Keigwins,

(Keigwin and Little Keigwin and their relationship to adjacent and associated buildings including the Old Standard)

January 2007

By Eric Berry and Nick Cahill

Cover photograph: Keigwin and Little Keigwin

Keigwins, Mousehole (Keigwin and Little Keigwin and their relationship to adjacent and associated buildings including the Old Standard)

A Report for the Victoria County History, ’s Past for Everyone project

Prepared by

ERIC BERRY Historic Buildings Consultant Cathedral Cottage Busveal TR16 5HH Tel: 01209 821274 Mobile: 07790 981 838

______The Cahill Partnership Conservation planning/historic buildings/research Tel: 01376 333659 E-mail: [email protected]

Keigwins – January 2007 1 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership Acknowledgements This report is the result of an investigation in the field of an important group of buildings in Mousehole, combined with background historical research as part of a wider study of the whole of Mousehole. The authors wish to thank all those who have contributed to the research, to local historians (in particular Margaret Perry) to the owners and occupants of all the buildings inspected in detail and to the most helpful residents of the village of Mousehole whom the survey team met during their fieldwork. Special thanks are due to the following: • Brian and Greta Ashby of Keigwin for their exceptional hospitality on numerous occasions and invaluable involvement in discussion about the building • John and Elizabeth Anderson, and on occasion their house guests, for allowing repeated examination of Little Keigwin • Greta Lewis of the Old Standard for kind hospitality, supply of important historical information and access to the principal areas of the building • Mr and Mrs John Dunhill for access to the western part of the Old Standard and for information about features discovered during building works Thanks are also due to all those involved in the Victoria County History/England’s Past for Everyone project with respect to Mousehole: Dr Joanna Mattingly, Communities Study Coordinator Coral Pepper, Penwith Communities Project Secretary Matthew Bristow, Historic Environment research Manager Victoria County History/England’s Past for Everyone.

Disclaimer and copyright Should this report be intended for publication or public distribution, please note that copyright has not been sought for materials utilised in its production (maps, historic photographs and the Tremenheere sketch of Keigwins). Notwithstanding the agreed contract assigning ownership and intellectual property rights to the University of London, the authors reserve to themselves the right to make use of the findings of this report and survey without prejudice or jeopardy to the assignment of those intellectual property rights.

Keigwins – January 2007 2 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership Contents Introduction...... 4 Project aims...... 4 The Context...... 4 Building Description...... 7 Development and Uses ...... 7 Function ...... 7 Date...... 7 Materials ...... 8 Figure 1 Phase plan of standing fabric ...... 9 Plan/development...... 10 Description of the Fabric ...... 14 Figure 2: early 19th century Keigwins ...... 14 Exterior ...... 14 Interior...... 17 History...... 22 Discussion...... 26 Results...... 28 Bibliography and sources...... 29 Primary sources...... 29 Publications...... 29 Additional Figures ...... 30 Figure 3 Landline Map extract...... 30 Figure 4 1880 OS 6 inch map...... 31 Figure 5 Annotated ground-floor plan of Keigwins ...... 32 Figure 6 Annotated first-floor plan of Keigwins...... 33 Figure 7 Annotated section through Keigwins ...... 34 Figure 8 Photo location plan. Ground floor...... 35 Figure 9 Photo location plan. First floor ...... 36 Figure 10 Photo location plan. Roof plans...... 37 Appendix 1: Selected Photographs ...... 38 Appendix 2: A3 Plans ...... 61 A3 Plans: ground floor...... 61 A3 Plans: first floor...... 62 A3 Plans: section...... 63

Keigwins – January 2007 3 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership Introduction Project aims The purpose of the survey is to suggests that other late medieval investigate, identify and describe buildings may have survived into the interest and importance of the 19th century, and perhaps even Keigwins (a combination name used today. One early building for which throughout this report to refer to evidence survives is in the south the original building which has range of the Lobster Pot complex been subdivided into Keigwin and (photo 48); embedded in the wall Little Keigwin) in its historical and adjoining the property to the south architectural context. (Fisherman’s Square) is a pointed- A particular research question was arched doorway. to establish whether the reputed In the particular context of survival of Keigwins following the Keigwins, an 1893 Frith postcard Spanish raid of 1595 is (photo 47) shows what appears to demonstrated in the historic fabric be a late medieval building with a or features of the building. Also, pointed-arched doorway adjoining whether there is any historical or the south end of the Old Standard functional relationship between and facing the harbour. This was Keigwins and the Old Standard rebuilt circa 1900 as a 2-storey- and/or the other buildings that over-basement house (Bay View). make up a large complex of Gwylan House adjoining this to the buildings to the south. Although south was re-fronted circa 1900 but these buildings, and particularly retains much older fabric behind. The Old Standard, are described in Keigwins is part of an irregular some detail, only Keigwins was the group of buildings that surrounds subject of a detailed measured Wesley Square. This is bounded by survey, reproduced in this report. Keigwin Place (photos 1, 2, 35-37) The Context at its north side, Chapel Street at The former Keigwin Arms (3 and 4 its west side, Old Quay Street Keigwin Place - photo 1) is reputed (Portland Place) to the south to be the only building to have (photo 45), and The Wharf (photo survived the Spanish raid on 44) overlooking the harbour to the Mousehole in 1595. It is adjacent to east. Except for Keigwins and the another early building, formerly Old Standard, most of these buildings superficially have a the Old Standard (1 and 2 Keigwin th Place - photo 2), both facing north predominantly 19 century onto Keigwin Place. These buildings character. However, the survival of are conspicuous in Mousehole for stone chimneys to No. 14 Keigwin having retained their ancient Place and No 8 Chapel Street character and interest in what (photo 38) and No 4 Wesley Square otherwise generally has the (photo 42) indicates that these appearance of an 18th and 19th particular buildings are also of century . early date. However, the Mousehole Survey, Number 8 Chapel Street is and further documentary research particularly instructive; its west gable end has been heightened

Keigwins – January 2007 4 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership (‘recently overhauled and the rear of the Old Standard. No 17 heightened’ according to a c.1910 Chapel Street (photo 40) is a rental, ref: TNA) and has what prominent example of fish cellar appears to be a surviving kneeler architecture in Mousehole, stone indicating that the end was appearing as a 2-storey granite formerly coped and probably of cottage facing Chapel Street but some importance. The front wall of with overhanging upper floors this house has clearly been rebuilt, above a basement floor (in the net perhaps as late as the 19th century, loft tradition) at the rear. At the and the house to its east (14 east side of Wesley Square is a Keigwin Place) has two pre-1700 large courtyard accessed via a chamfered granite fragments re- large doorway from the Wharf (in used as lintels over ground-floor what itself may be an 18th century openings. The re-used stonework or earlier range); this must have has the small, dressed and coursed served a number of fish cellars, moorstone (but not quite ashlar) both on the Wharf and in Wesley typical of high status 17th-18th Square, and may indeed be the site century or earlier buildings of the medieval/post medieval elsewhere in the area; like the Old fish-tithe cellars which were in this Standard, in its heyday it would area. These cellars, and all the have looked more up-to-date and foreshore area by the wharf, lie architecturally sophisticated than below a shallow cliff marked by the Keigwins. diagonal path along the east side of Altogether there is evidence that Wesley Square, which may be a the whole row of houses facing fossilised medieval boundary. north along this block including There is now no obvious physical Keigwins and the Old Standard evidence that Keigwins land (plus a former house adjoining the extended beyond its present land Old Standard to the east) are 17th ownership by Keigwin and Little century or earlier, and apparently Keigwin. Although many of the all of some status. properties here were in the same th The overall block of buildings that ownership in the early 20 century includes Keigwins and the Old (especially on the north side of Standard, north of Chapel Square, Wesley Square), this seems to be as face out of a densely-packed and much a result of land acquisition by highly complex group of structures the Humphries brothers, owners of that now cover most of the land Keigwins, and gives few clues as to within. Their tight density is the extent of more ancient relieved only by a number of property holdings. It is unclear, for narrow alleyways and small instance, whether the connection courtyards. between Keigwins and properties The wider group of buildings on the north side of Keigwin Place surrounds the garden (in the (the detached toilet adjoining ownership of Keigwin) that is at the Fairmaids, and indeed Fairmaids itself) is an ancient relationship, or centre of Wesley Square. Many of th these buildings are former fish dates only from this 19 century cellars and net lofts including a acquisition. good example (photos 33 and 34) at

