Penzance - 1745

The Manor of Alverton - and its Lords.
by Walter H. Eva President of the Old Cornwall Society.
written, unsure of the date, but around 1935.
The name precedes that of Penzance, being an area much wider than at present.
It covered Penzance, Newlyn and Madron (including possibly St Levan, Sancreed and Sennen).
To quote the Rev. Lach-Szyrma "Castle Horneck, the old castle of the lords of Penzance people, of which two
vestiges are believed to remain. The one is a thick wall built into the rear of the present "Castle Horneck House", the mansion of the Borlase family; there is also a striking archway at Trewoofe (included by Mr Blight in his "The Land's End District")."
The Manor was held by at the time of Edward The Confessor by Alward (Aluard), an Englishman.

It was taxed for "two hides" notwithstanding there were three hides of land at the time; the arable land was 60 carucates; in domain there were 3 carucates and 11 bond servants, 35 villeins, 25 borders, 12 ploughs, 3 acres of meadow, two miles long and 1 mile wide. Formerly it returned 8 pounds, now it returned 20 (Domeday). Generally it is assumed that 60 carucates would have been 60,000 acres; one hide was assumed to have been 120 acres. There was cosidered to be a massive amount of wasteland in the area of land at the time.

Whatever happened to the man who gave his name to the area is not recorded, but he was dispossessed by the Normans and it was given to Robert de Mortain, William's half-brother. Robert was born in 1030, in Avranche, made lord of 248 to 288 manors in Cornwall. He became Earl of Cornwall in 1086 died after 1087.

Henry (de la) Pomeroy was next in line as lord of the manor of Alverton, beginning with an early awareness of regal connection and "keep it in the family". He knew and publicly admired Earl John before the gentleman became King John, despite being a royal descendant of the Plantagenets(Angevins), his mother was the powerful Eleanor of Aquitaine. Besides that, he made well with the fact of his sister being amongst the Nunnery on St Michael's Mount.

Henry then enters, after crossing the entry across from the shore, the tide noted as being low, these apparently pious pigrims threw off their cloaks. Then Henry announced loudly that he declares that he takes the Mount on behalf of the King. Upon being threatened not to dare face the consequences of anyone who dares to impugn his authority, the Prior succombs to his demand for rooms and board.

Under protest from the monks, they gave up the best rooms to the retainers of Henry. Henry lived in style there at the Mount. There was no question that he was wealthy and had many friends in Cornwall. His power, like so many before and after, lasts but a few months. Upon the release of King Richard, both King John and Henry Pomeroy returned to respect for what should have been. Henry stuck out till the last, his death veiled in history, some say that he died of a broken heart yet others claim the he bled himself to death, fearing the penalty of treason.

Before too long, the occupant of the manor was houshold of Richard, Earl of Cornwall. It is claimed by Walter Eva that Richard probably did more for Cornwall than any other member of the Royal Family.

Subsequent to Richard was Terrice le Tyes, followed thereafter by his nephew Waleran, in posseession in the year 1223. He married one very prettily named lady Sybilla. He was followed by three Henry le Tyes, the second of whom was the first Baron Tyes, having procured a charter for Mousehole. 1300 was the date. Henry Tyes (third) took part against Edward II (bad move) with Warine de Lisle and Maurice de Berkeley.

The manor passed then to his sister, Alice, who married (in 1304) Warrine de lisle. It was granted by Edward II. It then passed to their son, Gerard de Lisle (born 1305) who subsequently became called to Parliament (known as Gerard de Insula, in 1327).

Then we are made aware of the position held by the family in 1332, Alice had made petition for a market and fair, celebrated on the Festival of St. Peter, which was granted. The manor passed to Gerard mentioned before and then to his son Warine (born 1333), summoned to Parliament 1369 until 1382, as Warine de Insula, he died 12th June, 1381. His daughter was Margaret de Lisle who was born 1359 and married Thomas de Berkeley (10th Baron Berkeley) in Wengrave, Buckinghamshire November, 1367. They were apart for a while, being distant in age, but he styled himself as Lord de Lisle.

Margaret died 20th March 1391, her husband died on 13th July, 1417. The manor passed to their daughter, Elizabeth Berkeley (born in 1386). She married Richard Beauchamp (12th Earl of Warwick) and it was then passed on to his care He died in France in 1439. The next that has been recorded, relates to John Turner and Robert Thomas, as bailiffs on the 4th July 1513, where he property of Ailewarton, being in the King's hands, held for the Countess of Somerset, the late Alianora. Then on various dates over 1513 until 1526, John Turner has his bailiff status removed and he becomes owner of the manor of Aylwarton (Henry VIII).

Anyone could be excused for imagining the story finishes in 1614; in a sense it does.

The manor was also awarded to the Whitmore family, one of whom descended through to become Lord Mayor of London, Sir George Whitmore, 1631-2. He then passed the manor to Richard Daniel, of Truro. The manor was in the possession of the Earl of Rutland in 1650, courtesy of Edward II, it then reverted to the king in 1663, upon the death of the Earl.

I now add further to the image
http://picturepenzance.co.uk/photos/showimage.php?i=19079
concerning priceless documents secured by the care of Alexander Daniel. It will take quite some time.