The story of the estate at Boconnoc, situated near Lostwithiel in south-east Cornwall, is an extraordinary one. As this history demonstrates, members of the Cornish families who have owned the estate over many centuries have played important roles within the immediate locality and in national events. Catherine Lorigan explores their eventful lives – or in many cases deaths: dragged over a cliff by greyhounds, slain in battle, executed for treason or killed in duels. She traces how the medieval fortified tower house evolved into a Georgian mansion, discusses how the grounds and gardens have been transformed, and examines the relationship of the estate with the agricultural and industrial landscape in which it is set. Still family owned and run, Boconnoc retains the qualities that give it its magical and timeless ambience, while simultaneously, it has become a dynamic and successful business for the twenty-first century.
The story of the estate at Boconnoc, situated near Lostwithiel in south-east Cornwall, is an extraordinary one. As this history demonstrates, members of the Cornish families who have owned the estate over many centuries have played important roles within the immediate locality and in national events. Catherine Lorigan explores their eventful lives – or in many cases deaths: dragged over a cliff by greyhounds, slain in battle, executed for treason or killed in duels. She traces how the medieval fortified tower house evolved into a Georgian mansion, discusses how the grounds and gardens have been transformed, and examines the relationship of the estate with the agricultural and industrial landscape in which it is set. Still family owned and run, Boconnoc retains the qualities that give it its magical and timeless ambience, while simultaneously, it has become a dynamic and successful business for the twenty-first century.
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Overview
The story of the estate at Boconnoc, situated near Lostwithiel in south-east Cornwall, is an extraordinary one. As this history demonstrates, members of the Cornish families who have owned the estate over many centuries have played important roles within the immediate locality and in national events. Catherine Lorigan explores their eventful lives – or in many cases deaths: dragged over a cliff by greyhounds, slain in battle, executed for treason or killed in duels. She traces how the medieval fortified tower house evolved into a Georgian mansion, discusses how the grounds and gardens have been transformed, and examines the relationship of the estate with the agricultural and industrial landscape in which it is set. Still family owned and run, Boconnoc retains the qualities that give it its magical and timeless ambience, while simultaneously, it has become a dynamic and successful business for the twenty-first century.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780750984522 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | The History Press |
| Publication date: | 07/01/2017 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 256 |
| File size: | 20 MB |
| Note: | This product may take a few minutes to download. |
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CHAPTER 1
THE EARLY HISTORY OF BOCONNOC: DOMESDAY BOOK, DE CANCIAS, CARMINOWS AND COURTENAYS
'Cornwall: Not only the ends of the earth, but the very ends of the ends thereof ...'
(Bishop Grandisson to his friends in Avignon, 1327, Grandisson Register, I, 97–98)
THE BRONZE AGE
The period known as the Neolithic, dating from six to four thousand years ago, was an era when the population started to clear woodland and to domesticate animals. However, in Cornwall, the prehistoric features that survive are primarily monuments and tombs, rather than farms and field systems. Bronze Age cultures first appeared in this area around 2,000 BC and five hundred years later, farming settlements were becoming established. The first farms, with round houses constructed of stone and thatch, were mainly on the upland areas of Bodmin Moor, West Penwith and the Lizard.
Boconnoc is situated in south-east Cornwall, between Lostwithiel and Liskeard (see map on page 12). To date, no evidence has been found of any prehistoric settlement on the estate, although archaeological remains may have been lost through ploughing or excavations carried out by antiquaries in the nineteenth century. A Bronze Age barrow – a place for burial and ritual – and flint flakes have been found on Obelisk Hill in the Pineaster Plantation. In another barrow, opened in 1862, a pit was discovered containing a small piece of very coarse pottery and some iron or bone. Further barrows have been found to the east and in Clowne Plantation and the names Buckabarrow Plantation and Downs may suggest the presence of barrows as yet undiscovered. Although none of the known sites have been subjected to any modern archaeological techniques, they demonstrate that there was human activity at Boconnoc many millennia ago.
BOCONNOC IN DOMESDAY BOOK – 1086
Following the victory of William the Conqueror in 1066, a new feudal system was imposed whereby a vassal or peasant was granted land by an overlord in return for the performance of various services, sometimes military. Society after the Conquest was structured around these relationships. In 1085, as recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, 'the King had deep speech with his counsellors ... and sent his men all over England to each shire commissioning them to find out how many hundreds of hides were in the shire ... what or how much each landholder held ... in land and livestock, and what it was worth'. Domesday Book is thus a survey describing the landholdings and resources of late eleventh-century England, listing the value before the Conquest, at the time of the Conquest and in 1086, providing the basis for a nationwide tax assessment.
