This, in Domesday Book, is called Witestan, being one of the
manors given by William the Conqueror to Robert Earl of Morton,
when he created Earl of Cornwall the said Robert.
In the extent of Cornish acres, 12 Edw. I. (Car. f. 48), this, by
the name of Wilston and St. Petnell (St. Petronel, I suppose), is
valued in two.
The 3 Henry IV. (Idem, f. 40 b.) John de Cobbeham held one fee in
Wiston and Serpeknol, which I take to be the same with the
former, only wrong spelt.
[The name of the parish is not derived, I apprehend, from any
white stone on which the church is founded. From the very
description here given of it, it could never have given name to
the church itself. Only “part of the church is founded” on it.
Nor is this part “founded” on it. There is only “a large white
stone in the south side of the church;” and this is plainly built
up in the side, as it is said to be “of an oval form.” The
reference of the name to this stone, therefore, has been merely
the idle play of intellect, in those who in antiquarian matters
did not know how to exert their understandimg seriously. The real
name of the church is “St. Petnell, St. Petronel, I suppose.” The
church then could not give name to the parish. And the parish
actually received its name from the manor, as the manor received
it from its manerial house, this being built upon a white rock, that
very rock assuredly from which the white stone in the wall of the
church had been brought. W.]