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obtained, the grant was revoked in consequence of a petition from the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.
In a dingle called Chapel-comb, was an ancient chapel known by the
name of Porth Chapel, the ruins of which were taken down about the
year 1780. Near this spot is St. Agnes’ well, of which many miraculous
stories are told; the water is of an excellent quality, and much
esteemed. Hals speaks of an ancient free chapel in the manor of
Mythian, which had been made a dwelling house. There are remains of an
ancient chapel at Mola. Nicholas Kent, of Mingoose, by his will
bearing date 1688, gave for the term of 499 years a dwelling house,
divided into four tenements and a garden, for poor widows of this
parish, and charged his lands of Mingoose and Tereardrene with the
repairs of the house; but it does not appear that it was endowed. One
of the schools, founded by the trustees of the fund left for
charitable uses by the Rev. St. John Elliot, who died in 1760, is at
St. Agnes; the endowment is £5 per annum. There is a Sunday school at
St. Agnes, supported by subscription, and numerously attended.