Keigwins – January 2007 5 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership However, although the present land used for kennels; this is Keigwin curtilage only includes a probably not so, but the apocryphal small courtyard and passage at the reference may preserve a tradition rear of the rear wing, and another of extensive land-holding in this smaller courtyard rear of the part of Mousehole. The picture is former through passage, it also confused since the Keigwins leased, includes the garden (at the centre and then owned, the manorial of Wesley Square) beyond. Little rights for this half of Mousehole Keigwin has simply a very small belonging to Manor in the courtyard at the rear adjoining the later 17th/18th centuries. This smaller courtyard rear of Keigwin. would certainly account for a Ownership of the garden in Wesley known connection between Keigwin th Square is apparently long and the Great Pier and 18 century established - this may be where harbour dues. The relationship Borlase recorded a Great American between Keigwins and the slip, Aloe (Agave) blooming in the wharf and ‘little low pier’ at the garden of George Keigwin in north end of The Wharf may be Mousehole in 1758. There may abetter indication of the extent of therefore have been an extensive Keigwin property holding in the ownership of land by the Keigwin area. family in this area, subsequently Richard Keigwin’s property was developed in the 18th and 19th subdivided within the family when centuries as cottages and fish the ‘the convenient and competent cellars. house’ (probably the house that A record of 1746 of rent and became the Standard) was built by schedules includes: ‘Capital John and Martin Keigwin as messuage & malt houses, gardens, required in their father’s will of pier and cellars’ belonging to 1632. The Standard seems to have George Keigwin, gent. The pier included the earlier house (since referred to is either the ancient replaced as ‘Bay View’), possibly south pier of the harbour or a more retained as a service wing, and modest construction that once other buildings attached to the existed at right angles to the Wharf rear (south) and probably also No 4 east of the Old Standard. Further Wesley Square. This building may evidence for an extensive historic have been the one occupied by curtilage is that the site of the Elizabeth Wright ‘a bakeress’ in the 1783 Wesleyan chapel to the south- 1881 census that refers to ‘Nos. 1-5 west was said to have been Keigwin Standard Street’.

Frith view: 1931

Keigwins – January 2007 6 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership Building Description Development and Uses Function Date Keigwins is generally considered to Close examination of the building be the former principal house of has demonstrated that Keigwin and the Keigwin family. This family Little Keigwin are probably the lived in Mousehole from about 1550 result of subdivision of a single to about 1750; they were house, but that that single house is merchants, trading in pilchards and in origin the result of a complex other goods, with boats, cellars, series of phases and developments. seines, pilchard presses, wharfs; It is difficult to place any of these they were property owners, at far back in the Middle ages, and various times held manorial rights analysis of townscape in the in both Raginnis and Alverton Mousehole Survey suggests a manors (the two main holdings in possibility that Keigwins, and even Mousehole), were Cornish scholars, more so the Old standard, are a Royalist leaders and rebels and, at late medieval/early modern times, smugglers. encroachment into a formerly open In 1726 the various manorial rights (market?) area. owned by the family, perhaps with The older architectural features of some property, was sold by James the front building range appear to Keigwin to Uriah Tonkin. However be of a late 16th or early 17th it may be that the old house was century date; the moulding of part of what was sold with other joists in the hall, of fire surrounds, Keigwin property in Paul parish to of the door surrounds to the front the Veale family of Trevaylor in and back passage doorways are all 1752. By the late 18th century the of this rather ambiguous date, and old house had become a public help little with pacing the building house known as the Keigwin Arms, around the locally significant date a use that survived until at least of 1595. the 1930s as shown in old The parlour wing (rear of Keigwin) th photographs. In the early-mid 20 appears to be of slightly later date. century Keigwins was extensively The dating of the rear range renovated by Harris Humphries. In (Keigwin) based on its surviving 1952 a ‘fourth’ sale of land and original roof structure in two buildings that had been owned by phases (photos 19 and 20) may in Harris Humphries including Old its earlier part be coeval with the Keigwin, a store on the opposite original build date of Keigwins, the side of the road to the north-west later part built soon after. The and a garden to the south, was sold pillared porch (photo 1) in front of to become two separate private Keigwin is probably mid-late 17th dwellings. Also in 1952 Little century. Much of the present rear Keigwin (the east part of Keigwins) wing of Little Keigwin appears to was sold separately and the two be of much later date than the properties have been used as front range of the building but its private dwellings since then. east wall clearly contains fabric from an earlier wing including the

Keigwins – January 2007 7 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership remains of a 17th century fireplace may answer some of these (photo 28) in its rear room. The questions. front projecting wing of Little Materials Keigwin is probably early 18th The walls of Keigwins are century based on the surviving constructed of predominantly panelling (photo 26) in its upper granite moorstone and local chamber. These phases are metamorphosed slate/shale rubble. summarised in Figure 1. The granite is the relatively fine- The dating of the various roofs grained browny-pink stone of the within Keigwins is a matter of locality, easily distinguished from considerable difficulty. They all the light grey Sheffield/ show a marked similarity in detail – granite with its large crystals which with lap-dovetailed pegged collars, only really became available after trenched purlins, pegged rafters, the 1850s and which typifies the all in oak. Only the roof over 19th century work in the area. Keigwins parlour appears to be a Granite is used for quoins and door little later, the collars are pegged and window dressings including the to the surface of the trusses, but th original front and rear doorways this is still late 17 century in (photos 3, 7 and 8) and remains of character. The unusual double two mullioned windows (the jambs collared roof over the Keigwin lintels and hood-mould of the Kitchen range is even so former 4-light hall window and the constructed with the same details. sill of a former 3-light window In terms of dating, this presents above - photo 4). Curiously, the 3- problems. These roofs are all of the light head and right-hand jamb same type, broadly late 16th th remains of a ground-floor window century to mid 17 century (photo 5), now the doorway of (examples occur elsewhere as early Little Keigwin, are cut from white as 1579 at Trerice, although there freestone. the purlins are threaded through The roof was largely re-slated in the principal trusses, an older the mid 20th century with scantle form, and at Cullacot in Werrington slate. There is an original dressed parish, dated c.1579). They are granite chimney stack over each also similar to the roof of the Old gable end (photo 1), interestingly Standard, which is to be dated to of a less refined design to those of the 1630s. Yet there is clearly a the Old Standard (photo 2). sequence of different phases to the Keigwin roofs; they may be some or The Old Standard is built of similar all of them pre 1595, or as late as materials to those used for the mid-late 17th century Keigwins. An interesting anomaly is remodelling of upper floors. In this that the larger (hall) window (and context, it is significant that the a small window in its west gable projecting gabled and fleur-de-lis end) is cut from fine-grained decorated lateral stack to Keigwin granite or elvan in contrast with is typical of the 17th rather than the coarse-grained local granite the 16th century. A used elsewhere. dendrochronology survey of the roofs is likely to take place and

Keigwins – January 2007 8 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership Figure 1 Phase plan of standing fabric

Late C16 /early C17 Mid-late C17

C16 or earlier?

