The sea wall of Battery Road
The area was much used by the most noxious of industries. Owned early 18th century by George Daniel, the area was Cellars and Salthouses, together with a Munpit (a large pit for the decay of fish for manure), it is my suspicion that the lower wall to the east shore of Battery was a part of that pit. The area later passed to the Cornish family and in 1872 became a much needed limekiln, for agricultural use and for building lime mortar in the new age of building in Penzance; lime was used for washing of buildings, a protection to timber, used to remove hides, used in cess pits. The burning process was slow and not continuous as the kiln was loaded and cleared. The kiln burns limestone or shells, both of which would have been landed at the small beach in the same way that fish was landed for rotting in years before. Limestone was dropped from the calling ships, into the water and when the tide went out, the labourers brought the stone to the Limekiln yard.
The Cornish Kilns
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you have looked at this wall, and noticed that the Battery Road was formed and given in 1923,
perhaps you have wondered why the face is of old granite, well re-set and re-used,
yet the back (facing the sea) is of rough face square cut 'new' stone.
Perhaps you have wondered why the odd stones marked FJC 1872 and RC 1839?
The stones quietly understate the history of a family.
Also look at the 1875 OS map of the area onsite.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The yard was owned by Richard Cornish in 1839, as a part of his Merchant stores;
married Margery Coulson 27th April 1830 Madron;
he left the site to his nephew Francis John Cornish, who changed it into a Lime Kiln.
The present stonework of the lower seawall of the present Parade Ground appears to be earlier than 1790.
The beach area historically was used to land cargo.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
William Cornish of Marazion married Frances James 19th July 1754 Marazion
two sons William (1) and Richard (2)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1) William Cornish; Tin Smelter, Merchants and Seine owner; married Jane Allen
two sons
1a) John Cornish; Midshipman RN 1800, Lietenant 1807, served under Admiral Pellew in the East Indies,
Commander 17 May 1814; died Marazion 1816 age 30.
1b) William Cornish; b 1783 Marazion; merchant DL and JP of Cornwall; married Honor Cole 1808; 11 children
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
2) Richard Cornish; Tin Smelter, Merchants and Seine owner; married Eleanor Reynolds Madron 7th April 1757;
two sons (2a) and (2b)
2a) Richard Cornish; b 11th February 1758 St Erth; sailed with Admiral Jervis,
died 1786 in Penzance of severe injuries sustained when in battle at sea, as a mast splintered and cut off his cheek.
2b) John Cornish; b Marazion 7th November 1759, became partner in Richard Oxnam’s bank and Shipping businesses;
coal, iron and timber. Married 7 January 1790 to Margaret Hosken. Proprieter of St Clare House; died 1839.
eight children (2ba) – (2bh)
2ba) John Cornish; Captain in HEIC commanded a frigate for Gen Simon Bolivar agaist Spain.
2bb) Francis John; b 27 June 1792; Master Mariner and ShipOwner;
married Ann Roberts 15 October 1818 Madron; lost at sea in 1824
two sons (2bba) and (2bbb); in 1841 the sons were living at North Parade with their aunts Eleanor and Mary Roberts.
2bba) Henry Roberts Cornish; b 22 December 1820; pharmaceutical chemist; Market Place;
married Alice Roberts 21 May 1844; seven children
2bbb) Francis John Cornish; tea sealer, merchant, a grocer, and wine merchant Greenmarket (with 10 employees) ;
in 1872 he became a dealer in building materials, and formed a limekiln at the Barbican;
married Jane Roberts; three children; then married again to Lavinia Matthews Branwell, miller.
2bc) Eliza Cornish; married Joseph Branwell, schoolmaster.
2bd) Margaret Cornish; married John Broad, mariner
2be) Richard Cornish;
2bf) Mary Hosken Cornish;
2bg) Frances Cornish;
2bh) William Cornish;
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
