There is not any thing remarkable about this parish church; it is
distant no more than a mile and quarter from Breage Church, but
divided from it by a deep valley, which runs down to Porthleaven,
heretofore a small fishing cove, till some projectors induced
credulous persons to contribute large sums of money, for the purpose
of making a harbour for vessels at this place, under the vague
pretence of saving human life, a matter on which all mankind are
agreed, but without being able to show that their plans would have
that effect: assuming it, however, they had the hardihood to solicit
from Parliament an impost on all vessels passing within a certain
distance of the Land’s End and the Lizard. Several tens of thousands
of pounds have been expended on this senseless undertaking, which has
utterly failed of its object, and made the small harbour less
commodious for boats than it was before.
The principal seat in this parish is Penrose, the residence for
centuries of a very ancient family bearing the same name, till the
heiress of Penrose married Pearce of Penryn, and their only daughter
married Alexander Cuming, esq. from Scotland. They parted with this
property to Mr. John Rogers of Helston, younger brother of Mr. Hugh
Rogers of Treasow in Ludgvan, to whom he ultimately succeeded.
Mr. John Rogers left an only son Hugh Rogers, Sheriff of Cornwall in
the year 1770. This gentleman married Ann, daughter of Mr. James of
St. Columb. They also left an only son Mr. John Rogers, member of
Parliament for West Looe and for Helston: he married Margaret, eldest
daughter of Francis Basset, esq. of Tehidy: and died the 22d of
February, 1832, leaving a very numerous family. He is succeeded by his
eldest son the Rev. John Rogers, Canon Residentiary of Exeter, and
Rector of Mawnan.
The late Mr. Rogers added very considerably to the property purchased
by his grandfather, more especially on the sales by the Arundell
family; so that the Penrose domain now extends round the Lake, and
affords a scope for improvements, which may convert this place into
one of the most beautiful in Cornwall, and such are expected from the
talents, liberality, and taste of the present opulent possessor.
Antron appears to have been a place of consequence in former times.
Mr. Lysons says that it belonged to an ancient family of the same
name, from whom it passed with an heiress in the reign of Queen
Elizabeth, to the Paynters; that it was purchased of them by the
Hoblyns in 1670, and sold by the Rev. Robert Hoblyn, to John Rogers,
esq. late Captain in the Naval Service of the East India Company, who
restored the place by building a new house, and by other improvements.
It now belongs to his son.
Trevarnoe was purchased by the late Mr. Christopher Wallis, a
gentleman who made a large fortune in Helston and in this place, by
the practice of the law. He had an only daughter, married to Captain
Popham, a brother of the adventurous navigator who distinguished
himself at Buenos Ayres. Their son now resides here; he served the
office of Sheriff in 1834, and has married a daughter of the late Sir
Vyell Vyvyan, of Trelowarren.
Very little is known about the hospital of St. John in this parish.
The following short notice is all that occurs in Dugdale’s Monasticon:
“Helston.――Leland, in his Itinerary, mentions an hospital of St. John
yet standing at the west-south-west end of the town of Helston, of the
foundation of one Killigion or Killegrew. It is mentioned in the
Register of Edmund Stafford, Bishop of Exeter (from 1395 to 1419) fol.
135. In the 26th of Henry VIII. the total revenue of this hospital
amounted to £14. 7_s._ 4_d._ The net receipts to £12. 16_s._ 4_d._ per
annum.” At the foot of the hill, and on the south side of the road
leading from Mirazion, just as it turns almost at a right angle, is a
large stone placed upright, bearing in relief the sword of St. John,
having its guard in such a position as to represent the potence of a
cross; and this stone is believed to point out very nearly the site of
the ancient hospital.
The great tithes of this parish were appropriated to the monastery of
Glaseney, near Penryn; they have since the reformation passed through
different hands, and belong to Sir Samuel-Thomas Spry, M.P. for
Bodmin, son of the late Admiral Spry.
The present incumbent is the Rev. Samuel Cole, D.D. Chaplain General
to the Navy. About a century ago this living was held, together with
Phillack and Gwithian, by the Rev. Edward Collins, the Editor’s
great-grandfather.
The parish feast is kept on the first Sunday in August.
Sithney measures 4896 statute acres.
Annual value of the Real Property, as £. _s._ _d._
returned to Parliament in 1815 5,839 0 0
Poor Rate in 1831 904 14 0
Population, { in 1801, | in 1811, | in 1821, | in 1831,
{ 1420 | 1552 | 2238 | 2772
giving an increase of 95 per cent. in 30 years.