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St Austell

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The parish of St. Austell is in the Deanery and Eastern Division of the Powder Hundred. It was originally bounded on the north by the parishes of Roche and Luxulyan, on the east by St. Blazey and Par in Tywardreath, in the south by the English Channel and Mevagissey, and in the west by the parishes of St. Ewe, St. Mewan, and St. Stephen-in-Brannel. Named after its patron Saint, the Parish is in Restormel District; the the 19th century, it was commonly spelled St Austle; Originally, it encompassed 11,450 acres of land. In 1847, the parish of Charlestown was created from the eastern section, and Treverbyn was created from the northern half in 1850, leaving St. Austell a parish of 1,339 acres. The town of St. Austell was not mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086.

The parish is a centre for extremely high-grade china clay extraction since the 1780's. It has been mined for tin and copper even longer; Carclaze mine has been worked continuously for 400 years, first for tin and copper, now for china clay. Tin and copper mining were extremely productive in the early 1800's. After the collapse of copper in 1866, china clay became the primary mineral mined in the parish. It is still being mined today, and is being shipped all over the world.

There are villages scattered across the parish, from Pentewan in the far south to Bugle in the north. About half-way is the town of St. Austell, which is situated in a well-cultivated district on the south side of a hill. The land falls gradually to the River Vinnick. Whilst the town was not mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, records exist from the 1100s and it has been a market town for centuries. It has also acted as a coinage town (briefly) and as the head of the county court district. Since the railways came in the 1859 numerous villas have been built. Located within the town is the widely-known St. Austell Brewery. It is a centre for higher education, and includes Cornwall's first college devoted to languages. The St. Austell Union workhouse was at one time located within the town.

The parish has numerous historical sites, as well as recreational areas and interesting museums such as the Wheal Martyn Mining Museum, which is an authentic and complete 1800s clay mine. Famous inhabitants include A. L. Rowse, the historian, Bishop Colenso of South Africa, Loveday Hamblyn 'the Cornish saint', an adherent of George Fox, and Samuel Drew, a miner at 9 who grew into a Methodist preacher and noted theologian.

The town of St Austell is situated in a well-cultivated district on the south side of a hill, which falls gradually to the River Vinnick. Since the coming of the railways, numerous villas had been built. The Workhouse for the St Austell Union was located within the town. St Austell town is still in the civil and ecclesiastical parish of St Austell, whilst the rural area is now a separate civil parish.

Most parish and church description(s) on these pages are from Lake's Parochial History of the County of Cornwall by J Polsue (Truro, 1867 - 1873)

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Bibliography

A number of articles have been written by people who love Cornwall, and whose families have lived there for centuries. Other have family ties, but have only been able to visit. They all have developed an expertise over the years, and are willing to share their perceptions. These are available on-line.

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Cemeteries

  • The St Austell church graveyard was mostly full by 1882, so burials after this date were only allowed in those graves that had space. Everyone else went into the council (municipal) cemetery; those records are now held by the Cornwall County Council..
  • Cornwall County Council also hold the cemetery records for Campdown, Charlestown.
  • For burial information in St Austell, see under Church Records. The Council are able to do a manual search for a burial, and they are able to make a cross-reference to the grave records and tell you whom else is in that grave.
  • The Cornwall Family History Society have published on-line Monumental Inscriptions for:
    • High Cross Cemetery - 405 entries
    • Baptist Chapel - 10 entries
    • Bethel Chapel - 10 entries
    • Leekseed Chapel - 257 entries.
  • War Memorial. Information about the war memorial has been provided. Details from the War Memorial in St Austell are available on-line.
  • Jessie Evans has transcribed the Monumental Inscriptions of St Austell (Holy Trinity) Cemetery; these are available on-line.
  • Julia Mosman has transcribed Pentewan Church Memorial Inscriptions.
  • The monumental inscriptions of the Wesleyans in St Austell are also available on-line.
  • St Levan's Church at Porthpean has a small private graveyard in which there are granite memorials to the Sawle family; the details are on-line.
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Census

Census information for this parish (1841 - 1901) is held in the Cornwall Record Office. The Cornwall Family History Society offers a census search service for its members. The Cornwall Family History Society have also published on-line census detail by surname on the FamilyHistoryonLine site.

