Manor of Alverton

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The Manor of Alverton was a former manorial estate located in Penwith, Cornwall, UK.

Contents

[edit] History

The first historical details of the manor were described by the Domesday book which stated that prior to the Norman conquest the manor was owned by a Saxon lord known as Alward [1] . Following the the conquest lordship of the manor passed to Robert, Count of Mortain, the half brother of William the Conqueror. In 1230 the manor was granted by Richard Earl of Cornwall younger brother of King Henry III to Henry le Tyes. The manor remained the property of the Le Tyes family until 1322 when Henry Lord Tyes took part in the revolt against King Edward II and was executed, his estate passing to his sister Alice Lisle.

Between this date and 1563 the manor passed between a number of members of the Lisle family and the crown. In 1611 the manor was sold to George and Thomas Whitmore who in turn sold it to Richard Daniell (his stepfather), a Truro merchant [2]. For a complete list of known Lords of the Manor of Alverton see below.[3]

[edit] Location

The manor estate itself was located largely within, and near to, the current civil parish of Penzance and included much of the settlements of Newlyn,Mousehole and Madron [4]

[edit] Relationship with Penzance

The manor of Alverton was influential in the history and development of Penzance securing its first charters and maintaining its early harbour and market prior to the town receiving borough status in 1614. The manor of Alverton was also the owner of the site of the Penzance market house[5] for which its titular lord continued to receive rent until 1936. The early period of Penzance's history was also defined by ongoing disputes between Penzance Town Council and the manor of Alverton including a dispute over the right to dry nets on the 'Western Green' (now Penzance promenade) and the right to grind grain within the borough boundaries.

[edit] Lords of the Manor of Alverton

Below is a partial list of the holders of the title Lord of the Manor of Alverton. The dates are taken from mention in historical documents formerly held by Penzance Borough Council and do not reflect length of ownership.

  • Prior to 1066 Alward (a Saxon lord)
  • After 1066 Robert, Count of Mortain
  • Between 1095 and 1230 vested in the ownership of the Earl of Cornwall
  • After 1230 Henry Le Tyes
  • Held by Le Tyes family until 1322
  • Alice De Lisle 1327
  • 1466 Henry VIII
  • prior to 1611 James I
  • 1611 - 1614 George Whitmore
  • 1614 Richard Daniell
  • 1635 Alexander Daniell
  • 1649 Richard Daniell
  • 1663 William Keigwin
  • Held by the Keigwin family until 1726
  • After 1726 Uriah Tonkin
  • Held by the Tonkin Family until 1936
  • 1936 Richard Edmund Tonkin

[edit] References

  1. ^ T. Taylor and L.F Salzman, VCH Cornwall Domesday (1924)
  2. ^ PAS Pool, History of the Borough and Town of Penzance 1974, published by Penzance Town Council
  3. ^ PAS Pool, History of the Borough and Town of Penzance 1974 Published by Penzance Town Council Pages 11,12, 16, 18, 21, 23-24 33, 35-37, 66-69, 210
  4. ^ Extent of the Property of Henry Tyes in the Manor of Alverton 25 June 1322
  5. ^ Conveyance of Richard Daniell to Penzance Corporation of the site of the Penzance Market House 11th January 1615