The majority of the landowners listed in Domesday had fought with William at the Battle of Hastings, after which there had been a mass redistribution of resources, his followers being rewarded with land that had previously been owned by the English nobility. Some who had held property prior to the Conquest were allowed to retain their estates.
Boconnoc is listed as Bochenod, the dwelling of Conec or Konec. Prior to the Conquest, it was held by Osferth, a Saxon. Unlike many other estates in Cornwall, where the land was granted to William's Norman followers, Osferth was allowed to retain control of Boconnoc and of six other estates that he already held, under the tenant-in-chief, the Count of Mortain, William the Conqueror's half-brother. Osferth was also granted three additional estates after the Conquest and was a substantial landowner in the area.
The Domesday entry for Boconnoc shows that 'Osferth holds Boconnoc'. He also held it before 1066, and paid tax for 1 virgate of land; 1/2 hide there, however. Land for eight ploughs; one plough there; two villagers, six smallholders and one slave; Woodland, 100 acres; pasture, 40 acres. Formerly 40s; value now (in 1086) 10s; livestock, two unbroken mares; two cattle, twenty sheep; seven goats. The value of the property had thus decreased following the Conquest.
THE EARLY MEDIEVAL PERIOD
Documentary evidence for Boconnoc in the early medieval period is sparse. Only two references have been found, both dating from the early thirteenth century. The first is in the Pleas before the King or his Justices held in 1201 at Launceston, relating to a case of novel disseisin. This was a type of medieval court action, providing a swift method for the recovery of land where the occupier (who was not necessarily the rightful owner) had been ejected. In this case, it was alleged that Robert Moderet had unjustly disseised Meliora, daughter of Thomas, of her free tenement in Boconnoc. The jury found for Meliora and ordered that Robert should pay damages of half a mark – that is, 6s 8d.
The second reference is in the returns of an inquisition of 1212, which gives a list of knight's fees across the country in the Red Book of the Exchequer, where 'Ricardus de Bokenet' held 'j militem in Bokenet' – 1 knight's fee in Boconnoc of the Honour of Ongar in Essex, the principal holding of Richard de Lucy, appointed Chief Justiciar of England by Henry II, whose Cornish lands were held of the Honour of Ongar.
THE DE CANCIA FAMILY
Thomas de Cancia
Although it is not known how he obtained the property, by 1266 Thomas de Cancia had become the owner of the Boconnoc estate. The patronage of the church was also in his hands so that he was responsible for appointing the clergyman for the parish. However, in 1269, Thomas de Cancia was excommunicated by Walter Bronescombe, Bishop of Exeter, after de Cancia 'ruined the Bishop's park'. Ultimately, he had to make his peace with the bishop as is detailed more fully in Chapter 8.
De Cancia was involved in several cases that were brought before the assize – the court – in which it was alleged that he had disseised various people from their free tenements. In 1289, an assize was granted to enquire if Thomas de Cancia and others had disseized Odo de Treures and Roesia, his wife, of their free tenement in Bosvoilgomneyl juxta Derwydel, when the verdict was given for Thomas. In the following year, a further case involving Thomas de Cancia was heard at the assize on 5 October. This enquired whether de Kent (de Cancia) and others had unjustly disseised Robert de Trefret of his free tenement 'in the Ford next to Bockunet'. Thomas de Kent appeared before the court and argued that Robert had never been seised of the tenement and therefore could not be disseised. The jury found for Thomas and placed Robert 'in mercy', giving him a financial penalty, an amercement, at the 'mercy' of the king or his justices for making a false claim.
De Cancia died in 1299 and was buried at Bodmin. William of Worcester gives the names of illustrious personages whose obits were kept in the church, including '1299 obit dominus Thomas de Cancia die 12 Januarij.'
THE DE CARMINOW FAMILY
Sir John de Carminow (d. 1331)
It is not known who inherited the Boconnoc estate after the death of Thomas de Cancia in 1299, but by 1317, John de Carminow was in possession, at which date he was given 'free warren in Buccucnok, Glyn, Penpont, Resker, Disart and Tregostentyn, county Cornwall'. Free warren was granted to the owner of an estate and conveyed the sole right to hunt game, including hares and rabbits, on his own land.
