A cloaked figure gallops on horseback across the cold bleak cornish moorland, he can hear the sound of the pounding sea echoing against the cliffs in the distance. Ahead he spies a fellow rider coming towards him. They meet, both rein in and slow their horses in order to stop and converse, yet when they do it is in a foreign tongue....
Present day; A chilly sea mist rolls in from the cliffs and hangs low over the cottages and farm buildings. In the far corner of the farmyard a rider astride a horse briefly appears in the opaque foggy light. He is clad in a white surplice bearing a red cross which history tells is the mark of a Crusader Knight. His horse stamps and snorts impatiently, breath rising and circling in the damp air. A privileged glimpse of a past memory or a reluctant spirit unable to let go of his earthly domain?
After King Harold was famously defeated in 1066, William shared out Englands` land to those Knights who had fought alongside him. These Normandian Knights became the new ruling classes of Anglo-Saxon Britain, marrying into the upper class families of the time and stamping their architecture and culture firmly onto Britain’s heritage.
Robert Comte De Mortain, William’s half brother was given a large share of England`s lands after his support of Williams` conquest. He received 797 Manors, the majority being most of Cornwall. He became known as the Earl of Cornwall and administered his estates from Launceston.
Cornwall was predominantly Celtic at the time of the conquest and was populated with tribes of extended families living in Round houses, later Long houses, sharing them with their animals. It was these small farming
settlements that developed into Manors under the Norman rule; a cluster of cottages, huts and barns formed a small hamlet
or village. There was often a church and sometimes a mill too. Close by would be the Manor House, a fortified dwelling, the Lord`s desmene, domain. However the Lord did not necessarily reside in the Manor house, instead it could be inhabited by his personal steward particularly if the Lord happened to hold or manage more than one Manor, which many did.
A Manor would have its own garden of vegetables and fruit and the rest of the land would be allocated to the tenants. Each tenant had a cottage and a small strip of land of about half an acre. They had certain rights over the non-arable land of the manor, the common land; here they could harvest a limited amount of hay, graze their animals and if there was a forest they could take wood for fuel and building.
A Manor would have its own garden of vegetables and fruit and the rest of the land would be allocated to the tenants. Each tenant had a cottage and a small strip of land of about half an acre. They had certain rights over the non-arable land of the manor, the common land; here they could harvest a limited amount of hay, graze their animals and if there was a forest they could take wood for fuel and building.
The Manor with its inhabitants formed a self-sufficient unit and the Manors of Predannack Wartha and Predannack Wollas, (also spelt Predannek, Bradeknek, Bredannek, Bradnok Woles) were two such Manors on the west side of the Lizard peninsula. Wartha being cornish for `higher` and Wollas cornish for `lower`, as Predannack Wollas is situated lower down than the larger settlement of Predannack Wartha.
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk search; Predannack
The Domesday Book completed in 1086 records that the Manor of Rosenython (Rosnythn, Rosnithon) near St Keverne was the home of the SENESCHAL family. The Seneschals had been installed there to adminster the local estates for Robert Earl of Cornwall. (Knights, Eude and Hamon Le Sinichal (Seneshall) had fought with William).
1087 Death of William the Conqueror
1090/5 Robert de Mortain, Earl of Cornwall dies
1099 First Crusade - initiated by Pope Urban II - Jerusalem is taken from the Muslims
1100 -1135 Reign of William Rufus brother King Henry 1
1118 Knights Templar are founded to protect Jerusalem & pilgrims journeying to the city
1147 Second Crusade
1154 -1189 Reign of King Henry II
1090/5 Robert de Mortain, Earl of Cornwall dies
1099 First Crusade - initiated by Pope Urban II - Jerusalem is taken from the Muslims
1100 -1135 Reign of William Rufus brother King Henry 1
1118 Knights Templar are founded to protect Jerusalem & pilgrims journeying to the city
1147 Second Crusade
1154 -1189 Reign of King Henry II
c.1165 John le Seneschal, Knight, is reputed to have been born at ‘Predarwolas’- Predannack Wollas. Possibly a son John born c. 1193 - death c.1238
c.1250 Another John le Seneschal is recorded, dies c.1308
Born c.1278 John le Seneschall, Knight of Predannack marries Joan de Kyrnyk of Trigg Manor, Helland, Bodmin c.1300. Joan is the daughter of Sir Oger de Kyrnyk of Helland, Bodmin.
Sir John dies c.1318/21
" Sir John Seneschal b. of Predarwolas, occupation Knight, m. Joane Keningk, b. of Trigg Minor, d. 1 Aug 1349, buried: church, Grey Friars, Bodmin. Sir died 1318.
