Penzance 1820

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PENZANCE, a sea-port and corporate town, in the parish of Madron and hundred of Penwith; is 282 miles from London, 109 from Exeter, and 10 from the Land’s End. It is situated on the north side of Mount’s Bay; the country surrounding it being mountainous, but the land remarkably fertile. The town, of late years, has received very great improvement; -the houses In general are handsome and convenient buildings, and the streets are tolerably well paved; although It is very difficult and expensive to keep the pavement in repair, from the heavy loads of copper ore and block tin, which are brought in wagons from the neighbouring mine’s and smelting-houses for shipment at this port.

By some writers the name of this town is supposed to signify the ‘Saint’s Head;’ and this opinion is supported by the circumstance of the baptist’s head in a charger’ being the corporation arms. Others conceive it to have originated to its situation, mid from thence called ‘Pensuavus,’ or ‘the head of the channel.’ Lelaud, In his itinerary, writes it ‘Pensantes.’ Few towns, with reference to size, are more flourishing. The trade of the port consists in exports of tin, in blocks, ingots and bars, to many foreign parts; and coastways in copper. tin, leather. &C. to London, Liverpool, Bristol and Wales’ pilchards to the Mediterranean, and oil to Ireland. its imports are, tallow, hemp and iron from St. Peterburgh; and timber from Norway, Prussia and America: it receives coastways. iron and coal from Wales; corn and flour from Norfolk, Sussex, Hampshire, and London; salt and bale-goods from Liverpool; groceries, bale-goods, and wine, spirits and porter, by regular traders, from London, Bristol amid Plymouth.

A very excellent dry dock has been constructed, at a considerable expense; and the general regulations of the port are efficient and salutary. The tolls of the market, and dues of the pier, belong to the corporation; the former producing annually about £600. and the latter about £1,200. This is one of the coinage towns of the duchv, nearly two-thirds of the tin being exported from its pier; the remainder paying the duties at Truro.

The town is governed by a mayor, eight aldermen, 12 common councilmen, a recorder, town-Clerk. A court of requests is held once a fortnight, for the recovery of sums under £50. at which the mayor, with the town-clerk, presides; and a hundred court, under the steward of the lord of the manor (Sir Christopher Hawkins, Bars.); also town sessions. on the Friday subsequent to the county sessions. The public institutions comprise a dispensary, affording relief to-the indigent sick poor; the ‘royal, geological society of Cornwall’, established in l8l3, with an extensive and interesting museum; a public library, gentlemen’s subscription and commercial news rooms, more than a dozen book-clubs; and handsome assembly-rooms at the Union hotel, &c. &c.

The parish church is at Madron, about a mile and a half from the town: the living is a perpetual curacy, in the gift of the corporation; the Rev. C. N. Le Grice is the present curate. In the town are, a chapel of ease under Madron parish, with several meeting-houses for dissenters, and a Jews’ synagogue. Penzance is the birth-place of the late celebrated Sir Humhprey Davy: and, in speaking of talented persons, we cannot omit noticing, that it is at present the residence of Miss Hatfield, who has given to the world some very pleasing poems; this lady keeps a seminary of the most respectable class. A great many gentlemen’s seats are in the immediate neighbourhood, in every direction; they are too numerous to particularize. The views around Penzanee are patticularly pleasing, and the walks, and rides agreeable, through diversified scenery; and the prospects from the eminences are extensive and interesting. The markets are on Tuesday Thursday and Saturday. Thursday being the principal one; the fairs are, March 25th, and the Thursday after Trinity and before Advent Sundays. By the returns made in 1821, the population was as follows: Madron parish 7,235 Penzance chapelry being 5,224 of that number, and St. Michael’s Mount (extra-parochial) 223. Within the last seven years, however, It is estimated that the population of the chapelry has increased to upwards of 7,000 persons; amid more than 200 houses have been erected within the same period.

MARAZION, or Market Jew, is a small market town in the parish of St. Hilary, and in the same hundred as Penzance, three miles from that town. This place -is said to have derived its name from having been much frequented by Jews 1 trading here some centuries ago, and who held an annual market for selling various commodities. In the reign of Queen Elizabeth it obtained a charter, vesting the government of the town in a mayor, 8 aldermen and 12 capital burgesses, with power to hold a weekly market. The situation of Marazion, and the mildness of the climate, occasions, its being much visited; indeed were it not for the frequent rains that fall in this part of the country, no spot could be found, either in Italy or the south at France, possessing a more mild and salubrious atmosphere.

From Marazion, at low water, there is a causeway, about three furlongs in length, to SAINT MICHAEL’S MOUNT, a place that well deserves the attention of the curious: at high tides it Is completely insulated by the sea, but at half tide It may be approached by the causeway just mentioned. The rock of which St. Michael’s Mount is composed is a hard granite, nearly bare of soil, and extremely steep and craggy; the height, from low-water-mark to the top of the chapel tower, is 240 feet; in circumference at the base it measures about three quarters of a mile; the mount gradually diminishes in size from the base, and is terminated in a very curious manner by the tower of a chapel upon its summit, making a complete pyramid on the side next Marazion St. Michael’s has a commodious and convenient pier, where about 40 vessels can harbour in security, lasting about two feet less water within the basin, than at Penzance. The parish church of St. Hilary is about two miles and o half from Marazion; but there is a chapel-of ease In the town, and one each belonging to the Methodists and Baptists. The market-day is Saturday, and there is one annual fair, held on Michaelmas day. The parish of St. Hilary contained, in 1821. 2,8l1 inhabitants, and the town of Marazion being 1,253 of that number.

