The King of Prussia Town Quay Fowey

Image: © Jo and Steve Turner Taken: 15 Jun 2005

Grade II Listing describes it as a merchant's house or market building of early 17th century but largely rebuilt or remodelled mid 19th century. However, whatpub.com, CAMRA's national pub guide, describes it as “Originally a 15th century hotel rebuilt in 1856 on the site of an Elizabethan poor house”. Then again, Royal Cornwall Museum seem to think it was rebuilt in 1886 remarking that “The steps were added in 1909 by Walter Hicks (St Austell Brewery). The Inn is thought to have been named after the smuggler and privateer John Carter”. Carter (1770-1807) was nicknamed ‘The King of Prussia’ as he operated from Prussia Cove, and is thought to have lived here in the 1780s. It is more probable it was named after Frederick the Great who, in 1756, allied to England against the French. A search of my directories found; 1783 Only a wine merchants is listed; 1830 John Webber; 1844 William Frost; 1852 John Bennett; 1856 Unable to locate, was it being re-built? 1873 Unable to locate; 1883 Amos Tanblin; 1889 Fredrick Chenhalls; 1893 David Job; 1897 George Edward Petherick; 1902 William Treleaven Hotten; 1906 William Harris; 1914 Nicholas Richards. It looks feasible that the inn was closed at least between 1856 and 1873 and therefore most probably when it was re-built.

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