Newsletter - Issue 15

'4' Anniversaries

Here are some of the anniversaries which occured in 1994.

1644 - With the Civil War at its peak of intensity in this part of Cornwall, Saltash changed hands four times between July and October, Sir Richard Grenville eventually regaining it for the Royalists after heavy fighting.

1724 - Daniel Defoe - author of "Robinson Crusoe" - visited Saltash, later describing it as "a shattered town, obviously the ruins of a much larger place" a situation which not only resulted from the destruction caused during the Civil War, still apparent after some seventy years, but a general decline in Saltash's fortunes since Tudor times.

1734 - The register of burials in wool commenced at St. Stephens Church. This followed a Government edict stating that people had to be buried in a woollen shroud to assist the textile trade.

1774 - Saltash received a new charter from the King, George III, which for the most part confirmed the provisions of earlier charters.

1794 - The first Baptist Church in Saltash was erected in Culver Road on the site of the present church. It was replaced in 1866.

1844 - Two Saltash women were transported to the penal colony in New South Wales for seven years for stealing material to make shirts for their husbands. Apparently they settled in Australia and married new husbands. Whether their original spouses followed suit is not recorded!!

1854 - Work commenced on the central pier of the Royal Albert Bridge. This difficult operation took two years to complete.

1864 - The Saltash Turnpike Trust, which had been set up a century earlier to provide revenue for road improvement and maintenance, was abolished The upkeep of these main roads eventually became the responsibility of local authorities.

1884 - The Saltash Roman Catholic Church was established in Lower Port View, attached to a house formerly known as "Vinelands". Worship continued there until the building became a victim of wartime bombing, whereupon the congregation transferred to the church which had opened in 1935 adjoining the Convent of the Good Shepherd at St. Annes. The Port View house was later converted into flats and is now known as Friary Court.

1894 - The Old Guildhall which stood on the site of the present Essa Club, was demolished. It was in a poor state of repair and had ceased to be used as the town hall, this function having been transferred to the Market House, now Saltash Guildhall. All that remains of the old guildhall is the granite bell tower now situated in the garden of Kingsleigh House

1904 - The motor rail service between Saltash, Plymouth and Plympton commenced.

1924 - The Guildhall underwent extensive renovation, including resiting the main entrance to the western side.

1934 - The Borough of Saltash was extended to include the civil parish of St. Stephens thus increasing the area of the borough from some 200 acres to over 5000 acres.

1974 - The Borough of Saltash ceased to exist under the Local Government reorganisation. Its functions were divided between the new Caradon District and Saltash Town Councils.

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