Newsletter - Issue 9

'1' Anniversaries

Many significant events in Saltash history took place when the year ended with the figure 1. Here are some of them.

1201 - first reference to Saltash as a borough (Cornish Assize Rolls)

1351 - advowson of St Stephen's church given to the canons of Windsor by King Edward III, a situation which still exists today.

1381 - confirmation by King Richard II of the charter given to the burgesses of Saltash by Reginald de Valletort, circa 1230.

1761 - Saltash Turnpike Trust commenced. Turnpike trusts were set up all over the country in an attempt to provide money for road improvements by means of tolls. The trust ceased to exist in 1864.

1811 - School for the children of St. Stephens set up within the church itself. The school was transferred to a new building erected in 1843 (now part of the College of Further Education).

1871 - Junction of North Road and Fore Street widened by the demolition of the Fountain Inn (formerly the Lord Nelson). This junction later became known as "Simon's Corner" after the grocery business founded by Herbert Simons. This shop was also to suffer demolition, this time by German bombing in 1941.

1881 - The old borough of Saltash, hitherto part of the ecclesiastical parish of St. Stephens, became a parish in its own right, with St. Nicholas as its parish church.

1891 - Wesleyan Methodist Church built on the site of the present Post Office in upper Fore Street.
One of Saltash's most celebrated figures, Ferdinand Keast, Town Sergeant of the Borough for 45 years, died on New Year's Day, aged 88.

1901 - Saltash finally lost its ancient right to collect dues from ships entering Plymouth Sound.
Monument in memory of General William Penn-Symons of Hatt, killed in the Boer War battle of Talana Hill, unveiled in Victoria Gardens.

1941 - The year of the Saltash 'blitz'. One casualty was the Wesleyan Methodist Church, referred to above, which had stood for just 50 years. Another was the Imperial picture House, at the junction of Culver Road and Fore Street, Saltash's only cinema.

1951 - The successor to the Imperial picture House, named the 'Regal' opened It closed in 1964, but the name is perpetuated by Regal Court.

1961 - Last crossing of the Saltash Ferry, after some 600 years of service, extinguished with the opening for traffic of the Tamar Bridge.

David Coles

Saltash Heritage, 17 Lower Fore Street, Saltash, Cornwall, PL12 6JQ --- Tel: 01752 848466 --- Email: info@saltash-heritage.org.uk --- Registered Charity No. 297525