Specific census information for this parish is available as follows:

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Churches

Anglican
St Luke, Boscoppa, Church of England
The Holy Trinity, St Austell, Church of England
Methodist
Bethel, Methodist
Carclaze, Methodist
Carthew, Bible Christian
Roman Catholic
St Augustine of Hippo, St Austell, Roman Catholic
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Church History

  • Anglican. There are three main Anglican churches in St Austell parish:
    • The parish church is situated in St. Austell town; it is now dedicated to The Holy Trinity. It is located in OS Grid Square SW8532 and was originally dedicated to St. Austolus in 1262 by Bishop Bronescombe near the feast day of the Celtic saint.
      The church was originally built in 1169, according to A. L. Rowse in his book St. Austell: Church, Town and Parish in 1960. The first church was given to the Prior and Convent of Tywardreath by Robert Fitzwilliam. The early church building of Bishop Bronescombe still exists today in the chancel; the round pier and low-pointed arches of the south arcade are 13th century, and the stone came from Catacluse quarry near Padstow.
      The chantry chapel of St. Michael was built in about 1300 by Philip, Archdeacon of Westminster, who originated in St. Austell. Whilst the parish church is late-Norman in origin, the oldest surviving part is the chapel south of the chancel with access from the south aisle. Beneath the stone flags of the chapel is the family vault of the Sawles of Penrice, and around its walls are numerous memorial inscriptions relating to the family. Archdeacon Phillip also provided money for the support of the chantry, which allowed the chantry priests to teach children, since they had an independent subsistence. Remaining within the church are dead walls which possibly once supported a small tower or steeple.
      The tower, a masterpiece of sculpture, was built in the 1400's. It is divided into 3 sections, to represent the Trinity, and is "a Bible in stone" as depicted in the various sculptural groupings. The church and tower were built of ashlar work Pentewan stone. Shortly thereafter, history overwhelmed the building efforts with the rebellions of 1497, and building ceased. The church was joined to the earlier chancel and chantry which had been built on a slightly different axis. The nave and aisles were remodelled in the late 1500's. The church was remodelled again in Victorian times.
      • There is a website for the parish church, which include references to the churches in Pentewan and Porthpean.
      • Details about the plans of the modern parish church are available on-line.
    • All Saints Church in Pentewan. All Saints Church was built by Sir Charles Hawkins in 1821, when he also built the Terrace. The south wall of the church is possibly Norman. Some authentically Tudor and Jacobean windows which came from ruins of Polrudden manor were utilized.
    • St Levan's Church in Porthpean. The small Church of St. Levan was built in 1885 by the Sawle family as part of the Penrice estate, but after the death of Mrs Cobbold Sawle, the last in the line, the building was given by the Trustees to St Austell Parish in 1981. The Church and Sunday School Room are the only community buildings in the village of Porthpean, and so provide a valuable resource for the population. The church of St Levan, Porthpean, became part of the Truro diocese in 1973.
    • The Charlestown Ecclesiastical District was formed from St Austell parish in 1846.
  • Roman Catholics. There is a record of the Bishop of St. Pol de Leon, Brittany, finding shelter in a Catholic house in St. Austell in May 1802. He had escaped from the French Revolution, and spent 72 hours in an open boat before drifting into Penzance harbour!
    Catholic directories from 1857 mention Mass being said here at intervals by clergy travelling from Bodmin or Plymouth, Sclerder or Lanherne, Liskeard, Camborne or Par. The history of the Parish possibly dates from 1911 when a Sunday Mass centre was inaugurated in East Hill, St. Austell, above a painter and decorator's workshop. In 1918 the Prior of Bodmin asked the Catholic Missionary Society to come to Cornwall. Their visit prompted the establishment of a permanent Chapel in St. Austell. The Dowager Lady Bute donated one hundred pounds for the cost of the site in Ranelagh Road. Twenty four years later, on 25th March, 1987, a large site was purchased on the St. Austell By-Pass. This was due to the help of a non-catholic, Mrs Cobbold Sawle, the generosity of Mr. Julian Leacock of Wadhurst and Porthpean, the sale of the Ranelagh Road property and the fruit of years of hard saving. The Church was built that year and solemnly opened by Bishop Barrett on 8th September. The Parish of St. Augustine had its first resident priest, in fact, its first parish priest (from Bodmin) on 80th October 1960. Thirty years later, 6th May 1990, saw the dedication of a new Church of St. Augustine of Hippo on the same hallowed spot in Woodland Road. The ceremony was blessed with the presence of the Rt. Rev. Christopher Budd, Bishop of Plymouth, and His Excellency Archbishop Luigi Barbarito, Apostolic Pro Nuncio to Great Britain who brought a letter from His Holiness Pope John Paul II for the occasion.
  • Non-Conformists. There was a Wesleyan Methodist chapel in the town. The principal front is built of ashlar-work, of Pentewan stone, surmounted with a pediment of Portland stone, of which the handsome portico is also constructed. There is a tasteful entrance through well-kept shrubbery.
    There were also places of worship in the parish in 1873, (some of which remain today), for: Congregational, Baptist, Wesleyan, Methodist, Primitive Methodist, United Methodist, Bible Christian, and the Society of Friends (Quakers).
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Church Records