C17-C18 c.1700 rebuilt early C19

Late C16/early C17 altered early-mid Late C16/early C17

Early C18 c.1700

Keigwins – January 2007 9 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership Plan/development Some anomalies in the plan and the trusses in Keigwin and to the left or distribution of features within east face in Little Keigwin) and a Keigwins make reconstruction of difference in window design and the precise original plan uncertain, materials between the two ends of and the same can be said of the the building may indicate some rear wings. This is normal for such phasing or at least partial an old building where changes and rebuilding or remodelling. extensions typically complicate The original through-passage space interpretation. At Keigwins analysis is defined by an original doorway at is further complicated by its each end; apart from the fine conversion into two houses. moulded surrounds, a feature of The main range considerable interest is the The present building (Figures 1 and substantial draw-bar hole in the 4-6) is comprised of an irregular east return of the rear door, rectangular plan that encloses a indicating that it led into an open small courtyard, with a 2-storey area at one time. The partition front porch in front of Keigwin and between Keigwin and Little Keigwin a small 2-storey wing in front of is now a thin, doubled timber stud Little Keigwin. The rear cross wings wall which over sails on the upper are two rooms deep. floor. This was almost certainly originally a thick stone wall, The original building was probably th a two-room plan hall-house with a removed probably in the late 17 central through passage, now the century when the barrel-ceilinged main front building range. This plan first floor room was created in form is common in Cornwall in the Little Keigwin. the fact that the 16th and 17th centuries. Keigwins is two roofs face away from this built on a sloping site with its hall, junction point, and that there is an originally heated by a front lateral unusually large spacing of the stack of which the right hand trusses in Keigwin to include the (eastern) jamb survives, on higher thickness of the lost wall also ground to the right (west) end. This indicates that the stone wall hall, distinguished from the rest of probably went up into the loft the house by finely moulded ceiling space - another possible indication joists, has been subsequently split that the two halves of the building into two rooms, the stair hall and are indeed of different builds. the front sitting room; the The passage wall to the hall in fireplace is a later (19th-20th Keigwin would have been a plank- century) insertion into the gable and-muntin partition; the relevant end wall. joist has been replaced (most th A slight cranking of the front wall recently in the 20 century), so no between the higher and lower ends mortices or other evidence survive, of the building combined with a but the two surviving old joists difference in the spacing of the within the cross passage are simply roof trusses and the sequence of chamfered and contrast notably their erection (collars to the right with the fine moulded joists of the or west face of the principal hall. The partition may have been

Keigwins – January 2007 10 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership removed first to create a stair hall Little Keigwin). The lower-end that appears to have origins in the room may have been originally 18th century. unheated, or perhaps more likely The cross-passage with stone wall was heated by a front lateral stack on one side, and plank and muntin like the hall. Such a feature could partition on the other occurs well have been removed to create elsewhere in Cornwall – at an opening into the porch room Methrose in Luxulyan parish and added in front, probably in the th Truthall in Sithney for instance, early 18 century. The main room both late medieval houses greatly now has an inserted fireplace altered in the late 16th/early 17th (photo 23) in its end (east) wall, centuries. This evidence may which has a well-formed flue by- alternatively show that there was a passing the older flue from the gable end wall east of the passage upstairs fireplace, and leading up – a plan form also known elsewhere into a brick chimney attached to in Cornwall (see for instance the the old stone chimney. It would 16th-17th century end entry-passage appear from this that this fireplace th houses of relatively high status is indeed an 18 century insert discussed in Cheshire and Cheshire, cotemporary with the small p 57 ff) projecting wing. The open porch with chamber over The wing at an earlier stage had a was added in front of the doorway doorway in its right-hand wall but probably in the mid to late 17th this is now partly blocked and century, judging by the fairly crude converted to a window opening; th mannerist detailing of the the early 19 century Tremenheere stonework, and the simple but illustration of Keigwins appears not accurately detailed cornice (which to show any opening here at all; survive over the posts, the beams the whole of the building was still supporting the walls are later served by the single main door to replacements scarfed in). Such Keigwin. The present doorway porches were as fashionable in (photo 5) is cut through a possibly Cornwall as elsewhere at this time. original mullioned window. However, the porch at Keigwin is However, there are material and particularly large, presumably to design differences between this accommodate a decent sized window and the original parts of chamber above. The original windows that light the original hall function of the small chambers and the floor above (Keigwin). This above either closed or open anomaly opens up the possibility porches is an interesting question. that the windows fitted to the It is likely that many of these lower end are either of a different would have been the counting (presumably later) date to the hall houses (offices) of merchant window of Keigwin, or that the two houses, later used as dressing ends of Keigwins were designed as rooms or small bed chambers. separate houses but originally Left of the passage, at a slightly served by a common passage. lower level, is what appears to be a The upper floor appears to have lower status room (now within been used mainly as two large bed chambers each heated by an end

Keigwins – January 2007 11 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership stack with original fireplaces fireplace, perhaps and oven or surviving. There may have been a possibly used at some time for small unheated chamber over the smoking fish. The external wall of entry passage. Design differences this wing shows considerable to the chamber fireplaces in disturbance at this point, the thick Keigwin and Little Keigwin may rear wall with the fireplace is simply indicate a difference of distinct from the flank wall, which status between the two ends of the appears to have been rebuilt. building but might alternatively The chamber above the parlour suggest a date difference or, again, (parlour chamber) has no fireplace that Keigwins was built as two visible within the room but a houses. hearth structure visible in the floor Anomalies in the floor structure at structure from below (photo 4) the rear of the hall (Keigwin) may proves its existence to the west be evidence for an original end of the south wall. It is likely staircase in this position; the joist that this was blocked when the ends of one joist in the hall extra fireplace was added to the overlaps with that of one in the ground floor, making use of an rear parlour, suggesting a space existing flue in the chimney breast within the thick wall that once within the chamber above. divided the two wings (removed The relationship of the original th probably in the 17/18 century front roof structure to the roof alterations). Addition of the over the parlour proves that the present parlour wing at right angles parlour roof has been added later, to the rear of the hall, probably in probably in the late 17th century, th the 17 century, may have also the most likely date of its plaster involved the replacement of this barrel ceiling. simple narrow stair with a larger Probably at about the same time a framed staircase, most likely in the plaster barrel ceiling was added to approximate position of the the chamber over the main hall but present staircase; although this th was later removed; the original stair replaces an early 19 century barrel ceiling over the lower-end straight flight of similar (Little Keigwin) bed chamber may proportions, an area of disturbed well date from the same phase of floorboards east of the stair (with work – all three principal rooms wide, early-looking boards) and a being treated in the same manner. remnant plank and muntin screen The Little Keigwin ceiling, once at the head of the stairs suggest th ornately decorated, has been that there was an early 18 reconstructed (photo 24), but the century dog-leg stair in this new plaster ceiling is fastened to position. the original timbers (curve Rear wings – Keigwin parlour wing members attached to the underside The parlour wing has an original of the earlier collars). fireplace (photo 14) to the ground- Keigwin Kitchen wing floor room. Alterations to the th A range parallel to the front fireplace wall in the 20 century building range, at the rear of a revealed an inserted fireplace small courtyard, also runs behind feature to the right of the present

Keigwins – January 2007 12 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership the parlour wing. This range may It is notable that the external have been originally single storey; masonry of this wing lower down in the stack is strongly battered on the part facing the courtyard rear the upper floor – it clearly only of the Old Standard appears to be served a ground floor fireplace; a of an earlier date than the masonry lightly smoke-blackened truss above suggesting that the upper (photo 19) at the west end of this part of the central portions of the range near the stack suggest it was present rear wing is a rebuilding of open to this ground floor fireplace, an earlier wing. yet there is old lime plaster in the The internal decoration of the loft space (which is unlikely to rooms and the roof structure point have been usable living to an 18th/19th century rebuild. accommodation at any stage due to This may be evidence that the the nature of the trusses). This end large oven was originally in a free- may originally have been a standing building, joined by a later detached kitchen, or possibly an insert wing; the lack of any visibly open hall, and of a similar build old fabric over the oven room may date to Keigwins itself; this may also indicate that it was originally a have also or alternatively been a single storey structure. smoking house for the smoked pilchards (fumadoes) which were the main product of post-medieval Mousehole fish trade before the rise of pilchard pressing in the later 17th-18th centuries. Extension of this range to the east has roof timbers with similar carpentry joints but with two tiers of collars and with no smoke- blackening. The ground floor of this wing is largely 20th century in character, the joists are machine- sawn bowtell moulded beams; a stair formerly ran along the rear wall of the adjoining parlour wing (a trimmer joist still runs counter to the main direction of the joists). Little Keigwin rear wing The date of the rear wing relating to Little Keigwin is uncertain. The earliest dateable feature is a stone-built oven (photo 28) probably constructed in the 18th century from an otherwise removed 17th century fireplace structure in the left-hand (east) wall of the rear room.

