Pebbles

Details

The following building shall be added to the list:-

ST DAY FORE STREET SW 74 SW (south side), St Day 18/10007 Pebbles II GV Account (count) house with shop. Early C19, built for Collan Harvey. Splatterdash on stucco or render with stucco or render detail, on probable rubble and some probable studwork; asbestos slate roof to the front, slatehanging to right-hand gable end; original bitumen-grouted scantle slate at rear and to wings; rendered end stacks; cast-iron ogee gutters. Overall U-shaped single-depth plan including short rear wings at right angles to either end. There is a room on either side of an entrance hall on the left and a wide shop on the right. 1st floor has 4 rooms along the front, the room on the right deeper. It is likely that the whole area above the shop was originally 1 large room and was used for board meetings and business luncheons. 2 storeys; 6-window-range slightly irregular front with symmetrical arrangement including shop front on the right. Original hornless sashes with glazing bars except for wider 20-pane fixed light to lst-floor left and 2 later 12-pane horned sashes above shop front at left and right. Original double shop front with overlight with vertical glazing bars, over central pair of glazed doors; the flanking shop windows are paired sashes and there is a similar original paired sash centrally above the shop front. House doorway towards left has an overlight with leaded coloured glass and a panelled and glazed door. Stucco or render detail includes plinth, mid-floor string, window architraves and framing resembling strutted tie-beam truss to left-hand gable. Also to 3-window-range left-hand return are 6 original 16-pane hornless sashes. INTERIOR not inspected but noted as having simple features reflecting its commercial origins. There are 2 old or original staircases, the main staircase of L plan; panelled shutters to left-hand front room. Original floor and roof structures. HISTORY: This building is arguably the most important surviving commercial building in a mining village which at one time was at the centre of what was claimed to be the richest square mile in the world. This claim was based on the sheer quantity and value of the tin, copper and other metals which were being extracted in the surrounding area. This count house and shop was built by Collan Harvey, who also built the adjoining Carew House (qv), in which he lived, and some other buildings in St Day. This building was his shop, the largest general store in the parish, and it was from here that Harvey operated his notorious "Truck" system, by which he enriched himself and further impoverished the miners. Harvey became sufficiently wealthy to move to Pengreep (qv), where he died in 1846, and buried at St Day. His son Richard continued the business after his death; the truck system was in operation for some 60 years. The building also served as the Account House for some of the mines owned by the Williams family (to whom Harvey was related by marriage), in which all the business from the mines was transacted. Count houses are a rare building type, and this is a remarkably complete example. James C.C., A History of the Parish of Gwennap in Cornwall)

Listing NGR: SW7297842497

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

436308

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
James, C C, A History of the Parish of Gwennap in Cornwall, ()

End of official list entry

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