Altar Nun is situate in the hundred of Lesnewth, and hath upon the
north Davidstow and St. Cleather, south part of Northill and Lawanack,
east Trewenn, west Temple, and was taxed in Domesday Roll either under
the name Trewint, Treuint, the spring, fountain, or well town, situate
upon the fens or springs, otherwise under the jurisdiction of Trewen.
In the inquisition of the Bishops of Lincoln and Winchester aforesaid,
1294, this church was rated to the Pope’s first-fruits, Ecclesia de
Altar Nun, in Decanatu de Lesnewith viii_l._ the vicar xl_s._ In Wolsey’s
inquisition 1521, temp. Hen. VIII. 18_l._ 14_s._ 10_d._; the patronage
in the Dean and Chapter of Exon, who endowed it; the incumbent Hatton.
This parish was rated to the 4_s._ per pound Land-tax 1696, 204_l._
16_s._
For the modern name of this church, Mr. Carew, in his Survey of
Cornwall, is of opinion it is derived from the Altar of St. Nun’s Pool
in this parish, heretofore much frequented for the cure of mad people,
the manner of which cure is set down by him, liber ii. p. 123, (p. 289
of Lord Dunstanville’s edition,) but, for my own part, I conceive the
word Altar in this place is not to be construed as a derivative from
altare, an altar, whereon offerings or sacrifice was made to God by
fire or otherwise at this pool; but rather, as I am better informed,
the chancel of the present church was a chapel pertaining to the nuns
or nunnery once here, afterwards augmented and converted to a vicarage
church as it now stands; and that the ground whereon the vicarage
house is now extant. Contiguous therewith was of old the nunnery-house
itself, wherein those virgins resided; the stones and materials of
which old house are concerted in the new vicarage brave mansion, and,
to prove this tradition, there yet appears in the fields the channel
or water-course wherein the waters of St. Nun’s Pool was carried into
this old nunnery-house in former ages.
So that I conclude the name Altar Nun must be interpreted as a
corruption of or derivative from Alter-Nun, to alter or change from
one thing to another, from that of a nunnery of religious votaresses,
to that of a parochial and vicarage church, from whence the same hath
its present denomination, as aforesaid.
In this parish stands the barton of Tre-lawn-y, id est, the oak grove
town, or, “I am the oak grove town,” a name at first given and taken
from the natural circumstances of the place, situate between two
hills, then notable for woods or groves of oak timber. Though now
there is not left standing any house or trees to countenance this
etymology, yet I have been told by some of the inhabitants of this
parish, that tradition saith the greatest part of the stones that
built the present church and tower of Altar Nun, were brought from the
dilapidated walls of Trelawny, and much of the oak timber that roofs
the same was also cut and carried from that barton.
From this place was denominated that old and famous family of
gentlemen surnamed Trelawney, now baronets, as I was informed by my
very kind friend Coll. John Trelawney, of Trelawney, deceased, and
that one Sir William de Trelawney, lord of this place, suffered it to
go in marriage with his base daughter to ――――, from whose heirs, by
descent or purchase, it came to Cloberry Hickes, and ―――― now in
possession thereof, and is now set for about 70_l._ per ann. The arms
of those Trelawneys were, in a field Argent, a chevron Sable between
three oak-leaves Vert, probably in allusion to the leaves of that sort
of timber whereof this _lawne_ consisted.
In this parish, tempore Charles II. lived Peter Jowle or Joull, _id
est_, Peter the Divell, under clerk or deacon of this church, who was
150 and odd years old when he died, and at the age of 100 years had
new black hairs that sprung forth on his head amongst those that long
before were white with age; and then also new teeth grew up in his
jaws in the places of those that many years before were fallen out of
his head. [The name of Joll is still extant in the village; and the
family have been remarkable for longevity; but we cannot learn that
any tradition exists relating to Peter Joll, nor does his name appear
in the register. _Lysons._] Fuller tells us, that John Sands, of
Horborne in Staffordshire, lived 140 years old, and his wife 120, he
died 1625. Thomas Parr lived 153 years old, and is buried in
Westminster Abbey, tempore Charles II. It is reported of Zamkees, the
Samothracian, that after he had lived 104 years, new young teeth
sprung up in his jaws in the room of those that were fallen out long
before. Henry Brenton, of St. Wenn, weaver, lived 103 years old, and
died tempore George I.
This parish hath in it tin loads and streams.