  • Burials 1564 - 1569 sorted by date.
  • Burials 1570 - 1575 sorted by date. Note: There are no entries for 1574.
  • Burials 1576 - 1583 sorted by date.
  • Burials 1584 - 1588 sorted by date.
  • Burials 1589 - 1592 sorted by date.
  • Burials 1593 - 1596 sorted by date.
  • Burials 1597 - 1605 sorted by date.
  • Burials 1606 - 1615 sorted by date.
  • Burials 1616 - 1619 sorted by date.
  • Burials 1620 - 1629 sorted by date.
  • Burials 1630 - 1650 sorted by date. Note: 1635, 1636, 1639, 1641-47, 1649 are missing.
  • Burials 1651 - 1658 sorted by date. Note: 1659 and 1660 are missing.
  • Burials 1661 - 1664 sorted by date.
  • Burials 1665 - 1669 sorted by date.
  • Burials 1670 - 1672 sorted by date.
  • Burials 1673 - 1677 sorted by date.
  • Burials 1678 - 1682 sorted by date.
  • Burials 1683 - 1686 sorted by date.
  • Burials 1687 - 1689 sorted by date.
  • Burials 1690 - 1693 sorted by date.
  • Burials 1694 - 1699 sorted by date.
  • Burials 1700 - 1704 sorted by date.
  • Burials 1705 - 1710 sorted by date.
  • Burials 1711 - 1716 sorted by date.
  • Burials 1717 - 1723 sorted by date.
  • Burials 1724 - 1729 sorted by date.
  • Burials 1730 - 1734 sorted by date.
  • Burials 1735 - 1739 sorted by date.
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Civil Registration

The parish of St Austell has been in the Registration District of St Austell continuously from 1st July 1837. There were sub-districts at Fowey, Grampound, Mevagissey and St Austell, but these have now been abolished. Parishes within the district are: Creed, Fowey, Gorran, Grampound, Mevagissey, Roche, St. Austell, St. Blazey, St. Dennis, St. Ewe, St. Mewan, St. Michael Carhays, St. Sampson, St. Stephen in Brannel, Tywardreath. The Superintendant Registrar can be contacted at: 12 Carlyon Road, St Austell, PL25 4LD. Tel: 01726 68974. Fax: 01726 68974.

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Description & Travel

  • The A Cornish parish: being an account of St. Austell, town, church, district and people, is available on-line, courtesy of the Old Cornwall Society. It was edited by Joseph Hammond, and published in 1897.
  • The historic parish of St. Austell occupies the center and western side of St. Austell Bay. It extends from the granite spine which runs down the center of Cornwall through the China Clay country downhill to the bay. Originally it covered 11,450 acres, and was largely occupied by the manor of Tewington. The old town manor house stands today as the General Wolfe Inn. Tewington was one of the initial manors that made up the Duchy of Cornwall. Other manors included Tregongeeves, the home of Loveday Hamblin - the "Cornish Saint" who befriended and encouraged George Fox in his ministry, and Duporth, owned by Charles Rashleigh. His town house became the White Hart Inn; its famous historical wallpaper has been moved to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, but several lovely pre-Raphaelite paintings still reside there. Duporth is a holiday village.

