The Parochial History of Cornwall, Volume 1 (of 4)
History
The Parochial History of Cornwall, Volume 1 (of 4)
Cornwall (England : County) -- History; Geology -- England -- Cornwall (County)
This parish is of a large extent, but for the most part barren, with
abundance of wortzel and downs; but withal very populous, and not
without some parcels of very good land, particularly from Trevannence
to Perwennack, Tewan, Trevisick, Mewla, Meuthion; and neither are the
barren grounds the least considerable, as producing large quantities
of excellent tin, according to the Cornish saying,
Stean San Agnes an guella stean in Kernow.
(St. Agnes’ tin is the best tin in Cornwall.)
As likewise in some places very good copper, with some quarries which
produce excellent stone for building; and some of slate for roofing,
but not of the best quality. The land lies very heathy and dry, but
too much exposed to the raging north-west wind for trees to thrive on
it.
From the top of the first hill a part of Devonshire may be seen; also
the North and South Seas; with thirty-four parishes. The Bowden or
Boen Marks, called in sea charts the Cow and Calf, lie about two miles
from the shore.
LYSONS.
An attempt was made by the Tonkin family to form a harbour at
Trevaunance-Porth as early as the year 1632; it was attempted again in
1684, and, after a considerable expence had been incurred, again given
up. In 1699, a third attempt was made with the assistance of Mr.
Winstanly, the celebrated engineer; the works then constructed were
destroyed by a violent storm in 1705. Mr. Tonkin, from whose notes
this account was taken, again commenced his works in 1710, at the
expense of £6,000; he formed the foundation with large masses of rock
laid in hot lime made of lyas stone from Aberddaw, in South Wales.
These works having become decayed, a jetty pier of moorstone was built
about the year 1794, at the expense of £10,000, by a company of
gentlemen, and a considerable trade in coals, lime, slate, &c. is now
carried on with Ireland and Wales. The proprietors are enlarging the
harbour, and rendering it more commodious and safe for shipping. A
small stream of water which rises in the manor of Tywarnhaile, turns
several stamping mills in Trevaunance Comb.
The market, for which there does not appear to be any charter on
record, has been held from time immemorial for all sorts of wares and
provisions, except corn. In 1706, Mr. Tonkin procured the Queen’s
patent for a weekly market and two fairs; but after the writ of _ad
quod damnum_ had been duly executed, and the Queen’s sign manual
obtained, the grant was revoked in consequence of a petition from the
inhabitants of Truro. A small market is nevertheless kept up; the
market day is Thursday.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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