On Thursday 25th September 2025, the Henry Williams Almshouses Obelisk was carefully relocated in Truro, close to its original city centre site on Pydar Street, thanks to a partnership between Truro City Council and the Truro Municipal Charities Trust. Together, they worked to return an important piece of heritage to Truro.
Truro City Council’s Parks Department have assisted the stonemasons (C F Piper & Son) and the charity by installing a new concrete base and supporting the installation, which took place on the 25th September 2025.
The obelisk was built as a memorial to Henry Williams, who in 1629 donated money to set up a charitable trust. The Truro Municipal Charities Trust was intended to fund almshouses (also known as a hospital) for ten poor widows. It provided not only clothing but also a weekly allowance of four shillings (20 pence), as well as a meadow where the widows could keep a cow.
In the late 1960s, the major redevelopment in Truro’s city centre created new retail spaces and saw the construction of the (former) Carrick District Council’s offices, which led to the demolition of the original Williams Court. These characterful almshouses were replaced with a more modern take on the original Williams Court, which today can be found opposite Pydar House at the top of Pydar Street. These dwellings are still owned and managed by the Truro Municipal Charities Trust.
When the redevelopment occurred, the granite obelisk monument that sat at the centre of the almshouse development was removed. It was saved from destruction by Rex Davey, a contractor on the site, who initially relocated it to his farm and later to the Dairyland attraction.
Thanks to the dedicated efforts of local historian Barry West and the generosity of Dairyland’s current owners, the obelisk has now been returned to Truro. As the original property of the Truro Municipal Charities Trust, they had the final say on its new location. Fittingly, they chose to return it to its original site at the top of Pydar Street, where an arch from the former almshouses is also located.
Truro City Council would like to express its thanks to all those involved in this effort, including: Rex Davey, for rescuing the obelisk during the 1960s redevelopment; the owners of Dairyland, for agreeing to its return; Barry West, for his research and support in facilitating the move; the Truro Municipal Charities Trust, for their continued stewardship and decision to reinstall the monument; and the stonemasons, C F Piper & Son, for their careful assistance and installation.
For a short history of the Henry Williams Almshouses, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/mdypydkk