    The town of St. Austell has a significant church tower, covered with unique figures explaining the Trinity and the bible, which dates from the late 1400s. Other parts of the church date from as early as 1262, and the bench ends date from the 1500's. One carries the original symbol of the Duke of Cornwall, being three separate feathers, while another shows a fox preaching to a mesmerized parishioner (a popular theme in the 14th century church). Other notable buildings include the Market Hall, built in 1844 and described as "the finest neo-classical building of the period". The well known St. Austell Brewery entertains visitors Monday to Friday 9:30am to 4:30 pm. There are two golf clubs nearby. Although mining has always occurred in the parish, the northern half of the historical parish was overtaken by organized corporate mining in the 18th and 19th centuries. First came tin and copper mining. Early in the 19th century, Carclaze became the largest mine in the country. The value of the tin and copper removed from the parish is equivalent to £9 billion in today's pounds. Remainders of these mines exist today, although their importance to the area has been forgotten. After Cookworthy discovered the link between the parish's china clay and porcelain production, china clay mining grew dramatically. It soon resulted in trademark conical mounds of white clay rising over the area, marking where huge deposits laid. The quality of china clay in St. Austell is only equaled by four other places in the world, making this clay particularly valuable. In the 1860s over half of the population was involved in its extraction. China clay production from St. Austell parish is the equivalent of £13 billion pounds sterling by today's monetary standard. The Wheal Martyn Mining Museum near Carthew displays to visitors an authentic 19th century mining process, complete with historic buildings and equipment. The Eden Project, built in a disused clay pit, borders the parish and displays an inventive use for exhausted mines. It is a huge biome filled with interesting plantlife that amazes visitors.

    Other minerals have been mined as well, including silver, gold, and uranium. Notable mines in the area included the Great Crinnis Mine, part of which is now covered by the grounds of the Carlyon Bay Hotel, Cuddra, Greensplat, and Goonbarrow.

    Pentewan, a village on the far southern tip of the parish, was also a lively port. Pentewan stone came from quarries nearby; it created enduring buildings throughout the U.K., including many manor houses and Holy Trinity Church in St. Austell town. It has been noted for its extreme hardness by many architectural writers. In the early 17th century, the story of was told of John Polrudden, who built his home on a promontory with sweeping sea views. Soon thereafter, he was captured by raiders and dragged from his home, and was never seen again. The house fell into disrepair, but parts exist still. Pentewan has a lovely church and Terrace built by Sir Charles Hawkins in 1821. Some of the windows from the ruined manor were incorporated into the buildings. The town is a small, lovely seaport with quite lively sailing groups. Porthpean House, owned by the Petherick family, has a 3-acre garden known for its fine collection of camellias. The garden is sometimes open to the public in aid of charity.

    St. Austell Bay is particularly blessed with an auspicious location, so sailing and other wind-sports thrive there. The coastline is often dramatic, especially near Black Head, where Castle Goltha has been excavated. It has been estimated that the site had been occupied since 200 B.C. Much of the rampart and ditch have been ploughed out, but the site remains. Another prehistoric site is the Long Stone near Mount Charles - which has become engulfed by the expanding town of St. Austell, but still stands.

    Whilst St. Austell parish is not outstanding in any specific area, it is excels in all. It has a rich, varied history, lovely manor houses and gardens, interesting towns and peaceful wooded walks, and beautiful coastline.
  • The OPC can look-up other information.
  • Photographs.
You can see pictures of St Austell which are provided by:

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Directories

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Gazetteers

The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland - 1868

"ST. AUSTELL, a parish and market town, in the eastern division of the hundred of Powder, in the county of Cornwall, 28 miles to the S.W. of Launceston, 40 from Plymouth, and 93 from Exeter. It is situated on the coast of the English Channel, about midway between the eastern and western extremities of the county, and was formerly of very large extent, comprising 12,125 acres, before the new parishes of Charlestown and Treverbyn were formed out of it, under Sir R. Peel's Church Endowment Act. Owing to its position in a district of great mineral wealth, the town, originally a poor village, has risen to considerable importance. It was once called Trenance: its present name is supposed to be taken from that of the hermit St. Austol. During the civil war the troops of the Earl of Essex were quartered here, and the town was taken by Charles I. in 1644. The town occupies the eastern slope of a hill, at the foot of which flows a small stream. It is not incorporated, but under the government of the parochial officers and a vestry. The streets are narrow, partly paved and lighted with gas; but great improvements have been made during the last ten years by the erection of new houses and handsome shops in Fore-street, besides many private residences in the suburbs. The Union work house, which was built in 1830, is a large Elizabethan structure overlooking the town on the north side. A convenient market-house has been recently built, above which is a capacious townhall. There are two foundries, one in the town, the other at Charlestown, besides several smelting-houses for the grain tin which is found in this county. Harbours have been constructed at Charlestown, Par, and Pentewan, which are connected with the town by tram railways. Charlestown has a dock and a shipyard, and Par harbour has a good break water. Coals are imported from Wales, and the copper ore and china-clay of the district are exported.

