Predannack Wartha centre c. 2007

Mullion Cove to the NW -  Predannack Wollas bottom right

Predannack Wartha - Predannack Manor farm

Although Predannack`s history stretches back to the Domesday Book and beyond, the earliest maps are from the late 17th century when much of the surrounding area was part of the Lanhydrock estate owned by Thomas Agar-Robartes, the 6th Viscount Clifden.

[To read about the earlier history of Predannack Manor - a more detailed historical account can be found here;   https://knightofpredannack.blogspot.co.uk/ ] 

Robartes had the foresight to have his estate mapped and recorded. The resulting water-colour maps have been recently published in the Lanhydrock Land Atlas. http://cornwalleditions.co.uk/the-lanhydrock/

Right -  Predannack Wartha c. 1695 

( The white area is probably where the farmyard is today - the farm back lanes are easily recognisable)

                                                   Predannack Wartha c. early 1800s

Below 1841 map

The Many Inhabitants of Predannack in 1841 - CENSUS 

Pradanack Wollas,1,John Thomas,30,,Ag Lab,In county,
,,Mary Thomas,,30,,In county,
,,James Thomas,11,,,In county,
,,Grace Thomas,,9,,In county,
,,John Thomas,7,,,In county,
,,William Thomas,5,,,In county,
,,Mary Thomas,,3,,In county,
,,Jane Thomas,,70,Independent,In county,
Pradanack Wollas,1,Henery James,45,,Ag Lab,In county,
,,Mary James,,60,,In county,
Pradanack Wollas,1,William Pascoe,35,,Farmer,In county,
,,Margaret Pascoe,,30,,In county,
,,Elizabeth Pascoe,,8,,In county,
,,Jane Pascoe,,5,,In county,
,,James Pascoe,1,,,In county,
,,Mary Roberts,,15,Female Servant,In county,
,,Nicholas Lawrance,15,,Male Servant,In county,
,,James Thomas,12,,Male Servant,In county,
Pradanack Wollas,1,William Pascoe,65,,Farmer,In county,
,,Grace Pascoe,,55,,In county,
,,William Pascoe,10,,,In county,
Pradanack Wollas,1,Thomas Shephard,30,,Farmer,In county,
,,Jane Shephard,,25,,In county,
,,Thomas Shephard,5,,,In county,
,,Alexander Shephard,4,,,In county,
,,Alices Shephard,,2,,In county,
,,Hanibal Shephard,2m,,,In county,
,,William Williams,50,,Male Servant,In county,
,,John Willey,15,,Male Servant,In county,
,,Sampson Hill,15,,Male Servant,In county,
,,Johana James,,20,Female Servant,In county,
,,Jane Boulden,,14,Female Servant,In county,

Pradanack Wartha,1,Ann Harry,,75,Independent,In county,
Pradanack Wartha,1,Samuel Willey,45,,Farmer,In county,
,,Martha Willey,,45,,In county,
,,Samuel Willey,20,,,In county,
,,Jane Willey,,15,,In county,
,,Jhn Willey,13,,,In county,
,,Henery Willey,11,,,In county,
,,Mary Willey,,8,,In county,
,,Martha Willey,,4,,In county,
,,Frederick Willey,1,,,In county,
Pradanack Wartha,1,William Harry,70,,Shoe Maker,In county,
,,Mary Harry,,75,,In county,
Pradanack Wartha,1,Mary Plomer,,55,Independent,In county,
,,Sarah Plomer,,25,,In county,
Pradanack Wartha,1,Ann Richards,,25,Ag Lab,In county,
,,William Richards,4,,,In county,
,,Samuel Richards,3,,,In county
Pradanack Wartha,1,John Harry,45,,Farmer,In county,
,,William Harry,15,,,In county,
,,Mary Harry,,20,,In county,
,,Sarah Harry,,15,,In county,
,,Thomas Harry,12,,,In county,
,,Joseph Harry,11,,,In county,
,,Eliza Harry,,10,,In county,
,,Charity Johns,,15,Female Servant,In county,
Pradanack Wartha,1,James Cock,75,,Ag Lab,In county,
,,Grace Cock,,65,,In county,
Pradanack Wartha,1,Elizabeth Sycome,,55,,In county,
,,Elizabeth Gilbert,,10,Female Servant,In county,
Pradanack Wartha,1,Ursilla Couch,,35,Ag Lab,In county,
,,John Couch,8,,,In county,
,,William Couch,6,,,In county,
,,Henery Couch,2,,,In county,
,,William Rees,80,,Refiner Of Silver,WLS,
Pradanack Wartha,1,William Hancock,20,,Farmer,In county,
,,Christian Hancock,,25,,In county,
,,John Trenoweth,15,,Male Servant,In county,
Pradanack Wartha,1,Richard Traplin,40,,Ag Lab,In county,
,,Mary Traplin,,30,,In county,
,,Elizabeth Traplin,,10,,In county,
,,Grace Traplin,,7,,In county,
,,John Traplin,3,,,In county,
,,Mary Traplin,,6m,,In county,
,Sarah Plomer,,30,School Mistress,In county,
Pradanack Wartha,1,Robert Jordan,40,,Shoe Maker,In county,
,,Hanah Jordan,,35,,In county,
,,Thomas Jordan,11,,,In county,
,,Elizabeth Jordan,,15,,In county,
,,Alice Jordan,,7,,In county,
,,John Jordan,2,,,In county,
Pradanack Wartha,1,James Cock,40,,Farmer,In county,
,,Jane Cock,,40,,In county,
,,John Cock,13,,,In county,
,,Jane Cock,,12,,In county,
,,Lovdy Cock,,11,,In county,
,,Ann Cock,,7,,In county,
,,Thomas Cock,5,,,In county,
,,Elizabeth Cock,,5m,,In county,
Pradanack Wartha,1,Walter Trezise,40,,Ag Lab,In county,
,,Jane Trezise,,25,,In county,
,,Edward Trezise,7,,,In county,
,,John Trezise,6,,,In county,
,,Walter Trezise,3,,,In county,
,,Jane Trezise,,10m,,In county,
Pradanack Wartha,1,William Rowe,45,,Farmer,In county,
,,Jane Rowe,,55,,In county,
,,Jane Rowe,,20,,In county,
,,William Rowe,20,,,In county,
,,Thomas Rowe,15,,,In county,
,,Richard Williams,6,,,In county,
,,Jane Rogers,,8,,In county,
,,Thomas Thomas,15,,Male Servant,In county,
,,Lovdy Symons,,20,Female Servant,In county,
Pradanack Wartha,1,Samuel Pearce,30,,Farmer,In county,
,,Mary Pearce,,25,,In county,
,,Samuel Pearce,10,,,In county,
,,Eliza Pearce,,6,,In county,
,,John Pearce,2,,,In county,
,,John Pearce,25,,Male Servant,In county,
,,Jane Johns,,12,Female Servant,In county,
Pradanack Wartha,1,James Jordan,40,,Farmer,In county,
,,Susana Jordan,,30,,In county,
,,Elizabeth Jordan,,70,Independent,In county,
Pradanack Wartha,1,William Gilbert,40,,Ag Lab,In county,
,,Ann Gilbert,,40,,In county,
,,Mary Gilbert,,12,,In county,
,,Jane Gilbert,,8,,In county,
,,Susan Gilbert,,5,,In county,
,,George Gilbert,2,,,In county,

