In this week’s video we explored behind Market Street. We discovered hidden architectural details hinting at the past and learnt about the slum clearances that happened in the 1930s. But did they get it right?
After completing two of the detailed historical walks in ‘Three Falmouth Walks’ written by the Falmouth Civic Society in 1982, I think I have a greater grasp of how Falmouth has evolved and developed over the years.
Behind Market Street there used to be densely packed housing that follow the rise of the hill towards Wodehouse Terrace. These were humble cottages, maybe with the odd pub or two, and between them would be a narrow, cobbled passageway or ope, sometimes sloped or maybe stepped with the contour of the hillside. They were clustered near the port and church, two of the important factors in life at that time.
With its large natural harbour, Falmouth was busy with shipping, The Post Office chose it in the 17th century to receive goods and communications to and from the continent and parts of the Empire as part of the packet ship service. I imagine men walking down the opes to the harbour for employment either within the harbour itself, maybe unloading and loading goods onto ships or as crew members, sometimes leaving their wives and families for weeks.
If we skip forward to the late Victorian period, these houses had become overcrowded slums. Sewage disposal was poor and the water supply contaminated. Outbreaks of cholera and dysentery were the result. In the 1930s, a decision was made and lots of these houses were cleared, razed to the ground.
But what exists in their place today? There are some Victorian style houses that escaped the clearance, and a lot of post WWII developments, characteristic of their era. There is also parking areas for the residents. As you wander around, it is possible to spot a few clues to the past, some coins here, a windowsill halfway up a wall and even one or two houses from that era. However, much of it has disappeared.
With property values in the town at an all time high and equally high demand for student accommodation for Falmouth University, development continues with, ironically, densely packed apartments, people living on top of people, squeezed into small spaces.
From what I can see, there was no plan or coordinated building scheme to replace what was demolished. It appears chaotic, unattractive and lacking vision. I can’t help but wonder, if the slums had remained in their delightful, higgledy-piggledy fashion, how the town would look now. Would it be more like St Ives, Mevagissey or maybe Polperro? All of these towns now supply their residents with clean water and sewage disposal but retain the virtues of their charming, quaint, organically-grown housing to great success. So, did they get it right for Falmouth?
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