Description

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

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26552842

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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