http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/CON/Mullion#Census

 The Pearces & Gilberts of Predannack Wartha c. 1850

Below - map from c. 1878

1901 CENSUS -  probably records the 2 newer cottages, Penrhoss & Rose cottage housing the cattleman & the Carter, labourers on the farm.

In 1925 6th Viscount Clifden, Lord Thomas Agar-ROBARTES of Lanhydrock, sold Predannack Farm comprising of of almost 295 acres to Willliam Antron Knowles.  William and his family already farmed at Carwythenack in nearby Constantine. 

William later sold most of the cliff land to the National Trust in 1937 just before his death. Management and later ownership of Predannack Manor farm passed to one of William`s sons, George P. Knowles in 1939.

Map below from c. early 1900s still valid in 1925 when Predannack farm was sold to W.A.Knowles 

1906 Map

Map above dated 1976

REX BRAY`S Memories of Life on Predannack `Prad-nack` Manor Farm in the 1950s 

[photos are all c. 2007]

Rex Bray from Mullion, worked on the farm as a young man when it was owned by George Philip Knowles and managed by tenant farmer Joseph H Willey, Joe had been Knowles` tenant since 1941.

Although it was post WW2 Rex remembers that life on the farm was far from modern, for instance there were no tractors!  Instead there were just two shire horses Farmer Joe was a keen heavy horse man regularly showing and demonstrating his horses at local and County Shows.  Homecroft's 3.5 acre field was then called Little Parc Mear with Big Parc Mear beyond and that was home for the cart horses. 

These two horses did all the work of a tractor pulling the wagon loaded with anything that needed moving, for instance turnips - an important source of animal feed for horses and the cattle. There were at this time several sheds that were ‘Turnip houses’, sliding doors were hung on the buildings for easy wagon access enabling the wagon to be backed in and tipped up. One `turnip house` was opposite Penrhoss – the bricked up doorway is still visible - and the corner room on the roadside single storey building had a sliding door too.

The farm at this time was both dairy and beef as George Knowles and neighbour Bree Thomas from Teneriffe up the lane, were enthusiastic young farmers and between them had possibly the largest herd of Red Poll cattle in the county at that time. Red Poll are well known for their hardiness and are a dual purpose cattle producing milk and and beef. It was Rex’s job to milk the 60 strong herd.

The existing main farmyard was built into the popular late 19th century,`courtyard` style. (Although parts of the farmhouse date back to 17th century or even older. Later in the 1980s Bobby Glasson opened an entrance in order to have easier access to the back lane leading to the fields.) 

But back in Rex`s time, outside of the single storey buildings (inside of where the more modern addition of a dung ramp was until recently; pictured below) stood the engine house for the vacuum unit for the milking operation, next to it a room which had the buckets and other equipment for milking. 

On the milking engine room roof was a water tank and from here water ( from a well, see below) was distributed to the three neighbouring cottages. 




