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Mawes (St.) in Cornwall County England History and GeographyMAWES (ST.), a borough, small sea-port, and market town, in the parish of ST. JUST in ROSELAND, western division of the hundred of POWDER, county of CORNWALL, 3 miles (E.) from Falmouth, 51 (S.W.) from Launceston, and 265 (S.W. by W.) from London. The population is returned with the parish. The name of this town, derived from its patron saint, is, by Leland, attributed to Mauduit, or Machutus, a Welchman; but others, with more probability, consider it to be a corruption of St. Mary's, and, indeed, the town is called St. Mawes, alias St. Mary's, in various ancient records, probably as having belonged to the priory of St. Mary, at Plympton. A castle was erected here, in 1542, by Henry VIII., during the war with France, as a protection to Falmouth harbour: at the dissolution, this fortress, with the lands which had belonged to the priory at Plympton, became the property of the Vyvyan family, who possessed them for several generations. During the civil commotions in the time of Charles I., it fell into the hands of Fairfax, and, at the Restoration, it was sold, with the annexed estate, by Sir Viel Vyvyan to John, Earl of Bath. The castle is now in the custody of a governor, appointed by the king; and the estate is held in moieties by the Duke of Buckingham and James Buller, Esq. The town consists principally of one street, which fronts the sea, and lies at the foot of a hill rising somewhat abruptly from the vale: it is irregularly built, and is chiefly inhabited by fishermen and pilots; it is neither lighted nor regularly paved, but is well supplied with water. The castle stands at the north entrance of the harbour, opposite to that of Pendennis; and there is an open battery below, near the blockhouse. The only branch of manufacture in the town is that of cables, ropes, &c., for small craft. The pilchard fishery, although on the decline, is the principal source of occupation: fourteen thousand hogsheads of pilchards have been exported from St. Mawes and Falmouth, of which port this is a member, in one season. A small market for butchers' meat is held on Friday. A portreeve, commonly called mayor, is presented by a jury at the court leet of the manor, held in October, in the town hall. St. Mawes first sent members to parliament in 1562: the right of election is vested in the resident freemen, and in the freeholders within the borough and manor, resident and non-resident, who, as well as the freemen, must be presented and admitted at the manor court; the number of voters is about twenty-five, and the portreeve is the returning officer: the influence of the Duke of Buckingham is predominant: the elections are always held on the quay, which has been recently repaved. The borough and manor extends over the whole creek and harbour; the lord is entitled to certain duties for anchorage, bushelage, &c., and to the possession of wrecks. A chapel, erected at the expense of the late Marquis of Buckingham, was completed in July, 1812, but has not been endowed or consecrated: it was used for divine service a few years only, and is now appropriated as a school for boys of the town, supported by the Duke of Buckingham, who allows the master a salary of £40 per annum: another school for boys is supported by voluntary contributions. There are places of worship for Independents and Wesleyan Methodists. In this parish are the remains of a chapel, attached to the barton of Roscassa, now a farm-house. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
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