From "Notes on the Parish of Mylor", published by Hugh Pengelly Olivey 1907
Beware, Ongoing work - This is First Draft Only and likely to contain typographic errors
Section 15
Trefusis and Flushing.
THE manor of Trefusis and Tregew, or Tregose, is the property of Lord Clinton. Trefusis was the ancient place of residence of the Trefusis family, and is beautifully situated on a headland called Trefusis Point, which juts into the Falmouth harbour, having Penryn river on the south side and the Fal on the north. The present mansion was rebuilt only a few years ago, and replaced one of comparatively modern date which had fallen into a state of decay, and was occupied (with the farm) for over seventy years by the Doble family. The great tithes are also the property of Lord Clinton, and he also claims the church chancel. The Trefusis family have long since ceased to reside here, having succeeded to large estates in Devonshire, etc., and can scarcely be considered as connected with Cornwall. They have held this estate, however, since the Norman Conquest, if not before.
In Norden's catalogue of gentlemen's names in his time (reign of James I, 1603), is:
Bonithon, John, at Kirkleo.
Enis, Thomas, at Enys.
Trefusis, John, at Trefusis.
Robert George William Trefusis succeeded on the death of George Walpole, Earl of Orford, to the barony, in fee of Clinton, created by writ of summons in the year 1299,(1) the 28th of Edward I, and under a deed of settlement made by the same Lord Orford, having succeeded also in 1794. to a large estate, chiefly in Devonshire, and finally in consequence of their having alienated by far the greater part of their possessions in this county. This gentleman, having married Marianne Gaulis, a lady of Switzerland, and dying in 1797, was succeeded by his son, Robert Cotton St. John Trefusis. He married one of the daughters of William Stephen Poyntz, Esq., and niece of Mark Anthony Browne (last Lord Montague), of Cowdray Castle in Sussex, but having died in 1832 without issue, he was succeeded by his brother, Charles Trefusis. The widow married Colonel Horace Seymour.
Leland, in his Itinerary of 1533 (already quoted p. 16), describes Trefusis, and says, cc There dwelleth an auncient gentleman called Trefusis at this point of Penfusis." Mr. Beckford, in his travels (vol. ii), describes a younger gentleman here, with all the habits of an "auncient," in the year 1787. This was doubtless Mr. Robert George William Trefusis, who became Lord Clinton. Mr. Beckford was on his way to Portugal, waiting at Falmouth for a fair wind. He writes: "What a lovely morning! How glassy the sea ; how busy the fishing boats ; and how fast asleep the wind in the old quarter! Towards evening, however, it freshened, and I took a toss in a boat with Mr. Trefusis, whose territories extend half round the bay. His green hanging downs, spotted with sheep, and intersected by rocky gullies, shaded by tall oaks and ashes, form a romantic prospect very much in the style of Mount Edgcombe." cc We drunk tea at the capital of these dominions, an antiquated mansion which is placed in a hollow on the summit of a lofty hill, and contains many ruinous halls and never-ending passages. They cannot be said, however, to lead to nothing, like those celebrated by Gray in his Song Story, for Mrs. Trefusis terminated the perspective. She is a native of Lausanne. We should have very much enjoyed her conversation, but the moment tea was over he could not resist leading us round his improvements in kennel, stable, and ox-stall, though it was pitch dark, and we were obliged to be escorted by grooms and groomlings with candles and lanthorns ; a very necessary precaution, as the wind blew not more violently without the house than within."
"In the course of our peregrinations through halls, pantries and ante-chambers, we passed a staircase with a heavy walnut railing, lined from top to bottom with effigies of ancestors that looked quite formidable by the horny glow of our lanthorns ; which illumination, dull as it was, occasioned much alarm amongst a collection of animals, both furred and feathered, the delights of Mr. Trefusis's existence."
