Alverton Well
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treeve

Alverton Well

Predates all of the Town Shoots; before 1600. Besides water which was collected by cart from the pool at Wherrytown and from Madron Well, this was the only real source of water for the whole of Penzance itself. The surround dates from around 1825, and the area was altered when John Richard Branwell's Estate boundaries were redefined for Penlee House, after Trewithen Road was built in 1880. Before that Alverton Well was only accessible from the road near the old house of Bellair. Photo believed to be c1910.
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treeve
This is fed from a natural spring which feeds over the rock basins of the old fields, where now stand Penalverne and Polwithen. It has never dried up, although there have been lean years, in hundreds of years. Some town houses had wells dug, but they were erratic. As the town grew it was obvious that more had to be done, besides the water supply brought to the town in 1752 by a most incredible piece of engineering; followed by the reservoir in 1757. That brought about the new Town Shoots.
 
trepolpen
A fascinating picture! I ve see the one of a lady water-seller collecting her water here long before too but that will be copyrighted no doubt..
 
treeve
Yes indeed, please don t get halfhidden into hot water; it has been much printed with proper permissions anyway. The water which was brought from Madron was taken down to the reservoir at Chapel St Clare and then down to the original town shoots Causewayhead, then extended to the front of the Market House group; it discharged down through Chapel Street and through Jennings Lane and to Neddy Betty s Lane. It was rather poor by then what with slaughterhouses, fish being washed and tanneries.
 

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