The terrace that gave the raised footpath a name.
Possibly an Oliver Caldwell design;
Built by Edward Pidwell.
Edward Pidwell
Builder of Greenbank Terrace and the New Connexion Chapel.
Edward Pidwell (b1853), Mason/Builder was son of ...
Edward Pidwell: Shipwright/Mariner/Seaman/Ship's Carpenter
baptised 1830 in Penzance (age when married 21)
married Sarah James(21), a servant to Rowe the Printers, 25th October 1851, Madron
Sarah accompanied Edward at sea on some voyages, even whilst preganant.
On other occasions, she lived with her parents. Clearly also her children travelled with her.
On the 1st November 1859; Baptised at Penzance Weslyan Chapel; Sarah
.... child of Edward and Sarah Pidwell of Penzance, born 19th Sep 1859 off Lands End, at Sea.
Richard Pidwell was born 1869 in Penzance and died 5 July 1871 in Bailey Street, St Thomas, Liverpool.
In the 1861 census at 36, New Street there is Elizabeth James a widow of 58yrs, a Charwoman;
with her son George James and her daughter Sarah Pidwell age 30, a mariner's wife.
Also Grandchildren Edward (9), George (6), Mary (3) and Sarah (1, born at sea).
In 1871 at 36, New Street, there is Sarah Pidwell Seaman's wife,
with children Mary, Sarah, John (7) and Richard (1).
At 4c, Roberts Court there is Elizabeth James, with her son George (45, single, a mason),
and grandchildren Edward (20, a mason) and George (16, a mason apprentice)
Sarah Pidwell died at Penzance in 1872.
19th June 1877 Edward Pidwell (then of Great Geoge Street, Liverpool)
..... married Kathleen Annie McKinsky (nee NeillL, daughter of William) in the Register Office in Liverpool.
Edward Pidwell married Catherine Carne December quarter 1875, and his brother George married Georgina Trenwith.
In 1881, at 24 New Street, lived Edward Pidwell (Mason) and his wife Catherine,
with daughters Sarah(4) and Mary (4 months).
The 1891 census shows at 17 St Clare Street; Edward Pidwell (Mason) and Catherine,
with children Sarah, Mary, Georgina (8) and young Edward (5).
~~~o0o~~~
The Terrace on Greenbank was built by Edward Pidwell, as a growing development, a speculative build.
He had bought the property from Thomas Rodda, a butcher (son of William Rodda butcher), also a large landowner (with his wife).
From other transactions of Thomas Rodda, it would seem that he retained an interest in the land and the development,
in the form that the land was sold under lease for 99 years, with a proviso that a house be built for Thomas Rodda,
and the remainder of the site be similarly developed to completion.
The agreement was signed in 1898, where it was shown that Thomas Rodda owned the Weeth Field.
Thomas Rodda also bought (in 1905) Polwithen Lodge and lived there until his death in 1934.
It was in that agreement that it was determined that the row should be named Greenbank, and that is the origin for the name itself.
Polwithen House had been built in 1870, and became The Riviera Palace Hotel and then a School.
The house on Greenbank owned by Thomas Rodda was sold to Alice Rodda, his wife; Alice was daughter of Richard Trudgen (Blacksmith)
Greenbank was the lower edge of the land once owned by the Bolitho family and was the Polwithen Estate, it was
originally known as The Weeths and included the area now known as Tredarvah. Thomas Rodda had purchased to site
to be sold off in parcels for development, which resulted in the present estate including King's Road, etc.,
developed by the Clements Inn Safe Deposit and Contract Company in 1905.
Greenbank Terrace appears to have been completed in 1906, same year as The Sycamores.
From the detailing and the date, it seems that it is likely that Greenbank Terrace is one of Oliver Caldwell's designs.
Raymond Forward
