It is situate in the hundred of Kerryer, and hath upon the north
Constantine, east Budock, and is elsewhere surrounded with the waters
of the British ocean and Hayleford Haven.
However, the reader may take notice that long before the Norman
Conquest, even in King Alfred’s days, this district was not known but
by the name of Penwarne; viz. the voke lands of the bailywick of the
hundred of Kerryer; and its court baron hath its prison and
sub-bailiff still extant in Budock, which lands and court baron claims
the respective suits and services of the several tithings or
freeholders within its precincts, as of ancient right accustomed. And
this barton of Penwarne hath also still extant upon it an old
unendowed free chapel and burying-place of public use, before the
church of Mawnan was erected, for under the name and jurisdiction of
Penwarne this parish was taxed in the Domesday Book, 20 William I.
1087.
Though, at the time of the inquisition of the Bishops of Lincoln and
Winchester, 1294, into the value of Cornish benefices, this parish
church was rated then by the name of Ecclesia de Mawnan, in decanatu
de Kerryer, 4_l._ 3_s._ 8_d._ In Wolsey’s inquisition, 1521, 14_l._
16_s._ 1_d._ The patronage formerly in Killygrew, afterwards Rogers,
now Kempe. The incumbent Trewinard; and the parish rated to the 4_s._
per pound Land Tax, 1696, by the name of Mawnan, 72_l._
From Pen-gwarne alias Pen-warne, synonymous words, was denominated an
old English family of gentlemen now in possession thereof, surnamed
De-Penwarne (who by possession of those lands is bailiff or lord of
the bailiwick of the hundred of Kerryer by inheritance), whose
ancestors have been seised and possessed thereof, beyond the records
of time, and have been possessed in former ages of divers other lands
of considerable value in those parts.
Particularly Richard Penwarne, Esq. that married one of the coheirs of
Tencreeke, Member of Parliament for Penryn, temp. James I.; whose son
Robert married the daughter of Robinson of London, who had issue the
present possessor, Robert Penwarne, Esq. that married Sprye of
Tregony, and hath issue; that giveth for his arms, in a field Sable a
chevron between three fleur-de-lis Argent.