12.06.2026 Prep Bulletin

A brief synopsis of the school’s history can be found below, and a poster of the particulars of the construction of the house can be viewed in the School Events section further down this Bulletin:

Treliske was built by William Teague, a mine captain, in the 1870s. Teague started his career as a miner underground and made his fortune at Tincroft and Carn Brea mines. He purchased farmland known as ‘Liskes’ in the 1860s and decided to build himself a mansion in 1873 to the designs of James Hicks. It was completed in 1876.

Teague died in March 1886, and Treliske was brought by George Smith later that year. Smith was part of the Bickford-Smith family of Tuckingmill, Camborne, who made safety fuses. Sir George was knighted in 1897 and was connected with the school since its inception. He became the chairman of the school governors in 1904.

Sir George Smith died in 1921, and Treliske was sold to Truro School by his family in 1935. Margaret Smith, his daughter and also a school governor, oversaw the renovation work needed to turn Treliske into a school.

By 1949, there were 34 boarders and 18 day boys, and in 1960, there were 40 boarders and 45 day boys. Boarding ended in 1993, and the former dormitories were converted to staff rooms, a medical centre, the library and music rooms.

The stained glass on the staircase features farming, mining, and fishing scenes. There is also the coat of arms of Sir George Smith of Treliske, which can also be seen in the window in the T1 classroom. This was the billiard room in Teague’s day.

Girls joined the Prep School for the first time in September 1989, and the Pre-Prep opened in 1992. It was named after E.B. Willday, who was Deputy Head of Truro School from 1921 to 1960.

Whilst the history of the house and school makes for interesting telling, the overriding message was that it is people and not buildings that make a school. I put it to the children that we are all stewards of this school, and it is for us as individuals, and as a community, to look after it and to leave it in a better place than we found it.

By working hard and making the most of our opportunities and through kindness and service to others, we can add our own chapter to this very special school’s story. I have no doubt that the children will rise to the challenge.

Finally, I hope that we will see many of you at the Friends of Truro School Summer Fayre tomorrow (Saturday, 13th June from 12-3pm) and next week at the Truro School Community Day (Saturday, 20th June from 12-9pm).

Whether you can make it or not, I wish you all a lovely weekend.

With every good wish,