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Genealogy

OPC Assistance.

  • The On-line Parish Clerk (OPC) scheme operates a service to help family historians; the OPC page for this parish is available on-line, from where the OPC can be contacted.
  • The OPC for St Austell has produced a genealogical website for the parish.
  • British-Genealogy have a mailing list for those wanting to discuss ancestry in St Austell.
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Historical Geography

The Domesday Settlements of Cornwall, a study undertaken by the Cornwall Branch of the Historical Association, has identified and located settlements listed in the Exeter and Exchequer Domesday Survey of AD 1086. The following places have been identified in St Austell ecclesiastical parish:

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Land & Property

  • In 1660, there was a Parliamentary (Taxation) Survey undertaken of Cornwall; this listed Freeholders, Copyholders and Leaseholders of land. The list for the Manor of Treverbyn Courtney (or Courtnay), in St Austell parish, is available on-line.
  • The parish and town tithe maps, and accompanying survey books of c1840, provide a fascinating snap-shot of land use and ownership in the 19th century. In order to preserve the documents and improve access to them, the Cornwall Record Office are digitising these maps and survey books. The CD ROM tithe package include a map and survey books, together with a reader, for this parish; it is now available from the Cornwall Record Office. Details are on their website. A transcription of the 1839-40 list of landowners, lessees, and occupier of land, which corresponds to a map held at CRO, is available on the Tithe Apportionment Index, which is also on-line, courtesy of the OPC.
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Manors

MANORS in St Austell Parish. For information on the location of material on the manors and tenements in St. Austell, the Courtney Library, Royal Institution of Cornwall, has the Henderson Collection - which includes most places in St. Austell. However, the Johnstone Collection at the CRO in Truro would be the place to go for Pentewan material, the Carlyon Collection at the CRO has material for Tregrehan, and the Sawle Collection has material on Tewington.

The Manorial Documents Register (MDR) notes that, so far as can be established, the parish of St Austell contained the following manors:

  • Austell Prior (alias Austell)
  • Penrice
  • St. Austell Manor
  • Tewington
  • Tregorrick
  • Trenance
  • Trenance Austell*
  • Trenarren*
  • Treverbyn Courtenay
  • Treverbyn Trevanion

The Cornwall Record Office website includes the following manors, which had (have) subsidiary manorial holdings within St. Austell Parish. (Please see the manorial holdings listed below).

  • Pentewan
  • Prideaux
  • Tredenham
  • Tregrehan
  • Tregenna, in St. Ewe
  • Tregenna, in St. Issey

The MDR contains the following information for these manors:

  • Austell Prior Manor.
    • Rents. Rents of the Manor of Austell (Austell Prior) - 1602, are available on-line, courtesy of the OPC.
    • Minister's accounts 1542-1623, receiver's accounts 1542-1661 and surveys 1609, 1615, 1619, temp Chas I, 1650, 1784, 1792, 1797, 1840 in the Duchy of Cornwall Office, 10 Buckingham Gate, London SW1 6LA. (Access to records at the Duchy of Cornwall Office is restricted).
    • Court rolls and estreats 1575/76, 1624/25-1628/29, estreats 1592/93-1625/26 and Commonwealth survey in the Public Record Office, Ruskin Avenue, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU (refs incl: SC2/155/25; SC2/156/24; SC2/158/45; SC2/162/24; E317/Cornwall/3).
    • Survey 17th cent in Southampton Archives Office, Civic Centre, Southampton SO14 7LY (collection ref: D/M).
  • Penrice Manor.
    Accounts 1738 and rentals 1750-61, 1804-17, c1802 in Cornwall Record Office, Old County Hall, Truro TR1 3AY (ref: DDCF 3524, 3545-47).
  • St Austell Manor.
    • Court rolls, some with Tywardreath Priory 1418-30, 1456-71, 1535-40 in Cornwall Record Office (ref: AR/2/8).
    • List of tenants c1790 in Cornwall Record Office (ref: DDCF 3126).
  • Tewington Manor.
    • Minister's accounts 1341-75, 1458-1630, receiver's 1400-1660, assession rolls 1333-1752 (non consecutive), court rolls 1628-1796, rentals and assessioning papers 17th-18th cent and surveys 1338, 1619, 1650, 1663-1773 in the Duchy of Cornwall Office (access restricted).
    • Minister's accounts and assession rolls, etc, with other Ducy manors 13th-16th cent, court rolls and estreats 1398-99, 1539-1648 and Commonwealth survey in the Public Record Office (no reference given).
    • Court rolls 1540-1774 in the British Library, Manuscript Collections, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB (ref: BM List 1928, p. 36).
    • Modern translations of court rolls 1604-1750 in Cornwall Record Office (ref: X507/2). Court rolls and estreats 1642/43-1643/44 in the Public Record Office (ref: SC2/156/22).
    • Rents. Rents of the Manor of Tewington - 1710 are available on-line, courtesy of the OPC.
    • Misc rentals, reeve's accounts and papers rel to enclosure 1662, 1729, 1774-1846 in Cornwall Record Office (collection ref: Mr T Carlyon, Tregrehen; reported on 25 January 1955).
    • Court book 1790-97, steward's book 1781-1821, assession books 1759, 1767, 1794, 1812, 1822, jury and tenants' answers c1590, c1690, 1710, 1759, 1767, 1774, 1787, list of reeves 1683-1713, lists of tenants c1714, c1790, 1796, 1815, lists, demands and receipts rel to rents and dues 1717-51, list of customary rents c1780, rental 1816 and note of homage 1638 in Cornwall Record Office (ref: DDCF 3134-3159).
    • Rents and fines, with Tybesta 1798 in Cornwall Record Office (ref: DDEN 1983).
    • Assession rolls 16th-18th cent in the Royal Institution of Cornwall, Royal Cornwall Museum, River Street, Truro TR1 2SJ (correspondence address: Courtney Library, Royal Institution of Cornwall, Royal Cornwall Museum, River Street, Truro TR1 2SJ) (ref: HK).
  • Tregorrick Manor.
    • Tenants. Tenants by copy of the Manor Court of Tregorrick - 1602, are available on-line, courtesy of the OPC.
    • Accounts with other manors 1387-1797 (non consecutive), court rolls with other manors 1569-72, 1579-81, estreat rolls with other manors 1556-8, court books with other manors 1634-9, 1664-75, 1792-6, presentments with other manors 1732-72, 1799-1801, rental 1797 and rentals with other manors 1578, 1586-1603, 1618, c1627, 1662-1799 in Cornwall Record Office (ref: AR/2/479, 734-6, 758-9, 763, 767-8, 778-9, 783-816, 818, 820, 849, 857, 885-1215, 1342-79).
    • Court roll with other manors 1622-23 and court rolls 1624-28, 1632-33 in Cornwall Record Office (ref: Acc. Jul-Sept 1962, Acc Jan-March 1965).
      • Rental 1710 in Cornwall Record Office (ref: DDT (1031)).
      • Rental 1727-30 in Cornwall Record Office (ref: A cc 323, AD 32).
      • Rentals 1727-31 in Cornwall Record Office (ref: Acc. Oct-Dec 1957).
  • Trenance Manor.
    Trenance or Trevant court book 1734-88 in Cornwall Record Office (collection ref: DD R(S)).
  • Treverbyn Courtenay or Treverbyn Trevanion Manor.
    • Map of commons c1840, copy plan 1840, account of tin tells 1845-49 and plans c1908, 1947 in Cornwall Record Office (ref: MT 272-3, 847-50).
    • Treverbyn Courtenay Manor.
      • A survey of Freeholders and tenants of Treverbyn Courtenay Manor in 1591 is available, courtesy of the OPC.
      • Rents. Freeholders and tenants by lease of the Manor Court of Treverbyn-Courtnay", are available on-line, courtesy of the OPC.
      • Court rolls 1355/56-1356/57, 1543/44-1546/47, 1575/76-1600/01 (non consecutive), 1610/11-1648/49 (non consecutive) in the Public Record Office (ref: SC2/156/21, 26; SC2/164/28-30).
      • Minister's accounts 1561-1623, receiver's accounts 1542-1661, court rolls 1628-1795 and surveys 1611-c1840 (non consecutive), 1974 in the Duchy of Cornwall Office (access restricted).
      • Extracts from accounts 1528, copy surveys 1601, 1611, copy Parliamentary survey 1650, extract from terrier 1797 and book of reference 1840 in Cornwall Record Office (ref: MT 274-84, 848).
      • Survey 17th century in Southampton Archives Office (collection ref: D/M).
      • Rent rolls 1730, 1790 in Cornwall Record Office (ref: ME 1708, 1712).
      • Survey 1601/02 in the Public Record Office (ref: E315/414/65-75).
      • Surveys temp. Jas I in the Public Record Office (ref: LR2/207/44-46).
      • Court book 1790-1812, rentals 1776, 18th cent, copy quietus 1786, list of tenants 1809, notes on property c1795-6 and deputy steward's book of copies of court roll 1742-1818 (ref: DDCF 3168-77, 3155).
      • Lease books, with Treverbyn Trevanion 1857-1960 at Wheal Martyn China Clay Heritage Centre (ref: 1992.61).
      • Printed map of commons with other St Austell manors nd (19th cent) in Cornwall Record Office (ref: Acc. Jan-March 1971, no. 11).
    • Treverbyn Trevanion Manor.
      • Rental with other manors 1753 in Cornwall Record Office (ref: DDCF 3578).
      • Court books, rentals and rent accounts 1755-69, 1789-97, 1830-38 and map of commons c1840 in Cornwall Record Office (ref: MT 285-88, 847).
    * The MDR has no note of records relating to the manors of Trenance Austell and Trenarren.