Keigwins – January 2007 13 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership Description of the Fabric Figure 2: early 19th century Keigwins (H. P. Tremenheere watercolour)

Exterior The front elevations The front elevation of Keigwins is Though much altered, the original the combined result of survival of front wall contains some important original features, alteration and original and/or early features. addition. The most complete feature of this The early 19th century elevation is the original moulded Tremenheere drawing, granite doorway (photo 3), central supplemented by old photographs to the whole front but left of show that prior to mid 20th century Keigwin. ‘restoration’ timber sash or The cyma section inner moulding is casement windows (with thick the only example of this detail glazing bars) had been set in many seen in Mousehole but the recessed of the openings. It is difficult to architrave panel on the face of the know how accurate Tremenheere's frame seems to follow a similar drawing is in terms of what was design theme to panelled features there, rather than being an of fireplaces in Keigwin and the Old imaginative reconstruction, but it Standard (photos 12 and 32) does suggest that much of this The old oak door at Keigwin is change only took place during the double-planked and has diagonal 19th century. The present glazing is th planking to the inside. The entirely 20 century. One old doorway is now framed by a large picture shows the front of Keigwin open porch (with chamber above) with its lateral stack surmounted carried on square-plan granite by a dressed granite gable coping columns (with roll chamfers to the with fleur-de-lis finial, now re-set corners) with square capitals both in the wall lower down. midway to the columns and at the top (rather like two-tier staddle

Keigwins – January 2007 14 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership stones). The general design of directly adjoining the porch these columns suggests a mid or chamber. th late 17 century date for this Much of this front shows signs of porch and chamber. They are rebuilding (the taking down of the reminiscent of columns supporting lateral stack and re-setting of its openings in the 1651 Cromwell’s gable stone, for instance). One Castle on Tresco, Isles of Scilly. reason why the join, if there is The porch is rendered on a one, between the two halves of presumed timber-framed structure Keigwins is difficult to discern is surmounted by a gable with a because it is either hidden by the weathering at the bottom to entrance porch or disguised by resemble a triangular pediment. A rebuilding. 3-light casement window to the Left of the porch is the present front elevation and a 2-light doorway to Little Keigwin (photo window to the left-hand return 5). This is cut through a former 3- wall approximately replicates late light mullioned window that is of th th 18 century or early 19 century different materials, design and windows. Partly within the porch is construction to the hall window a small window opening to the and may be later in date. The right inserted at some time to light window opening above has no the entrance hall. This replaced a remains of stone mullioned window th small 19 century inserted brick construction. stack known from earlier Left of the door to Little Keigwin is illustrations; the whole of the a small 2-storey wing with a former intervening stone pier between this doorway in its right-hand return; window and the porch shows signs this may or may not be of the early of rebuilding. th 18 century, depending on whether Right of the porch is a much- Tremenheere’s drawing of Keigwins restored (and deepened) original is to be trusted. Transomed 3-light window (photo 4) with restored casement windows at the front of king mullion under an original the wing replace former 18th square hood-mould. Old century timber mullioned windows photographs show this window as with casements with thick glazing being partly blocked and fitted bars as shown in old photographs). with a sash window. The wall The present alignment of the below cill level has been removed upper-floor window directly above to the ground and rebuilt at some the ground-floor window is the stage, perhaps to form a large result of ‘restoration’. Old pictures doorway. (photo 49) show that the earlier 2- Left of this window is a re-sited light ground-floor window opening gable coping that originally was off-centre to the left and surmounted the later stack directly spanned by a timber lintel, also above. The original sill of a former that the upper floor was clad with 3-light window opening centred weatherboard at this time; like the immediately above the hall window Keigwin entrance porch, the upper has rebuilt jambs and head. Left of floors have also been slate-hung in this is an inserted window opening the past (photographic evidence).

Keigwins – January 2007 15 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership The rear elevations The external rear elevations retain The ground-floor window to the no in-situ early features such as right of the doorway, constructed stone mullioned windows, but the of finer-grained granite or elvan rear wings of Keigwin incorporate than the other windows, is wider re-used dressed stone fragments. and originally had a king mullion, The original moulded granite rear presumably denoting that the doorway to the cross passage, original hall was at this end. An similar in the details of its rather extra doorway, fitted with re-used flat ovolo moulding to the original chamfered right-hand jamb and front doorway of the Old Standard, lintel, was cut right of the original is now within a small 20th century doorway when the house was toilet extension. Two early 19th divided into two cottages (an 1860 century sash windows survive to Cornish Guardian article noted the the east side of the rear wing of loss of a fine old studded door Little Keigwins (photo 29) but when the house was converted into otherwise the windows are late 19th tenements in about 1840). A small century and early 20th century chamfered window to the right- replacements. hand return is made of There is much evidence of openings granite/elvan similar to the hall having undergone substantial window. The windows in the let th alterations in the elevations facing return gable are 19 century in the internal courtyards –almost all origin – they cut through what was reveal at least one, sometimes a originally the main flue; a large whole sequence of straight joints lintel-like stone below the ground buried in the surrounding masonry. floor window may mark a blocked The Old Standard cellar opening. The front elevation of the Old Elevation details within the rear courtyard of the Old Standard Standard is much more complete th than Keigwins and retains its (photos 30 and 33) display 19 original moulded granite doorway century and c1900 construction and and two ground-floor window features. The rear wing parallel and attached to the front building openings (with mullions removed) th under square hood-moulds, and range is 19 century. three first-floor window openings. The wing at right angles to the east All have lowered sills except the end of the house is at least partly squat 3-light complete and on the site of the presumed former unaltered window curiously located 15th century house included in an at extreme far left of the first 1893 Frith postcard that was floor. This may have served a rebuilt c1900, now called ‘Harbour specific function relating to its View’. An adjoining building to the position overlooking the harbour, right (south) of this, now called although the curiously high position ‘Gwylan House’, has a very low of these upper widows may simply eaves line, and, with clear be related to artificially keeping evidence of the front wall being a the eaves line of the Standard to re-facing of earlier fabric revealed that of Keigwins, emphasising their in the south gable wall seems to relationship as Keigwin properties.

Keigwins – January 2007 16 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership incorporate remains of an early also some original rafters pegged to house. the purlins. Carpenter’s marks Interior match at the joints and follow in sequence along the roof. Arched The interior of Keigwins has been timbers under the trusses are considerably renovated in the original to the barrel ceiling at this latter half of the 20th century but end (but later than the main roof some important original or early structure) but the plasterwork has fabric and features have survived all been replaced. At the higher including floor structures, roof end (Keigwin) arched timbers structure and fireplaces. (photo 17) under the trusses Roofs th demonstrate the former existence Original (or early 17 century) oak of a plaster barrel ceiling here as roof structure (photo 17) survives well. over the front building range and The roof of the Keigwin kitchen over the rear range (photos 19 and wing (photos 19 and 20) has two 20). The front building range has phases of construction, both with four narrow bays of trusses over similar carpentry detail to the front Little Keigwin and four wider bays building range. However, the 2-bay over Keigwin. The trusses have (1 smoke-blackened truss) west end halved lap-dovetailed (or fish-tail) of this wing has one tier of collar collar joints (photos 17 and 19-21) joints whereas the 2.5-bay east end and halved apices. The collars are has three original trusses, each straight and the principal rafters with two tiers of collar joints, and collars are slightly chamfered; perhaps a precautionary some original rafters pegged to the constructional detail stimulated by purlins remain. Some surviving failure of the west truss that now plaster at the west end of Keigwin has a broken rafter to its south is possible evidence that the front side. There are three chimney range of the building may have breasts projecting within the roof been originally open to the roof, space, the one to the north-west although it might equally show use serving the parlour and chamber of the loft space for storage - not above, the one to the south-west unlikely given that the Keigwins corner serving the fireplace(s) in operated a major merchanting the west wall of the rear range and business from the house. The the one in the south-east corner easternmost truss has a much wider relating to the attached house to space between it and the (20th the south (No 8 Wesley Square). century) party wall to Little Keigwin; the extra space is the The roof over the parlour wing appears to be coeval with the same width as the building's main th walls, and indicates the removal of probable late 17 century date of a stone wall east of the cross the plaster ceiling underneath passage that ran up into the roof, (part of which has been replaced). and may even have been a gable The roof structure over the Keigwin end wall. porch was replaced in the later 20th The roof over Little Keigwin has century. good survival of original purlins and