NOBILITY, GENTRY AND CLERGY.

Allen Miis Elzabeth, Marazion, Andrews John Daniel, gent. Wellington terrace.

Armstrong Major John, Rosecadgel Baker Jno. esq. St. Michael’s mount

Bloomfield Miss Eliz. North parade Boaat John, gent. Alverton st

Boase John, gent. Castle Horneck Boase Mrs. Henry, Alverton st

Borlase Miss Eliza, Marazion Borlase Saml.. esq Castle Horneck

Childs John, gent. North parade Clapham John, esq. North parade

Clemens Mrs. Elizabeth, Marazion Cock Francis, gent. North parade

Cole Miss Kitty. Marazion Cornish Mrs. Jane, Marazion

Cundy John, gent. New st Curtis Mrs. Catherine Park corner

Dennis the Misses, Chapel st Edwards Mrs. Wilmot, South parade st terrace

Edwards Richard. gent. Alverton Ellis Miss Mary, Park corner

Evans Capt. Wm. R.N. Belle-vue cott. Eve Miss. Wilmot, North parade

Giddy Capt. Charles, R.N. Madron Gilbert Davies, esq. Tredrea

Harvey Mrs. Jane, Newlyn Harvey Rev. Wm. Woodis, Chapel st

Hill Mrs. Catherine, South parade Hoskin Mrs.Rebecca, Market Jew st

James Mrs. Elizabeth, Marazion Jenkins Mrs. Market Jew st

John George, esq. Chapel st John Mrs. Ann, Wellington terrace

John Thomas, gent. Chapel st Lee Mrs. Chyandour cliff

Le Grice Rev. Charles Valentine, Terief house, Madron

Longlands Mrs. South parade Maddison Geo. Bow, gent. Newlyn

Michell Mrs. Cath. Wellington terr Millet Mrs. Eliza, Chapel st

Millett William, gent. Marazion Morgan Mrs. CaroIine, Marazion

Morris Rev. Geo. Regent terrace Moyle Miss Elizabeth, Marazion

Newton Miss Mary, Marazion Nichols Joseph, esq. Chapel st

Nichols Miss Cath. Wellington p1 Nunn Win, gent. Regent terrace

Parkhurst Rev. Fleetwood, Alverton terrace Pascoe Mrs. Kitty, Chapel st

Paul Miss Mary, Wellington place Paynter John, esq. Bookenna

Pearce Mrs. New st Peel Mrs. William, Alverton

Peel Thomas. esq. Alverton Pengelly William, gent. Madron

Penneck Miss Frances, Chapel st Penneck Rev. Henry, MarketJewst

Peters Rev. William, Alverton st Peyton Mrs. Susanh. North ,Parade

Pidwell Mrs. Mary, Alverton st Pidwell Sam’. gent. Alverton terr.

Pope Emanuel, gent. Wellington p1 Price Sir Rose, bart. Trengwainton

Richards Robt. gent. Alverton terr Roberts Mrs. Eleanor, North parade

Robins Rev. Thos. South parade St. Aubyn Sir John, bart. St. Michael’s Mount

Scobell -John, esq. (Magistrate) Nancealverne

Scobell Mrs. Edward, Poltair Shoveller Rev. John, Chapel st

Stocker Lieut. R. N. Burton castle Symons John, gent. (surveyor of taxes) Market Jew st

Tench Lieut. Gen. R.M. Chapel St Tonkin Rev. Uriah, Rosehill

Townsend Rev. John H. Marazion Treluddra Miss Mary, Marazion

Trembath Jas. gent. Market Jew St Tremenheere Henry Pendarvis, esq. Treneere house

Tremenheere Mrs. Abbey St Veale Rev. Win. ‘l’revavlor Gulvel

Veale Win, gent. Wellington place Vibert the Misses, Market Jew st

Wallis William, gent. Park corner

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ACADEMIES & SCHOOLS.

Not otherwise described are Day Schools.

Berryman & Cox, ladies’ boarding; Alverton st Bramwell Joseph, Queen st Cock James, Newlyn

Daniel Arthur, Newlyn FREE GRAMMAR SCHOOL—Rev. C George Morris, master

FREE SCHOOL, Marazion—John Hollow. Master Hatfield Sibella Elizabeth, (ladies’ boarding & day) Chapel st

Hichens Grace, Newlyn Hoskin Joseph, Park corner

Jacques Christiana, Park corner Painter Catherine, ladies’ boarding and day Queen st

Parsons Mary, Marazion Pollard Francis, Newlyn

Scott Frances, North parade Sutherland John, Leskiunick place

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AGENTS.