Joane Keningk b. of Trigg Minor, d. 1 Aug 1349, buried: church, Grey Friars, Bodmin. widow of James Peverel"
All of these Knights could have journeyed abroad to join the various Crusades in the Holy Land;
"A curious little relic, whether connected in any way with the old chapel it is impossible to say, was picked up in the Morryps, by Mr. John Thomas, the present occupier of Predannack. One day, in 1871, as he was taking shelter under a large rock from a passing shower, his eye lighted on a bit of metal at his feet, and on taking it up he discovered it to be a small signet or seal of bronze, bearing in its centre the monogram, K.H.C.,. surmounted by a cross, having a bifurcated base, and the legend running round it VANGIES TOI `Jesus avenge thee`."
https://archive.org/details/mullyonitshistor00harvialaThe Knights who joined The Crusades to the Holy land whether for glory, money or for absolution, were known as the Knights of the Holy Cross K. H. C.
1189 -99 Reign of Richard 1
1190 Saladin unites the Muslim world and recaptures Jerusalem which ignites 3rd Crusade
1199-1216 Reign of King John
1200 Fourth Crusade
1215 Magna Carta signed
1216-1272 Reign of King Henry III
1272-1307 Reign of King Edward II
1291 Seige of Acre Jersalem falls back to Muslims, last Knights of Holy Sepulchre leave
1307 Knights Templar are rounded up and killed by Phillip of France with backing of Pope some escape to sea from La Rochelle and ‘disappear`
c.1305 Margaret Badlesmere de/le Seneschal is born at Predannack to John and Joan, followed by sisters Elizabeth and Joan. But there will be no male heir.
"John le Seneschal, 1278 - 1321, of Predannack Wollas in Mullion, Cornwall, married Joan de Kernick, d.1320, and had three coheirs, Margaret, Elizabeth and Joan.
There is a documented wardship dispute, her mother claimed that Margaret had married during the lifetime of her father, John le Seneschal ("Et quoad predictam Margaretam, filiam et unam heredum predicti Johannis, [Joan]
dicit quod ipsa Margareta non est in Custodia sua, eo quod ipsa maritata fuit vivente predicto Johanne, patre suo..."). As such a claim had to be made, it perhaps suggests a young marriage. MacLean has Margaret's first marriage (c1312?) to James Peverell, who died in 1313, and her second (c1315/ 1320?) to Richard Sergeaux (Cergeaux, Cirieaux). Elizabeth (if she is the same as the sister) m Ralph Arundel of Caerhayes, Cornwall (Vivian: Arundel of Trerice), Joan [of Trenethick in Hendron, m Hill?]
John was the son of John le Seneschal, (1250) - 1308, There was also an earlier John (born c1200? in service to Emma de Cardinham in 1234, CFF ) and a Richard le Seneschal.
Joan, John's widow in the wardship dispute, was Joan de Kernick, daughter of Oger de Kernick, d 1292, of Treneage in Brannel, Cornwall, and his wife, Constance de Bloigho, who was the daughter of Alan de Bloigho and Matilda de Hewis. (It has been said that Bloigho was the Cornishman's phonetic attempt at Blois. It probably sounded something
like Blue You or Blow You.).
A Richard le Seneschal ( brother of John born 1278 ?), rector of Whitstone in 1310, was presented by Oliver de Carmino. An Alice le Seneschal was married to John Petit (b1335?). Vivian has this last under Tresahar. Both he and Boase have Michael le Seneschal as a son of Margaret."
With no male heir the Predannack Manors pass into the ownership of the daughters husbands family of SERGEAUX. Later it will pass by marriage to the Earl of Oxford and the De VERE family. The Predannack Manors were just two of the many estates owned by the Earl of Oxford.
1311 -1315 Great Famine
1327- 1377 King Edward III
1334-6 Sir John Le Petit was Sheriff of Cornwall,
1337 Hundred years war starts England and France struggle for dominance in W Europe
1347/9 Black Death was prevalent
1337 Title of Earl of Cornwall became Duke with the founding of the Duchy of Cornwall. Edward the Black Prince was the first Duke of Cornwall
1375 Sir Richard Serjeaux/Sergeux becomes Sheriff of Cornwall for 3 years
1377-1399 Reign of King Richard II
1377 A Walter Seneshal is a Member of Parliament (family now lived in Trenethick Manor, Helston)
1389 Sir Richard Sergeux once again Sheriff of Cornwall for a year.
1399- 1413 King Henry IV
"Writ 18 Aug. 1400.