Keigwins – January 2007 17 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership The small projecting front wing of there was once a monolith Little Keigwin has the sawn-off hearthstone that may have had an remains of two original steeply- integral fender originally. pitched trusses but has otherwise The Keigwin rear parlour fireplace been replaced. is similar in its general detail to the Fireplaces others but the parlour wing appears Original chamfered granite to be slightly later in date to the fireplaces survive in Keigwin in the front and rear building ranges and hall (photo 11), the room over the therefore the fireplace, and a hall (photo 12) and the room over presumed blocked fireplace in the the lower end (photo 24) in Little room above, may have been cut Keigwin. Of the lateral fireplace in into the former external north wall the hall only one tall chamfered of the rear range. However, the monolith jamb-stone is visible but chimney breast above these the scale of this suggests a large, fireplaces visible within the roof mostly hidden, fireplace. The space of the rear range appears to fireplace in the chamber above the be coeval with the old roof hall is complete and has carved structure. Perhaps the fireplace motifs within four square sunk position(s) in this part of the panels to its lintel. One of these building have been changed. appears to be a rebus based on the Other fireplaces appear to be later name Keigwin (with a keg forming in date, hidden behind chimney- the central motif) (photo 12). The pieces or concealed by plaster. The fireback is made from a single most interesting remnant is in the piece of granite and there is rear ground floor room of Little extensive survival of lime-wash to Keigwin. This room has the 18th the stonework. century stone bread oven (photo A stone fireplace in the east gable 28) cut into the remains of a end of the main ground floor room former very large 16th/17th century of Little Keigwin (photo 23) has fireplace with remains of an oak clearly been inserted, probably lintel in its east wall; this may be originally in the 18th century as the commercial oven known on the part of the building of the site from at least 1577; there is a projecting wing, which may have blocked door or hatchway from removed a lateral stack. The well- here into hat is now the utility made flue cuts past the fireplace in room attached to Keigwin. This is the room above and exits in its own accessed by the rear passageway brick chimney attached to the into Wesley Square, and may older stone chimney that serves indicate how public access to the only the upper room. The front 19th/20th century bake-house was wing is unheated. arranged. The fireplace in the grand chamber There is another large fireplace above projects slightly into the built within the thickness of the room space and its hearth is north wall of the central room on carried on chamfered oak corbels the ground floor (the kitchen of in the room below. Altered Little Keigwin) but its construction stonework at its base suggests that is hidden by render. However, it is

Keigwins – January 2007 18 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership possible that it was cut into the parlour fireplace was discovered original rear wall of Little Keigwin during renovations in the 1990s; it when the rear wing was first added had probably utilised the flue from or more likely when the present the chamber fireplace above. wing was rebuilt. A doorway cut The large fireplace in the west wall through the original rear wall to its of the rear wing may have early west incorporates some chamfered origins. The original roof truss fragments to its flat-arched head. above the chamber above is slightly A brick chimney above the rear smoke-blackened, possibly from wall appears to be nineteenth being a detached kitchen, or century. possibly an open hall, or former use Fireplaces in the bed chambers of as a smoke-house for curing fish. the rear wing of Little Keigwin Old lime plaster on the chimney have 19th century chimney-pieces breast visible in the roof space with late 19th century iron register above seems to prove that this part horseshoe grates, the stripped pine of the house was once open to the Regency period surround in the roof and functioned as a service central chamber possibly room. architectural salvage. Each of Timberwork and joinery these fireplaces is located on the Original oak ceiling joists survive in south (rear) wall of the room space the front part of Keigwins. Those in (on a different wall to those on the the hall are finely moulded with ground floor). The window position deep cavetto-mouldings and have in the rear chamber tucked right in tongue stops, announcing the the south-east corner and accessed higher status of this room. The by a mini flight of steps is clearly a moulded joists have all been cut design compromise. into and notched for cross-set Keigwin has a small fireplace in the joists for a lowered ceiling at a chamber over the porch, later date, probably when in use as presumably, cut into the front wall a public house. The cross-passage either when the chamber was joists are not affected, so the added and/or when the present timber partition to the passage was early 18th century bolection- presumably still inexistence at the moulded panelling and chimney- time. The joists in the cross- piece (photo 25) were fitted. The passage part of the entrance hall stack has been removed – it was in and in the lower end (Little the position of the small window Keigwin) are chamfered with immediately west of the porch. simple stops. Interestingly, there In the Keigwin parlour wing a are similar joists in the presumed fireplace in the south wall of the slightly later parlour. The joists in upper chamber is blocked and each of these rooms run north- plastered over but is sited near the south. Notches in the central joist south-west corner of the room as in Little Keigwins’ main ground demonstrated by a hearth support floor room indicate a former structure visible in the parlour partition pre-dating the conversion below (photo 14). An inserted of the window into the present fireplace to the right of the present front doorway, but otherwise of uncertain date.

Keigwins – January 2007 19 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership It is clear from other surviving stairs might also be mentioned in features that the house was the this context. subject of a major make-over in One interesting feature of th the early 18 century and many 2- Keigwins, especially noticeable in panel doors with bolection- Little Keigwins, is the amount of moulded or simple fielded panels substantial timber re-used as (and evidence of H-L and cockspur lintels over doors and windows, and hinges) survive. Important early in the opening into the projecting th 18 century bolection-moulded wing. Not only are they of some panelling survives in the chamber scale, and some appear to be of in the front wing of Little Keigwin some age, but many are clearly (photo 26) and in the chamber genuine ships timbers, the above the porch in Keigwin (photo numerous and apparently random 25). Some anomalies in this peg-holes relating to boat panelling seem to suggest possible construction rather than buildings. re-use of this panelling. However, There are also examples of re-used spreading of the framed structure building timbers – notably the large of this wing and associated beam over the side door from the displacement of the timbers must Little Keigwin oven room into the have caused gaps in the panelling yard, a beam formerly over a stud and therefore successive repair partition (elsewhere), and now laid may be a more likely explanation 90 degrees to its original plane. for irregularities. It is likely that Plasterwork the panelling in these rooms is the No decorative plasterwork now remains of a much more extensive survives in Keigwins, but there is scheme of panelled rooms in much historic evidence of a Keigwins. th substantial scheme in at least one A surviving early 18 century barrel-ceilinged chamber (local window seat with raised and tradition says that of Little fielded panelling in the chamber Keigwin), probably 17th century in over the through-passage may be date: evidence that former panelling was 1840. AD. Keigwin Arms. The detailed to represent the different roomy and massive dwelling of the status attributed to different room last surviving member of the old spaces as was common practice in family (the ceiling of the principal good houses in Cornwall and room is ornamented with shields elsewhere. A good example of this containing men’s heads with is No 1 Cross Street, where dolphins and escalope shells. In the three general panelling types one of the compartments is the are used: bolection-moulded Keigwin crest.) The only grandee panelling in the most important of the place had not very remotely room; raised and fielded panelling become the chief Inn of the village, yet the faded portraits on in the entrance and stair hall, and the walls, the gloomy air of many ovolo-moulded panelling in the of spacious apartments and above second parlour. all the decaying walls, on part of The remnant 18th century plank and which ivy had grown, and the muntin panelling at the head of the ancient but now neglected garden proved that the possessor had been