MANORS with subsidiary holdings in St. Austell Parish.

  • Pentewan Manor, in the parish of Mevagissey.
    Rentals, surveys and papers 1782-1810 in Cornwall Record Office, Old County Hall, Truro TR1 3AY (collection ref: DDT).
  • Prideaux Manor, in the parish of Luxulyan
    • Rentals 1722-96, survey and valuations, etc 1747-1805 and accounts, etc with other manors 1663-1801 in Cornwall Record Office (ref: Acc. Oct-Dec 1958).
    • Court rolls and rentals 1756, 1758. These were formerly in Devon Record Office, Castle Street, Exeter EX4 3PU but were removed by 1961 (ref: Prideaux MSS).
      Rents due 1804-58 in Cornwall Record Office (ref: DDCF 3380, 3381).
  • Tredenham Manor, in the parish of Probus.
    Presentments 1896-1915 in Cornwall Record Office (collection ref: DD J).
  • Tregrehan Manor, in the parish of St. Blazey.
    Map 1776 in Cornwall Record Office (ref: Acc. Apr-June 1957) (Tregregahan manor).
    • Accounts 1458-1662 (non consecutive), survey 16th cent, rental 17th cent, rent accounts 1777-78, court rolls with other manors 1557-78, 1681, book of rents 1701 and map 1776 in Cornwall Record Office (ref: ME 1663-1665, 1721-22, 1728-29, 1836-1884, 2368).
    • Miscellaneous papers (55), principally rentals and reeves' accounts, 1677-1852 in Cornwall Record Office (ref: Mr T Carlyon; reported on 25 January 1955).
    • Rental 1875-1923 in Cornwall Record Office (ref: Acc. Apr-June 1963).
    • Plans with other manors 1918 in Devon Record Office (ref: D547B/P/1673).
  • Tregenna Manor, in the parish of St. Ewe.
    • Bailiff's account rolls 1486-89, 1513-15, survey 1575, rental 1797.
    • court rolls with other manors 1512, 1556-72, 1579-81, 1634-39.
    • Court book with other manors 1664-78, 1733-37, 1792-96.
    • Accounts with other manors 1387-1797 (non consecutive).
    • Rentals with other manors 1578, 1586-1603, 1618, c1627, 1662-1799, 18th cent and presentments with other manors 1732-72, 1792-1801>
      These are in Cornwall Record Office (ref: A2/473-78, 732-37, 758-59, 763, 768-69, 781, 783-816, 818, 820 847-57, 885-1215, 1342-79, 1386).
    • Account roll with other manors 1575-76 in Cornwall Record Office (ref: DDX 609).
  • Tregenna Manor, in the parish of St. Issey.

The above information correlates with the CRO website AND the Historical Manuscripts Commission. All the information regarding what records are held where will be on the OPC website. It should be noted that the Austell Prior 17th cent. survey is in Southampton.