John de Carminow married Johanna or Joan, daughter and heiress of Sir John Glyn. They had four sons and one daughter and John's eldest son, Walter, was his heir.
The de Carminow Family
Sir John de Carminow and local administration
John de Carminow was enrolled in the military in 1323, made a knight in 1324 and as he held lands to the value of £40 per annum, he was summoned by general proclamation to attend the Great Councils at Westminster.
From the fourteenth century, commissions, composed of members of the local gentry, were appointed by the monarch and were given authority to control defence and criminal affairs and to enforce regulations that emanated from central government. John de Carminow was one of those who was appointed by the Crown.
In 1330, he and William de Bello Campo were directed to enquire into a complaint made by Danesius de Acculeo and his associates of Leura, merchants of France. A vessel called The Ship of St Peter in Poitou, laden with a cargo of wine and other goods, had been driven ashore in Cornwall when local men had arrested the merchants and carried away the cargo. The king of France demanded redress and de Carminow and de Bello Campo were ordered to find out where the goods were, to recover what they could and to award damages to the merchants for those goods which were untraceable.
In contrast, members of the gentry who had allegedly committed a crime could also be placed under investigation. On 8 February 1318, a commission of oyer and terminer (a commission to 'hear and determine') was given to three men to investigate the complaint of John and Peter Domynges, merchants of Portugal, against John de Carminow and others. On a voyage to Flanders, a ship with a cargo of wine and other goods, on account of contrary winds, had had to anchor at Padstow. While there, the cables parted and the ship was cast ashore. The cargo was carried from the vessel onto the land by the Domynges. They argued that their goods, which had been recovered by their own efforts and not thrown onto the shore by the waves, should not be adjudged as 'wreck of the sea' which would, under common law, mean that the cargo would become the property of the Crown. A number of men, including John de Carminow, were convicted of removing the goods and fined for taking salvage of the ship.
Keeper of the king's forests and parks
On 27 April 1331, John de Carminow was appointed Keeper of Trematon and Restormel castles and was made 'keeper of the king's forests, parks, woods and warrens as well as of vert [that is, everything that grows and bears a green leaf within the forest and the right or privilege of cutting growing wood] and of venison and of the King's game in the county of Cornwall'. The appointment was renewed on 12 October in the same year. As part of his commission, Carminow had to answer, on an annual basis, for the profits of pannage (the right to graze domestic pigs in a wood or forest) and herbage (pasturing cattle) within the forests, parks and woods owned by the king and had to appoint sub-keepers to assist him.
The death of John de Carminow
John de Carminow only lived a short time after his appointment as Keeper of the King's forests. He died in October or November 1331. The escheator, the local official who had the responsibility for upholding the Crown's rights as feudal overlord, held an Inquisition Post Mortem (IPM) and thereafter an order was sent that he should take into his hands 'lands late of John de Carmynou, deceased, tenant-in-chief'. John's son and heir, Walter, being a minor at the date of his father's death, was made a ward of John of Eltham, 1st Earl of Cornwall (1316–36), the second son of Edward II of England and younger brother of Edward III.
Walter de Carminow (c. ? 1320 – c.1361)
In 1333, Earl John transferred to Joan 'late the wife of John Carmynou' custody of her son and in addition, the Manor of Tamerton. Walter de Carminow's date of birth and his exact age at his father's death are unknown, but he witnessed a document on 4 May 1341, which suggests he had reached his majority by that date. Sometime around the year 1340, he married Alice, daughter and heiress of Stephen de Tynten and through his marriage was granted the manor of Tynten. Walter and Alice had two sons, Ralph and William.
The Hundred Years' War – Walter de Carminow at the Battle of Crécy, 26 August 1346
The Hundred Years' War, a series of conflicts between 1337 and 1453, was fought mainly between England and France. After the death of the French monarch, Charles IV 'the Fair', in 1328, leaving no surviving male heir, the English King Edward III claimed the throne of France. Salic Law forbade inheritance by a woman, although not inheritance through the female line and Edward could thus claim the throne of France through his mother, Isabella, daughter of Philip IV and sister of Charles IV. A French court rejected Edward's claim and ruled that Charles's closest male relative was his first cousin, Philip, Count of Valois, who was crowned as Philip VI. In 1340, Edward declared himself king of France and deciding to pursue what he considered to be his entitlement by military means, he began to raise an army.
