 [78, 79]. Leekseed Wesleyan Chapel and Sunday School, St Blazey Gate

30 Figure aerial view of the CMR locomotive depot [54] and West Par. (CAU F16/47)