The parish church is distinguished by some remains of Gothic
ornaments, and by its lofty tower. Within the church are some recent
monuments to the Archers of Trelask, and one to the Rev. W. A. Morgan,
the late vicar. There are also several ancient monuments, but greatly
defaced.
The villages in this parish are small, and the houses are generally
constructed of the least durable materials. The principal are Hick’s
Mill, Pollyfont, Trenhorne, and Trevadlack.
The manor of Trelaske, having originally belonged to a family of the
same name, came to the Uptons. It is stated by Mr. Lysons that two
co-heiresses of the Upton family married two brothers of the Lowers,
between whom the property was divided. One half passed to the family
of Plowden; and the other half was sold by Thomas Lower, Esq. who died
in 1703, to John Addis, Esq. whose son purchased the share of William
Plowden and others. In 1741, William Addis, Esq. bequeathed the whole
to Nicholas Swete Archer, Esq. in whose collateral heirs it still
remains. Trelaske is a handsome gentleman’s seat, and surrounded by
extensive woods. Mr. Nicholas Swete Archer married a sister of the
late Mr. Francis Basset, of Tehidy, and resided chiefly at Truro in a
house the property of Mr. Enys, of Enys, who had married another
sister of Mr. Francis Basset; this gentleman dying without children,
left Trelaske to his nephew, whose son greatly improved the house and
the place; but has recently been taken out of this life at an early
age, leaving a numerous family amply provided with the gifts of
fortune, and consoled by the recollection of a parent universally
respected and esteemed.
The manor of Tinney Hall belonged to the family of Beaumont; the last
possessor of that name, Mrs. Dorothy Beaumont, bequeathed it to her
nephew Mr. John Speccot, of Penheal, from whom it passed to his
relation Mr. Thomas Long (see Egloskerry), and the manor now belongs
to his heir-at-law the Rev. Charles Sweet.
The etymology given by Mr. Tonkin for Trelaske does not seem to be
very probable. The verb Losgi is in Cornish to burn; but it does not
approach nearly to the sound of laske, and the derivation has not any
support from tradition at this place, nor in Cubert, nor in Pelynt,
where the name occurs.
The manor of Pollyfont was heretofore a parcel of the priory of
Minster near Botreaux Castle[1], and has been annexed to the rectory
of Minster parish. Some remains of a chapel are still to be seen at
this place.
The great tithes belonged to the family of Gedy or Giddy, of
Trebersey, from whom they descended to Mr. John Eliot, heir-at-law of
the celebrated patriot Sir John Eliot, who married the heiress of that
family; and they were by him devised, with the whole of his property,
to Mr. William Eliot, second brother of Lord Eliot, of Port Eliot, now
Lord St. Germans, who has parted with them to Mr. William Hocker, of
Trewanta in this parish.
Lewanick measures 3,516 statute acres.
Annual value of the Real Property, as £. _s._ _d._
returned to Parliament in 1815 3773 0 0
Poor Rate in 1831 431 8 0
Population, { in 1801, | in 1811, | in 1821, | in 1831.
{ 548 | 563 | 623 | 643
giving an increase of 17 per cent. in 30 years.