As part of the retinue of William de Bohun, Earl of Northampton, Walter de Carminow made the Channel crossing on 11 July 1346. On the battlefield at Crécy, the English king drew up his army into three divisions. The vanguard on the right was commanded by Edward, Prince of Wales, the 'Black Prince'; that on the left was commanded by William de Bohun, supported by the Earl of Arundel. The third was commanded by the king himself. William de Bohun's force consisted of one earl, two baronets, forty-six knights, 112 esquires and 141 mounted archers, a total of 302 men. During the battle, the forces, under the command of Philip VI, flew the sacred banner of the French, the Oriflamme, which indicated that no quarter would be given and no surrender accepted. Any English soldier who was captured would be executed. To the enduring shame of the French, the Oriflamme was captured by the English who prevailed in the battle. Philip abandoned the field and fled.
Walter de Carminow's service in France was lengthy, for he was still there on 3 August 1347. At that date 'Walter de Carmynou, knight' was granted letters of protection as a member of de Bohun's retinue. These letters, granted to an individual who was overseas in the service of the Crown, prevented him from being prosecuted in the king's courts at home during his absence. The holder of the letters also had the right to appoint legal representatives in England by a Power of Attorney.
Walter died in 1361 and since his son, Ralph, was still a minor, Sir John de Montacute, knight, held the wardship of the heir until he came of age.
Ralph de Carminow (c. 1339–86)
Ralph was born c. 1339. He married twice: first, to Katherine Wodeland (widow of Sir Walter Wodeland of Cockington, Devon) and daughter of Sir William Champernoun and second, by 1383, to Alice, widow of John FitzRoger. Ralph must have been of age by February 1360 for, at that date, he was able to grant away a manor in Bedfordshire. Two years later, Ralph had become the patron of the church at Boconnoc. He was also patron of the parish church at Menheniot and owned property there, at Carminow in Mawgan-in-Meneage and in St Tudy parish.
The challenge to the validity of Ralph de Carminow's first marriage
In 1371, during a visit to Cornwall, Thomas de Brantyngham, Bishop of Exeter, adjudged that the marriage of Ralph and his wife Katherine was invalid, because they were descended from a common ancestor and were related by consanguinity, that is, by blood, within the prohibited degrees of kinship imposed by the Church and contrary to the tenets of Canon Law. Ralph and Katherine, when summoned to attend the bishop's court, produced letters that they had received from the Papal Nuncio, the Pope's diplomatic representative to England and France, Cardinal Simon Langham of St Sixtus. In the petition that they had presented to Langham at an earlier date, they had declared that they had married 'to preserve the friendship and agreement of both their parents, relatives and mutual friends, without gaining a dispensation'. As soon as they had realised that a dispensation was necessary, they had sent a request to the Nuncio asking him to regularise their position. Because the Carminows had shown themselves to be living honest lives and 'had many virtues', the Cardinal had granted the dispensation, allowing them to remain lawfully married and any children of their union to be deemed legitimate. Accordingly, the Carminows were granted 'an absolute dismissal from the case in our Court' by Bishop Brantyngham.
Judicial and military offices and commissions
Being a member of an influential and important gentry family, Ralph de Carminow was appointed to judicial and military offices and commissions within Cornwall. In 1377 and 1380, he was placed on commissions to equip all the men of the county to resist foreign invasion and to cause beacons to be set up that would give notice of the arrival of any enemy. In 1381, the year of the Peasants' Revolt, and in 1382, he was appointed to commissions to put down rebellions.
(Continues…)
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Table of Contents
About the author,
Acknowledgements,
Abbreviations and currency,
List of figures and plates,
Map of Cornwall,
Foreword by Professor Philip Payton,
Introduction,
Chapter 1 The early history of Boconnoc: Domesday Book, de Cancias, Carminows and Courtenays,
Chapter 2 The Mohuns: 1563–1717,
Chapter 3 The Pitts: 1717–1804,
Chapter 4 The Grenvilles and the Fortescues: 1804–64,
Chapter 5 The Fortescues: 1864–1996,
Chapter 6 Running the estate,
Chapter 7 The house, grounds and gardens in the landscape: the fourteenth to the twenty-first century,
Chapter 8 The church,
Chapter 9 Industry and agriculture,
Chapter 10 A miscellany: emigration, education, law and order, the Poor Law, ferries and railways,
Conclusion Boconnoc: the epitome of Cornish history?,
Appendix: The rectors of Boconnoc: 1266–2016,
Bibliography,