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Maps

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SX016524 (Lat/Lon: 50.338312, -4.788922), St Austell which are provided by:

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Military Records

  • The 1569 CORNWALL MUSTER ROLL of St. AUSTENE (Austell), being a military muster, listing all males of military age, and the armour and weapons they could supply for the national defence. Individuals were expected to make provision in accordance with the value of their land and goods, is available.
  • A list of Boer War participants (in South Africa 1899 to 1902), with Cornish ties, who served with the Railway Pioneer Regiment, and who came from St. Austell, are on-line. These have been transcribed by Malcolm Webster.
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Names, Personal

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Occupations

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Poor Houses, Poor Law

  • St Austell parish was part of the St Austell Union for Poor Law administration and parish relief.
  • St. Austell Union Workhouse, established in 1839. It was situated on high ground to the north of the Town, and was erected in 1839 in the Elizabethan style, from designs by the Architects G. Gilbert Scott and W. Bonython Moffatt.
    It was built to accommodate 300 inmates, and served the following parishes and towns: St. Austell, St. Blazey, Charlestown, Creed, St. Dennis, St. Ewe, Fowey, Golant, Gorran, Grampound, Holmbush, Mevagissey, St. Mewan, St. Michael Carhayes, Molinnis, Par, Porthpean, Pentewan, Rescorla, Roche, St Stephens-in-Brannel, Trenarren, Tregrehan, Trethurgy, Tregorrick, Tregonissey, Tywardreath, and Wrestling Green per the Kelly's 1873 directory. The OPC has provided census details of the staff and inmates.
  • St. Austell workhouse information regarding the inmates, in the form of such records as admission and discharge registers, and master's report books, have not survived. The minute books did survive, but deal with buildings and finance, and do not refer to individual pauper inmates. Mothers did sometimes give birth in the workhouse, but these births as a matter of course would be registered with the St. Austell Superintendant Registrar after 1837.
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Population

  • Population in 1801 - 3788 persons
  • Population in 1811 - 3686 persons
  • Population in 1821 - 6175 persons
  • Population in 1831 - 8758 persons
  • Population in 1841 - 10180 persons in the parish, and 140 persons in the Union Workhouse
  • Population in 1851 - 10750 persons
  • Population in 1861 - 11824 persons (including 11823 in St Austell parish)
  • Population in 1871 - 11793 persons
  • Population in 1881 - 11286 persons
  • Population in 1891 - 11377 persons
  • Population in 1901 - 11998 persons
  • Population in 1911 - 13609 persons
  • Population in 1921 - 13577 persons
  • Population in 1931 - 20464 persons (including 8295 in St Austell parish)
  • Population in 1951 - 20813 persons
  • Population in 1961 - 19970 persons
  • Population in 1971 - 16600 (St Austell Town, including Charlestown and Carlyon Bay)*
  • Population in 1981 - 19480 persons
  • Population in 1991 - 20395 persons (incl. 10480 in St Austell parish)
  • Population in 2001 - 21110 persons
  • Population in 2011 - 19630 persons, plus 811 in St Austell Bay)

The 1971 Census was counted slightly differently; the actual count produced a population figure of 32,265 for St Austell town, parish but this also included Fowey Borough.

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Probate Records

Church of England Probate Records: Index to Calendar 1773 - 1858 is available on-line.

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Religion & Religious Life

  • A list of the Vicars and Priests of Holy Trinity, St. Austell 1259 to 1550, is available on-line.
  • In the May of 1641 it was agreed and ordered that every Member of the House of Commons and House of Lords should make a protestation (declaration of loyalty) to the crown. The Protestation was printed and then distributed by the Members to their counties. The Protestation was to be made by everyone and the Rectors, Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor, had to appear before the Justices of the Peace in their Hundred to make their protestation and, on returning to their parishes, any two of them were to witness the taking of the Protestation Oath by all males over the age of 18 years. All names were listed and anyone who refused was to be noted.

    No Protestation Returns in 1642 for St Austell were submitted. This parish was one of only three parishes which refused to comply.
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Societies

  • The St Austell Old Cornwall Society News Page is on-line.
  • The Pentewen Old Cornwall Society News Page is on-line.
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Statistics

Originally St Austell parish encompassed 11,450 acres. In 1847, the parish of Charlestown was created from the eastern section, and Treverbyn was created from the northern half in 1850, leaving St. Austell a parish of 1,339 acres of land and inland water.

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Taxation

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Voting Registers