In another place, describing a dinner at Trefusis, at which "we had on the table a savoury pig, right worthy of Otaheite, and some of the finest poultry I ever tasted ; and round the table two or three brace of old Cornish gentlefolks, not deficient in humour or originality." Mr. Beckford proceeds, " about eight in the evening, six gamecocks were ushered into the eating-rooms by two limber lads in scarlet jackets, and after a flourish of crowing, the noble birds set to with surprising keenness. Tufts of brilliant feathers soon flew about the apartment, but the carpet was not stained by the blood of the combatants, for to do Trefusis justice, he has a generous heart and takes no pleasure in cruelty. The cocks were unarmed, had the spurs cut short, and may live to fight fifty such harmless battles."
The great tithes, amounting to about £400 a year, were probably acquired by the Trefusis family on the suppression of Glasney College in 1545. Before this there was no settled allowance for the poor in England. The care of providing for them lay upon the religious houses, which were numerous, and many of them were well endowed. How these tithes were acquired by the Trefusis family is perhaps unknown, but speaking generally, men, formerly of moderate fortune, as a reward for being on the side of the king, became landowners and territorial aristocrats-the new nobility,-and having risen by the confiscation of religious houses, were, of course, ultra-protestants.
There is an old Somersetshire rhyme:
" Horner, Portman, Popham and Thynne,
When the monks popped out, they popped in."
These and others of the nobility then built up great fortunes.
The pleasant little town of Flushing, said to have been built by the Dutch about 1660, is situated in a well sheltered place along the shore, at the foot of a deep hill, having a southern aspect. In consequence of the mildness of the climate, it has been the frequent resort of invalids, and for that reason its popularity is increasing, and it is well entitled to the name of the "English Riviera."
The population of Flushing at the last census was 858.
A neat chapel-of-ease, dedicated to St. Peter, was built in 1842, at a cost of about £1,200, and opened for divine service on 2nd February. Of this sum the Incorporated Society granted £ 160, and as a condition of this gift there are two hundred free sittings. In the above total cost is included £120 for the excavation of the ground. It was consecrated 5th August, 1842, and made a parish church for all ecclesiastical purposes, with a district assigned to it, 8th July, 1844. The care of providing for the services then fell upon the vicar of Mylor. Considerable alterations were made in 1871, which included a new western porch, a vestry at the north-eastern portion, and a new organ, besides much interior and exterior repair and decoration, notwithstanding which it can never attain to the distinction which was applied to it by the designer of being called a " Norman " edifice.
The district was assigned to Flushing Chapel under sec. 16, 59 Geo. III, cap. 134, and accordingly "marriages, baptisms, churchings and burials may be solemnized and performed in the said chapel." A difficulty arose through there being no minister, perpetual curate, or vicar of the same, there being no endowment or other source of income up to 1869; it was therefore served with a Sunday evening service by the vicar of Mylor or his curate. When Mr. Murray became the vicar of Mylor in 1868, Mabe was severed from it and became a separate vicarage. In December, 1868, however, the Rev. W. J. Rowland was licensed as stipendiary assistant curate of Mylor with a merely nominal income, but practically all his assistance was given to Flushing. In January, 1869, Miss Sutton left by will a valued benefaction "to be applied towards the salary of a clergyman for St. Peter's Chapel, Flushing." To apply the £21 per annum derived from such legacy, it then became necessary to alter the terms of the licence from that of curate of Mylor to curate of Flushing, and afterwards to create a vicar of Flushing. The patronage originally rested with the vicar of Mylor, but in consequence of delays, the presentation had lapsed to the crown. On application being made to the Lord Chancellor he carried into effect the recommendation of the vicar of Mylor, and nominated the Rev. W. J. Rowland as its first vicar.
The legacy of Miss Sutton, which realized the sum of #650, was the commencement of an endowment for the living. On June 28th, 1871, and on the representation of the Rev. J. W. Murray, the governors of Queen Anne's Bounty made a grant of £200 for the same purpose. On Nov. 8th, 1871, Mr. William Gibbs, of Tyntesfield, Bristol, offered £100 for a similar object, provided another £100 be raised to meet it, and this sum having been at once given by Miss E. W. Sutton of Flushing, upon the further representation of Mr. Murray, the governors of Queen Anne's Bounty, on March 13th, 1872, met these sums by a grant of £200. Between January, 1869, and March, 1872, the total sum of £1,200 had been raised as a beginning towards a better endowment of Flushing. The Ecclesiastical Commissioners afterwards gave £50 to the incumbent of the living to meet the benefaction of £1,500 offered in favour of the cure, upon condition that such benefaction be paid to their credit in the Bank of England.