Keigwins – January 2007 20 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership a man of opulence in the village overall rectangular panel) in its almost equal to a feudal chieftain. lintel resemble those of the Ref: GPJC p81. Tales of the West. fireplace in the chamber above the J. Carne. hall in Keigwin, but holes drilled in ‘ancient and somewhat dilapidated the lintel may relate to a former hostelry, which has so very plaster over-mantle. The fireplace certainly seen better days…though moulding is similar to that of the nothing more interesting than a front doorway and also similar to rather curiously ornamented the original rear doorway of ceiling was found’ Keigwins. This is strong evidence 1886, May 13, Natural for the two buildings being of History society similar date, the more pronounced The current ceiling in Little moulding of the openings in the Old Keigwins upper chamber room is Standard, together with its more modern, the thin cornice is likewise ordered design suggests that the a modern replacement, but the Old Standard is slightly later in outline of a much deeper cornice date. However, some caution must can still be made out along the be applied with respect to whether west wall of the room. the hall fireplace of the Old There is also possible evidence for Standard is in its original location. a plaster overmantel in the Old Poor fit between the right-hand Standard. jamb and the lintel may indicate that it has either been rebuilt or The Old Standard -interiors re-sited. The Old Standard retains its An overhanging shelf (photo 34) in original 7-bay roof structure (photo the rear range (photo 33) of the 31) with similar carpentry detail to Old Standard is a good example of the earlier roofs of Keigwins. the type of beam shelf used to At the higher end of the former lodge the beam ends used during hall (west room) there is a very the pilchard pressing that was once interesting and impressive large the staple industry in Mousehole, ovolo-moulded granite fireplace and is an indication of the later (photo 32) with a fireback made of 19th century decline in the status of two dressed granite monoliths. the complex. Three recessed panels (within an

Postcard view, late C19

Keigwins – January 2007 21 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership History Research notes of the history of the 1595: an eventful year according to Keigwin family and Keigwins by Dr the records. ‘On April 8th Richard Joanna Mattingly, Victoria County Keigwin (presumed son of Jenkin), History researchers and John master of Le John of Mousholl, Scantlebury were made available to returns from Weymouth with inform the assessment of the barley, hemp, and stone ropes’. On building. Dates and information July 1st Richard Keigwin had that may be helpful in trying to returned from Bristol on Mounts understand the building have bay boat with cargo of lead, iron, therefore been extracted and grinding stones, trenchers, iron quoted or paraphrased from these pots and 6 cases of glass (TNW, notes plus comment where E1390/1019/33). On July 23rd appropriate as follows: Jenkin Keigwin is killed by 1519-20: John Keigwin is recorded Spaniards and buried in Paul the as being involved in trade in next day (cannon ball that is Mounts bay (research by John reputed to have killed him is Scantlebury). preserved as a relic). This is the 1522: John Keigwin is described as Spanish raid that is reputed to have having 13s land and £20 goods resulted in the destruction of all (Stoate 1985, p12). At this time the buildings in Mousehole except there are only three wealthier men for the (subdivided) house now in Mousehole. known as Keigwins. 1536: John Keigwin is the master of 1616: Jenkin Keigwin’s widow, Margaret of Mousehole and there Thomasine, died. are references to his activities with 1636 Richard (presumed son of this vessel until 1538. Jenkin and Thomasine) died, 1540: John Keigwins is the master survived by his widow, Elizabeth. of the John of Penzance. Richard is succeeded by her son, John, who married Dorothy Borlase 1569: yeomen status is suggested in of Sithney. 1569 when John Kyegwyn is asked “to provide a bow and sheaf of 1639: Martin Keigwin married for arrows at the muster”. the second time 1569: reference in a rent return of 1642: William Keigwin was a the Manor of Alverton to ‘Jenkin royalist leader (and also the first Keigwin’s oven at Mousehole’ Keigwin to be described as a appears be the first mention of a ‘gent’leman). building relating to the Keigwin 1642: John Keigwin born (probably family. at the Old Standard). He was ‘a 1588: John Keigwin’s death and his great master of ye Cornish tongue’. burial at Madron (rather than Paul) Though a native Cornish speaker he might suggest that Jenkin Keigwin also knew Greek, Latin, Hebrew was his son and continued to live in and French, as well as English of Mousehole after John had been course with a ‘new work’. living outside Mousehole. 1644: John Keigwin fortifies the coast on the cliffs by Gwavas Lake.

Keigwins – January 2007 22 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership 1662: first real mention of a house death of George Richards, the that may be the present Keigwins agent for Robert Corker. ‘In ye house of William Keigwin, 1701: and for many years the gen[tleman] in Mowshall -10 references to the pilchard and hearths all stopped up; Mr Martyn herring, and trade with other fish Keigwin 5 hearths’. At this time species, become numerous and William Keigwin is living at St Kew impressive in the scale of parish. In the parts of the present production and export together building that may have existed in with numerous imports of salt for 1662 are 6 possible pre 1662 hearth preserving the fish. It appears that positions in Keigwin and two in by this time the fishing activity in Little Keigwin. Possible further Mousehole with its fish processing early hearth positions in Little and associated exports and imports Keigwin are a probable former is on an industrial scale. (However, fireplace served by a lateral stack by the late 19th century the in the front wall plus any other activity appears to have stacks that may have existed in the proliferated and pervaded the rear wing. There are now six whole village but the pilchard- fireplaces in total, including an processing by then more as a 18th century oven surviving from a cottage industry based on small th th former large 16 /17 century family businesses rather than fireplace. dependence on a major 1664: Martin Keigwin’s house enterprise). (probably what became the Old 1710: the death of James Keigwin Standard) was described as one of seems to mark the end of the the largest houses in Mousehole. expansion of the Keigwin family’s Martin was educated at Oxford fortunes. University. 1726 the main part of their estates 1694: reference to ‘Mansion house (including Paul lands and the in which James Keigwin, senior, did lordship of Alverton) is sold to then inhabit in Mousehole, orchards Uriah Tonkin (Perry p 23). & appurtenances (RIC, HH 17/33) is 1733: letter sent from Keigwin the first really confident mention ‘Manor’ House by Sarah Keigwin to of Keigwins. sister Dorothy Borlase of Castle 1674: Keigwin family (including Horneck shows that not only are John Keigwin, gent), owned 14 Keigwins still in occupation but boats in drift fishing. that the house is considered to be 1692: John Keigwin living in ‘the of importance. higher house’, presumably Keigwin 1738: James Keigwin junior died and Little Keigwin. He later lived in without issue and his brother the ‘lower house’, presumably George occupied the ‘mansion what became the Old Standard. house’, presumably Keigwins. 1699: it is recorded that James 1746: an entry says that rent and Keigwin of Paul parish sold 86 schedules include: ‘Capital hogsheads of fumatoe (smoked) messuage & malt houses, gardens, pilchards. Unfortunately James was pier and cellars’ sent to George never fully paid for this due to the Keigwin, gent. This seems to

Keigwins – January 2007 23 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership suggest ancillary buildings related 1845: description by Courtney to the old house (some of these similar to the previous entry. buildings possibly later rebuilt as 1849: Keigwin Arms put up for sale; the houses that bound part of continues in use as an inn. Wesley Square) 1860: interesting reference to the 1752: the remaining Keigwin Standard when it had recently been property has been sold to the divided into small tenements ‘and Veales (Perry p. 23), and by this unfortunately the ponderous iron time the old house must have been studded oaken door removed’. occupied by others. Before this the Keigwin Arms had 1758: Borlase records the Great been one of five inns in Mousehole American Aloe blooming in the (Perry pp 26-7). garden of George Keigwin in 1873 a Mrs Elizabeth Warren is Mousehole. landlady of the Keigwin Arms Mid 18th century: John Wills 1874 the licence is transferred to acquired Keigwins when sold by the John Edward Trezize uncle of the present Keigwin, 1880 it is licensed in Mrs Warrens gent.; kept it as an Inn. name again 1764 John Harvey, Cooper one of 1881 census: still Mrs Warren, when the founders of Methodism in she is described as a widow with Mousehole, is said to have held four daughters and a fisherman early meetings in his house near lodger, Robert Warren (a relative). Keigwins – possibly the Old Next door was Elizabeth Wright, a Standard – once part of the manor bakeress and grown-up son and house, 2 lofty upstairs rooms, daughter, then 1-5 Standard Street. spacious kitchen and parlour It would be good to know whether (although the Lobster Pot is an ‘next door’ included Little Keigwins alternative site). (that has an oven) or the Old 1783: Methodist chapel built on Standard and its then ancillary land supposedly originally dog tenements. kennels for the Keigwin family. 1895 W.H. Humphries, school 1800 John Wills died in 1800 ‘kept master, of Lynwood, Mousehole, an inn in the ancient mansion of and his brother, a carpenter, the Keigwins’ acquired Keigwins and many other 1812: the house and garden are properties nearby and elsewhere in described as being in ruins and are Mousehole over many years in the sold at auction by Veales. late 19th/ealry 20th century. 1839: survey of the property. 1898: there is mention of A Keigwin 1840: the roomy and massive Arms restaurant run by Henry dwelling of the last surviving of the Pomeroy. Is this part of the Keigwin old family: (the ceiling of the Arms, or within Little Keigwin? principal room is ornamented with 1913: application to Paul Urban shields containing men’s heads Council in November includes plans with dolphins and escallop shells. to replace or build partitions in the In one of the compartments is the Old Standard and approved subject Keigwin crest). to 9 inch partitions rather than