 The `Lower yard` which is adjacent to Homecroft was hidden  behind a solid wooden gate when Rex worked here, it was known to flood then!







Bobby Glasson - pictured here standing next to Jay and his tractor - built the breeze block shelter seen behind him in about 2005 – at the back of this shelter it was still possible to make out an old cottage gable end...

Between the Lower and Main courtyard the building that is side on to the lane housed the Binder. The Binder was considered the most important machine of the farm equipment as it cut the corn and bound each sheaf. These sheaves were then collected and stood up to dry they would be put in `six's` called Stooks.

 (Opposite this barn there has been up to recently a sileage pit or `dirty water` storage. This water was then pumped up to a pond in the fields above. 
However in Rex`s time there was no water storage as any excess water made its way down a back lane which then existed - and still does between two cottages from where it went into a large pond and eventually down to the sea.

Moving past the Binder house, the far south west wall of the more modern barn further on the right is the last remains of Rex's father`s Pig house wall which he built in about 1938. At this time large whites were kept. The building was considered quite a modern style of pig house for the time -  

Below; View towards the back of the breeze block `pig house wall`.

 Towards the fields where the big modern barn is shown in the photos, here was where the hay and straw was once stored in the form of hayricks. Constructed on granite mushrooms which allowed the air to circulate beneath the stacked drying straw and hay. 

 To protect the crop from the elements the ricks would be thatched, Rex's job was to pass the string high on a stick - known as a cottoner, up to Reggie Saul and Edgar Lugg who were high up on the ricks constructing the thatch.            

Below in this aerial photo from the mid 1980s; the modern barns on the right are built where the hayricks once stood... (This area was once slightly higher ground as beyond up on the back lane hidden in the hedge up to the right is another gate entrance which was used occasionally to access the fields.)

c. 1985

Grain from the harvest was stored in stacks on the first floor of the corn house in Rex`s time and still was not so long ago – Bobby Glasson is seen here, 2007,  using his `high-tech` method of getting the corn into the upper store!

Cattle, feed and more turnips were kept underneath in Rex`s day.

L- R, Stables, molasses container outside the Milling house, archway into the backyard, Joes garage? And turnip/cattle storage far right, above is the grain storage.

Joe put in the adjacent Milling house and machinery. It was near here the Chaffer was kept, a piece of machinery used for cutting the heads off corn by the use of a large circular cutting blade...and it was this blade that was responsible for cutting off the George Knowles' arm!

Below is the main farmhouse with the building that was the dairy attached. In its day the dairy had a slated shelf all around and a slate floor which Rex remembers, but later on it was turned into extra accommodation to make way for summer visitors. Behind this building Rex remembers a small well, and a stone building that Rex thought was used to house hens.  The lean-to adjacent to the stable was quite possibly a kennel for the farm dog. 

 The single storey buildings along the roadside were for calves and culminated in the bull pen built by Rex's father. 

 Immediately to the left of the farmhouse in this picture, was the shed that housed the engine for the water pump. It was Rex`s job to maintain and operate the pump which brought the water up from the main well - this is situated alongside the old Methodist chapel, but now capped – the water was then pumped up to the tank over the milking house.

 Mains water arrived in about 1960 but it was not welcomed by the inhabitants!   



The adjacent `Manor house` was built at a later date in its distinctive gothic style and during Rex`s time it served as the main entrance for B&B guests - it and the farmhouse were interlinked, The farm workers and family used the farmhouse door. 

Predannack Methodist Chapel early 20thC

"A Christian Endeavour 1906"

No-one knows the age or origin of the chapel, (left in above picture) it could have been the original site of the ancient medieval chapel?  However it was regenerated in 1906 when it was used as a Methodist Chapel the engraving on one of the stone steps marks the occasion. 

But by Rex`s time on the farm, the chapel was no longer used for services instead he remembers some people living in it as it had been converted into two rooms! (Since then it has only be used as storage).

Just along from the `chapel` Rex commented that there had always been a pond just inside on the left of the ten acre field -  below - (though water not evident at the time of this photo) and that that the corner of the designated woodland area opposite was then used as a kitchen garden for the farm.

One of the medieval cobbled farm lanes, its ancient walls covered in wildflowers 

After  George Knowles dies in 1977, his tenant Joe retires a few years. The farm cottages are sold to private owners,

Cornwall council take ownership and in the mid 1980s Mr and Mrs Glasson take on the tenancy of what is now a 160 acre farm. They farm successfully first as a dairy farm and then from 2000 as a beef farm renting a further 40 acres from the National Trust, retiring in 2008.

In 2009 the owners, Cornwall Council put forward plans for a housing development in the farmyard - after various plans came and went, the yard was finally sold to a private developer at the end of 2014.

To accommodate a future housing development a new farm tenancy was drawn up in 2010, below;

Currently  - 2017 - the farmland is still being farmed as a beef farm by the Cornwall County farms current tenant while the once ancient farmyard takes on a whole new lease of life as a modern hamlet of houses,  not unlike its past....  to read about the medieval history of the Manor;

https://knightofpredannack.blogspot.co.uk/