The present stipend is about £240 with residence. The appointment is in the gift of the vicar of Mylor. The Rev. Francis Forbes Savage has held the living since 1889. He has recently done much towards the improvement of the church by building new vestries and an organ chamber, and other matters of general repair and decoration. He has also much improved and enlarged the vicarage house.
The communion plate consists of one flagon, two chalices, one salver, two patens, all of silver, and marked with the sacred monogram, and inscribed, "The gift of Lady Rolle, 1841."
ASSIGNMENT OF A DISTRICT.
In the London Gazette of July 10th, 1844, p.2402, is the following assignment of the district, named "The Chapelry District of Flushing," to consist of the s.w. part of Mylor, being part of the estate called Trefusis, and in the manor of Tregew, bounded on the E. and N. by certain hedges and streams, w. and s. by the sea, i.e. by the sea from Sailor's Creek on the w. to a stream called Cue Water on the s., and by hedges on the E., passing from Cue Water on the E. side of the hedges of two fields numbered on the tithe map 1360 and 1361, up to the plantation hedge, thence passing on the E. side of plantation hedge, along by the bowling green little gate, and by the lawn hedge which divides the lawn and Kennel Barn Field, no. 1357, and Plat Field, no. 1382, to the lawn gate ; thence by the Kersey Field E. hedge by the lodge to the entrance gate, and through it and across the church road from Flushing. Along the hedge of Grove Cottage, and the hedges of three Park Gwarras fields, on the left hand of the road, no. 1161, up to the cross roads at the Pillars ; thence along by the hedges of two yonder P. G. fields, nos. 1391 and 1393, on the left hand of road, no. 1392, to road leading from Flushing to Penryn, no. 1153, from thence along by the E. side of hedges of fields, nos. 1152, 1151, 1149, 1147, the sd fields being on the left hand of road, no. 1153, as far as boundary hedge between the lands of Lord Clinton and the Bishop of Exeter's, lands called Trevissom, and be bounded on the N. by the bounds of the sd two estates by the hedge adjoining the road, 1153, and by hedges and streamlet which terminates in Sailor's Creek, as is shown by the map hereunto annexed and coloured yellow. (See map of Mylor.)
The Flushing National School was first established by the Rev. J. W. Murray in 1869. In 1872 a plot of land was conveyed to the incumbent and churchwardens of Flushing by Lord Clinton, for the purpose of building schools to be conducted under the principles of the National Society, and for promoting the education of the poor in the principles of the Established Church, and vested in a committee to consist of the incumbent for the time being, his licensed curate if he shall appoint him to be a member of the committee, and of ten other persons being members of the established Church, and subscribers to the funds of not less than ten shillings annually. The vicar has full control over the religious education, also of any Sunday School which may be held there. A most generous benefactor in promoting the church and schools at Flushing was the late Captain Norway, who resided at Lawn Cliff.
Near to Flushing is a shipwright's yard, called Little Falmouth, where there is a commodious dry dock, and at this place a considerable amount of shipbuilding and repairs were formerly carried on.
Flushing has been the home and birthplace of many men of eminence, more particularly in relation to the naval service, and was much resorted to in the time of " the packets."
The Pellews were closely connected with Flushing, the name appearing frequently in the Mylor Parish Registers, and there is a monument in the church to Sir Israel Pellew and some of his family. The most eminent was Lord Exmouth, who was born at Penzance: The Sullivans were a noted family of sailors, three of them having attained the rank of admiral. There are numerous others of note which may be traced in the Mylor registers, and many, whose names are recorded on the tablets in Mylor Church, who have resorted to Flushing on account of the mildness of its climate, often, alas! in vain.
(1) There is a monument in the church to ffrancisci Trefusis, who died in 168o; also one to Robert Cotton St. John Trefusis, Baron Clinton and Saye. The family may be traced back four generations before this date.
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