Keigwins – January 2007 24 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership proposed 41/2 inch brick partitions suggestion about the thickness of being constructed. In December of partition walls. the same year the Council were Humphries estate sold off plots unable to compel Mr W H piecemeal 1920s onwards until Humphries to comply with their finally selling remainder of estate 1952.

Postcard view, 1931

Keigwins – January 2007 25 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership Discussion Attempted interpretation of the ‘the Standard Inn’, now the ‘Old building based on its historic fabric Standard’. Based on the assumption and features has added more that this was also a Keigwin house questions that demand answers. then the land ownership relating to This is a common outcome of any the two properties might well have analysis of such an early and extended to include the whole interesting building. Keigwins has block now bounded by Keigwin been subject to a considerable Place, Chapel Street, Old Quay number of phases of alteration and Street, and the Wharf, and has also been the subject of presumably the Old Quay. This successive extension. None of these would have given effective control phases has left a complete record over a substantial area of present of their effect on the appearance day Mousehole and control over the of the building. Generally there are southern half of the harbour. vestigial clues that provide An alternative candidate building approximate dating and changes of that is likely to have existed when function. Even the good survival of Keigwins was constructed and close historic roof structures and granite enough to have been under Keigwin fireplace, doorway, and window ownership are the two houses features present anomalies within separated by only a narrow what might otherwise be safely alleyway west of Keigwins. They considered to be phase 1, the were remodelled in the early 19th ‘original’ building. century but the survival of an early Historical evidence provides clues gable end and the re-use of about prosperity, function and chamfered features provide strong occupancy. By 1662 it is clear that evidence for this being yet another the house had become a substantial survivor. Further, the survival of an residence with ‘10 hearths all early house south-east of the Old blocked up’ in the part occupied by Standard until circa 1900 adds to William Keigwin (a gentleman) and the number of probable pre-1595 5 hearths in a house occupied by buildings that had survived the Martyn Keigwin. The blocking of Spanish raid. Further afield are the hearths was often carried out to remains in the Lobster pot, possible avoid hearth tax that prevailed at the Mouse Hole in Quay Street, and this time, though it is a surprise many other buildings in the village that ‘all’ the hearths are blocked which appear to have at least 17th except that the house appears to century fabric in them, if not have been unoccupied at this time. earlier. Based on this evidence it is Keigwins could have had ten clear that the received wisdom hearths if the parlour wing had that Keigwins was the only building been built by this time and also if to survive the Spanish raid of 1595 there was a rear wing to Little must be challenged, even though Keigwin. Mattingly et all have made a The further five hearths in the convincing case for the level of house of Martin Keigwin perhaps destruction and slow recovery in refers to the house that became Mousehole, the burning of thatch

Keigwins – January 2007 26 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership roofs over stone buildings need not wing): Nos. 8 and 10 Lower Market be a completely destructive event – Street; No 31 Higher Market Street; the long years of ruin were perhaps Nos. 36 and 38 Lower Market as much due to economic decline Street. as the direct effects of the Spanish (1): Mary Newman’s raid. Cottage

With or without coastal raids the Stratton (1): One house survival of early secular domestic Tintagel (1): the Old Post Office buildings within Cornish towns and Week St Mary (1): Burdenwell villages is extremely rare. Towns Manor Farmhouse and villages and their buildings (totals in brackets) that retain This list of about 34 buildings does probable pre-1600 fabric are listed not include houses that relate to below (named where information hamlets like Morval House, next to available): Morval Church, or estate houses Blisland (1): Old Manor House relating to churches like Boconnoc. If these figures can be considered Boscastle (4): At least four houses to be an approximate guide to the in Fore Street survival of pre-1500 houses Falmouth (1): Arwenack House Mousehole fares really well with a (3): ‘Food for Thought’ possible survival of three houses. restaurant (medieval); Place It seems that coastal raids are a House; the Ship Inn contributory factor in the poor Helston (1): Angel Hotel (the town survival of early buildings within house of the Godolphins) certain larger settlements in Launceston (4): No. 5 Castle Cornwall but more effective Street; No. 4 High Street; 11, 13 generally have been changing and 13A High Street; Dockacre fashions and aspirations combined House; Nos 5-9 St Stephens Hill with the ravages of the Cornish Lelant (1): ‘The Abbey’ climate, particularly with buildings of less substantial construction. In (1): Stuart House Mousehole, if the pace of change (1): Taprill House and extent of development during (5): Surcouf Hotel and the 17th and 18th centuries came Restaurant/Albatross Guest House, close to that known to have taken Lower Chapel Street; Smuggler’s place within the village during the Restaurant and Hotel, Middle 19th century it is not surprising that Market Street; The Jolly Sailor Inn, so little survives from the 16th Princes Street; Ye Old Cottage, century or earlier even if the 1595 Middle Market Street; Ye Old raid had not taken place. The Cottage and Weehouse relatively good survival of early (2): Abbey House; buildings in Mousehole may in part Prideaux Place be due to iconic status being attributed to buildings that had Penryn (6): No 5 Broad Street/Nos survived the raid thus preventing 1-4 Eason’s Yard; Nos. 19 and 21 their replacement, at least for a Higher; Market Street; Nos. 27 and long time after the event. 27A Higher Market Street (rear

Keigwins – January 2007 27 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership Results The survival of at least three other recognisably in the early 17th early buildings after the Spanish century, also significantly in the raid brings into question the later 17th century and in the early received wisdom about the 18th century. The results also uniqueness of Keigwins. Also, present a strong argument that its unfortunately, close examination of survival, if pre-1595, is extremely the building fabric has failed to rare in a village or town context in prove conclusively that Keigwins is Cornwall, particularly in such an definitely pre-1595. However, identifiable early form and with some of its architectural features such a wealth of early features. th comfortably fit a late 16 century Dating the building by th to early 17 century date, and dendrochronology (tree ring dating) extensive alterations to its front is being explored during the wall and other anomalies present completion of this report. Some of the strong possibility that some of the roof timbers have been the building fabric pre-dates its assessed for their dating potential earliest architectural features. and a scheme is being put forward. On balance it is entirely possible This method of dating (usually) oak that Keigwins was extensively timbers can be extremely accurate remodelled at about the same time if a fit can be found with other as the Old Standard, built in about timbers with an established dating 1632 if this is the house described sequence. However, a relatively as ‘the convenient and competent small number of buildings have house--’ Richard Keigwin required been investigated in Cornwall so in his will that his three sons, John, far and not all have yielded results. Martin (the native Cornish Scholar) One of the problems with oak and Richard should build together. grown in Cornwall is its rapid The youngest son, Richard was growth due to the wet climate, expected to contribute his producing a smaller number of tree marriage portion to the work, but rings within a given timber girth. became a Penzance merchant Also, the survival of any sequence instead. Anyway it seems likely of sapwood rings is extremely rare that it was Martin who lived at the and consequently a ‘precise’ date house that became ‘the Standard’, can then only be based on an later known as ‘the Old Standard’. estimate within a 35-40 years of The results of this survey disprove latitude added to the date of the the notion that Keigwins was the sample. only building in Mousehole to Under these circumstances, survive the Spanish raid of 1595. although hopes are high should the Unfortunately, there is no current proposals come to fruition, definitive proof that Keigwins even tree-ring dating may not existed at the time of the raid. settle the debate about whether However, the results of the survey Keigwins really did survive the do support the probability that the Spanish raid of 1595! house originates pre-1500 and was successively refashioned, most

