The Polwheles of this place are of great antiquity. They flourished
before the Conquest, at which time they were so eminent that Drew de
Polwhele was chamberlain to the Conqueror’s queen; and the late John
Polwhele, Esq. had not long since in his possession, a grant from her
to the said Drew of several lands in this county, which deed he having
sent to a gentleman to peruse, he could never get it back again. From
the time of this Drew or Drogo de Polwhele, the family have lived with
much esteem in this their habitation, till the latter part of Queen
Elizabeth’s reign, when Degory Polwhele, on his marriage with
Catherine the eldest daughter and coheir of Robert Trencreek, Esq.
removed to her seat of Treworgan in St. Erme, where the family resided
till the sale of that place to Mr. Collins, when they returned to
their old dwelling.
The present possessor, Richard Polwhele, Esq. was sheriff of Cornwall
9 George I. 1723.
The family suffered greatly in the civil wars.
Penhellick was once a considerable seat, although now it is divided
into several premises, in one of which lately resided Mr. Robert
Polwhele, younger brother to John Polwhele, Esq. and in another
Captain Thomas Gregor, of Truro.
Trewhythenick formerly belonged to a family of the same name, who gave
for their arms, Argent, a chevron within a border engrailed Sable.
This manor came afterwards to the Chamonds.
Park also belonged to a family of the same name.
Lambesso belonged to the Tredenhams, but for some time past to the
Footes.