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Agnes in Cornwall County England History and GeographyAGNES, ST., a parish and market town in the hundred of PYDER, county of CORNWALL, 8½ miles (N.W. by W.) from Truro, containing 5762 inhabitants. This place, formerly named Breanick or Bryanick, is situated in an extensive mining district on the northern coast, and consists principally of cottages, chiefly inhabited by miners. It is partially paved, and well supplied with water; the rocks on the coast are precipitous, and the scenery boldly picturesque. On a pyramidal rocky eminence, 664 feet above the level of the sea, is St. Agnes' beacon, formed out of an ancient cairn or tumulus, which, during the late war with France, was kept constantly ready in case of invasion; it has lately been much diminished by the removal of stone for repairing the fences in the vicinity. At the base of the hill, are vestiges of a strong vallum, supposed to have been constructed by the Romans, which anciently extended in a direction nearly circular for about two miles. This district was formerly explored only for tin; the principal mine, 'Sail Hole,' after having produced an immense quantity, was discontinued a few years since. Copper mines have been subsequently opened with very great success; in the principal mine, 'Wheal Towan,' eight hundred men are employed. After many fruitless attempts to form a harbour, a pier of moor-stone was constructed by a company in 1794, and a considerable trade in coal, lime and slate, is now carried on with Ireland and Wales. The port, which is a member of that of St. Ives, has been enlarged and improved within the last few years, and is capable of affording safe anchorage to eight or ten vessels of 100 tons' burden, but can only be entered at high water. A pilchard fishery was established in 1802, which affords employment to about forty men. The market day is Thursday, and a fair is held on April 30th. The town is within the jurisdiction of the county magistrates; courts for the duchy are held annually in October, at which constables and other officers are appointed. The living is a perpetual curacy, united with the vicarage of Perranzabuloe, in the peculiar jurisdiction of the Dean and Chapter of Exeter. The church is dedicated to St. Agnes. Here are places of worship for Independents, and Primitive and Wesleyan Methodists. The free school, founded by the Rev. St. John Eliot, in 1760, has a small endowment arising from funds bequeathed by him for charitable uses. In 1688, Mr. Nicholas Kent, of Ningoose, bequeathed a house and garden for aged widows, now used as the parish workhouse. Near the site of an ancient chapel, in a dingle called Chapel-comb, are the remains of St. Agnes' well, of which many miraculous stories are recorded. Opie, the celebrated painter, was born here in 1761. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
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