Keigwins – January 2007 28 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership Bibliography and sources Primary sources 1790s OS Coastal Defence maps 1809 OS 1 inch survey drawing 1840 Tithe Map, Paul parish 1880 OS 6 inch map 1907 OS 6 inch map 1935 OS 6 inch map Copy deeds and plans made available by Brian and Greta Ashby of Keigwin TNA: Paul Parish Valuation records (TNA IR58/85199) Publications Chesher, V.M. & F.J., 1968, The Cornishman’s House Mattingly, J, et al, in preparation 2007, The Fishing Communities of Mousehole and , England’s Past for Everyone/Victoria County History (This work incorporates all the local history material also separately consulted by the authors of this report). Harvey, P, 1994, Mousehole alias Porthennys, a Chronicle of a Seafaring Community, typescript in Morrab Library, Penzance

Keigwins – January 2007 29 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership Additional Figures Figure 3 Landline Map extract showing Keigwins and Old Standard plus other houses illustrated annotated

Keigwins – January 2007 30 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership Figure 4 1880 OS 6 inch map

Keigwins Old Standard

The Wharf

Medieval building? Wesley Square

Keigwins – January 2007 31 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership Figure 5 Annotated ground-floor plan of Keigwins Keigwin kitchen wing

Little Keigwin – the oven room

Keigwin parlour wing

Yard Little Keigwin – the kitchen

Keigwin – the hall

Little Keigwin – the main room

The cross-passage

Little Keigwin – the front wing

Keigwin – the porch

Keigwins – January 2007 32 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership Figure 6 Annotated first-floor plan of Keigwins

Keigwin Kitchen wing upper floor

Little Keigwin bedroom over oven room

Yard Little Keigwin bedroom over kitchen

Keigwin Parlour chamber

Little Keigwin upper chamber Keigwin Hall chamber

Cross passage chamber

Little Keigwin front wing chamber

Keigwin Porch chamber

Keigwins – January 2007 33 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership Figure 7 Annotated section through Keigwins

Site of stone cross-passage Cross passage chamber

Little Keigwin upper chamber

Hall chamber

Little Keigwin – The Hall the main room

Site of timber cross-passage wall Site of timber partition

Cross passage

Keigwins – January 2007 34 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership Figure 8 Photo location plan. Ground floor 9

(Only photographs of Keigwins are indicated) Photographs of other buildings: • Old Standard: 2, 6, 30-34 • Keigwin Place: 35-38 28 • Chapel Street: 39, 40 • Wesley Square: 41, 42 • The Wharf: 43-46

• Other old buildings; 47, 48 10 14 7

27 8 13

23 1 15

4 3 5

1

Keigwins – January 2007 35 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership Figure 9 Photo location plan. First floor

29

16

12 24

26

25

Keigwins – January 2007 36 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership Figure 10 Photo location plan. Roof plans

19

20

18

21

22 17

Keigwins – January 2007 37 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership Appendix 1: Selected Photographs

1. Keigwin with Little Keigwin and the Old Standard far left

2. The Old Standard

Keigwins – January 2007 38 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership

3. Keigwin: moulded granite front doorway and flanking columns of late porch

4. Keigwin: restored hall window and reset gable coping of former lateral stack

Keigwins – January 2007 39 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership

5. Little Keigwin: lintel and jamb remains of freestone 3-light mullioned window

6. The Old Standard: original doorway (left) and later doorway of reused material

Keigwins – January 2007 40 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership

7.Keigwin: doorway rear of through-passage 8. Keigwin: interior of rear doorway

9. Keigwin: rear wing 10. Keigwin: doorway from rear court to rear

Keigwins – January 2007 41 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership

11. Keigwin: chamfered jamb of hall fireplace

12. Keigwin: fireplace with carved motifs, in chamber above hall: the Keigwin rebus is shown in a plaster cast

Keigwins – January 2007 42 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership

13. Keigwin: remodelled inserted fireplace to west end of hall

14. Keigwin: original parlour fireplace and ceiling with original chamfered joists

Keigwins – January 2007 43 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership

15. Keigwin: hall ceiling detail with moulded joist and stop

16. Keigwin: chamber over parlour with plaster barrel ceiling and 2-panel door

Keigwins – January 2007 44 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership

17. Keigwin: front roof structure with detail of collar joint and evidence for former barrel ceiling

18. Keigwin: roof over parlour wing and barrel ceiling structure

Keigwins – January 2007 45 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership

19. Keigwin: roof over rear range; original smoke-blackened truss at west end

20. Keigwin: roof over east extension to rear range originally with for 2 tiers of collars

Keigwins – January 2007 46 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership

21. Little Keigwin: front roof structure detail of collar joint and brace supporting barrel ceiling

22. Little Keigwin: steep-pitched original truss over front wing under later roof structure

Keigwins – January 2007 47 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership

23. Little Keigwin: main front room with later inserted fireplace (note chamfered joists)

24. Little Keigwin: principal chamber with chamfered fireplace and plaster barrel ceiling

Keigwins – January 2007 48 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership

25. Keigwin: bolection-moulded panelled room over porch

26. Little Keigwin: Bolection-moulded panelled room over front wing

Keigwins – January 2007 49 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership

27. Little Keigwin: principal ground-floor room, moulded corbel under 1st-floor fireplace

28. Little Keigwin: 18th century oven inserted to 17th century fireplace since mostly removed

Keigwins – January 2007 50 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership

29. Little Keigwin rear wing and 19th century rear range of the Old Standard

30. Old Standard: rear range and rear wing rebuilt c1900 on site of former medieval house

Keigwins – January 2007 51 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership

31. Old Standard: original 7-bay roof structure over front range (note lime-wash)

32. Old Standard: moulded granite hall fireplace with panelled lintel, at west gable end

Keigwins – January 2007 52 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership

33. Old Standard: 19th century fish cellar range at rear

34. Old Standard: corbelled beam shelf for pilchard-pressing floor

Keigwins – January 2007 53 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership

35. Context: Keigwin Place and remains of ’s house (rear of telegraph pole)

36. Context: Keigwin Place: late 18th century former fish-cellar building north of the Keigwin

Keigwins – January 2007 54 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership

37. Context: Chapel Street and Keigwin Place: buildings north-east of Keigwins

38. Context: houses west of Keigwins (17th century dressed granite stack but rebuilt front wall)

Keigwins – January 2007 55 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership

39. Context: Chapel Street: probable net lofts over fish-cellars adjoining 17th century house

40. Context: Chapel Street: houses with jettied upper floors to rear

Keigwins – January 2007 56 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership

41. Context: jettied rear at south end of Chapel Street and Wesley House

42. Context: houses south of Keigwins and Old Standard (note dressed granite stack)

Keigwins – January 2007 57 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership

43. Context: 18th century houses remodelled c1900 east of the Old Standard

44. Context: the Wharf: 18th century row of cottages, the central part rebuilt in the 19th century

Keigwins – January 2007 58 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership

45. Context: south-east corner of block of buildings relating to Keigwins and the Old Standard

46. Context: south end of former fish-processing buildings south of Old Standard

Keigwins – January 2007 59 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership

47. 1893 Frith photograph showing (former) ancient house adjoining left of the Old Standard

48. Arched N doorway of house (centre house in previous picture) within Lobster Pot complex

Keigwins – January 2007 60 Eric Berry and The Cahill Partnership

Appendix 2: A3 Plans A3 Plans: ground floor

A3 Plans: first floor

A3 Plans: section