Newquay Conservation Area

20/05/2026

York Buildings on Bank Street is an impressive Edwardian building. It replaced an older cottage owned by T. A. Hubber, who ran a greengrocers.

The building features an attractive granite ashlar façade with symmetrical gables and tall multi-paned sash windows. At its centre is a carved granite stone bearing the date 1909 and the initials “F.S.”, referring to the owner, Mr Frederick Snell of Victoria Terrace, who ran a butcher’s shop on Fore Street.

Mr Snell acquired the site and commissioned the construction of York Buildings, which was designed by Ennor & Bladen architects (E. J. Ennor). Architectural historian Nicholas Pevsner described the building as an Edwardian ‘bombast’ with huge corbels.

Sadly, Mr Snell died only a year after its construction however, it is wonderful that above the shopfronts, the façade has remained unchanged, and the original-style windows also survive, preserving the building’s historic character!

The Newquay Museum Group and its archive have supported our research into the history of the many buildings on the town’s high street. 📜

24/03/2026

It’s wonderful to see a shopfront being lovingly restored by its owners, especially one in such a prominent position on the corner of Fore Street. Efforts like this really help to bring character and charm back to the area. 😀👍

https://www.facebook.com/luxoncornwall

05/03/2026

The renovation of the Hotel Victoria is making great progress. It looks like the windows are being replaced with traditional sash windows, which fits well with the building’s original style.

I decided to take a photo to capture the progress of the Hotel Victoria renovations, and the builders working at the front of the building noticed the camera and gave a friendly wave! 📸 👷

04/03/2026

What is a Conservation Area? Conservation areas exist to manage and protect the special architectural and historic interest of a place in other words, the features that make it unique. Every local authority in England has at least one conservation area and there are

07/02/2026

The Newquay Conservation Area group work closely with the Newquay Old Cornwall Society , which holds an extensive collection of photographs, maps, and historical documents relating to the town.

We’ve recently come across this old artist’s impression of a large building proposed in 1932 can anyone guess where it is? 😀

19/01/2026

It’s great to hear that the Great Western, another historic seafront hotel in Newquay, has begun a phased refurbishment this month.

The work at the moment looks to be focused on a section of the hotel that was originally a row of terrace villas—some of the first to be built on Cliff Road.

https://www.staustellbrewery.co.uk/our-blog/great-western-in-newquay-set-for-major-refurbishment

16/01/2026

The hotel building is currently being extensively renovated, the company have submitted plans for the rest of the site!

The scheme includes knocking down the pub, nightclub and restaurant

16/12/2025

Another lovely mural in the town 🎨
Celebrating the founder of the Women's Institute in Newquay, lady Lady Molesworth-St Aubyn.

The painting is the eighth artwork in a mural trail that aims to encourage people to explore the town’s streets

10/12/2025

Lots of work on the refurbishment of the Hotel Victoria

Exterior work is being carried out, looks like the old pebble dash is coming off and according to the builders is being painted.

04/12/2025

Interesting plan of Porth Veor House designed by Silvanus Trevail for Dr William Stephens in 1879. Certainly one of the early buildings he designed at Newquay