CORNWALL. Inquisition. Kilquite 20 Sept
Richard Sergeaux, knight, held in his demesne as of fee the manor of Rosenithon of the heirs of John Roskymmer, knight, by knight service; and the manor of Eathorne of the bishop of Exeter of the manor of Penryn in socage; annual value together £10. He held for life the manor of Predannack of the manor of Helston of the duchy of Cornwall in socage; the manor of Penhale of William Tregoes in socage; the manors of Poldu, Helland, Lanreath, Treninick, and half of Pencarrow, of John Dynham, knight, of his manor of Cardinham by knight service; and the manor of Trefreock of John Rodeneye, knight, by knight service; annual value together £40. They descended to Richard his son by virtue of a feoffment by James Gerveys, John Isaac, Thomas Tremayn, clerk, and John Syreston. Philippa held a third part in dower. He also held the manors of Tremodret of the castle of Launceston, of the duchy of Cornwall, by knight service, and Trevillis of John Herle, knight, of his manor of Tywardreath in socage, to himself, Philippa his wife, and the heirs of their bodies, annual value £40. Also for the lives of himself and Philippa he held the manor of Kilquite (Colquite?) of John Dynham by knight service, with reversion to his right heirs in fee simple, annual value 20 marks. All descended to Elizabeth, Philippa, Alice and Joan, as sisters and heirs of the younger Richard, and were taken into the king’s hands as of the duchy of Cornwall. Three parts should be in the king’s hands, but William Bodrugan, bastard, William Janyn and others entered forcibly, and took, and are still taking, the profits. There is nothing in the king’s hands, nor was in the hands of Richard II. Joan died on 31 July. Elizabeth aged 20, Philippa 19, and Alice 15 [names of husbands as above, no. 35] are her sisters and heirs". In 1400 The Predannack Manors are leased for life to John PEDYT (PETIT, PETYT, PETTIT) whose family seat was Ardevora, Philleigh on the Roseland peninsula. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~petytandnewiss/Ardevora.html
1404 John Pedyt is described as Lord of Predannack, John Pedyt de Predannek.
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_q=lord+of+predannekhttp://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_q=bradnokwoles
There is a written description of Predannack Wartha of this time recorded by Elizabeth Thomas who was the tenant of Predannack in the mid 1800s;
"A great many hundreds of years ago, the De Predannacks lived in some state surrounded by their villeins (- feudal tenant) or villagers as we should call them now. They had their mill to grind their corn, and a chapel and a burying ground said to be the Jarne (- jardin,fr. garden), nearest the vulde (`to fill`, Dutch) close to the orchard hedge."
A record of Religious Licences are granted to the Le Petit family in 1330? 1386, 1401 The 1401 was for their chapel dedicated to St Mary the Virgin in the le Petit`s mansions at Predannack, Rosteague at Gerrans and Molingey at St Austell. The three chapels were re-licensed in 1433.
Below is the the remnant of a Benatura, or Stoop (an ornate decoration for a Holy Water holder) and a small window sill or mullion. In the 1980s both pieces were set next to each other in the fireplace wall. Both pieces are mentioned in the Mullion Guide book, first printed in 1837 as the only surviving relics of an ancient chapel at Predannack that belonged to the Le Pettit family.
" Ancient Chapel at Predannack – This once stood in what is now the farm yard of the manor. There is no record of its dimensions, and the remains of a benatura and some pieces of window mullion, are hardly sufficient to fix its date. "
https://archive.org/details/mullyonitshistor00harviala2011 - ` ...We took the opportunity to look for possible fragments of the medieval chapel at Predannack Manor farm, near Mullion. Predannack Manor farm architectural fragments Renovation works within the old farmhouse allowed us to look for fragments which were reportedly walled up in an old fireplace. With the much valued help of the Glasson family, the former County Farm tenants, we were able to locate some medieval stonework that was concreted into the back of the hearth place. They may have been two parts of an ornamental alcove that held a stoup or two separate pieces of decorative window. They are likely to be 14th-15th century in date from their form. The former tenants were able to inform us that their original location was embedded into the external wall of the farmhouse. It is clear that they were originally removed from the medieval chapel when it was dismantled and re-utilised when the farmhouse was being built. They were then put in their current place in the 1980’s. `
1413- 1422 King Henry V
1415 Battle of Agincourt1422 1461 King Henry VI
1453 Hundred Years War ends – Calais is only English possession on continental Europe
1454 John Petit is Sheriff of Cornwall.
1455 War of Roses begins in England
1461- 1483 King Edward IV
1485 Battle of Bosworth ends War of Roses King Richard III dies
Henry V11 marks beginning of Tudor Reign
1509 King Henry V111
1536-40 Dissolution of the monastries
1547 King Henry death
1558 Queen Elizabeth 1sts reign begins
In 1620 Lord ROBARTES buys the Lanhydrock Estate (which had been a monastry prior to the Dissolution) its lands included the Manors of Predannack and much of Cornwall.
A remarkable book documenting the Lanhydrock Estates through water colour maps;
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lanhydrock-Land-Atlas-Complete-Reproduction/dp/1904880320
Manor of Predannack Wartha
There were 8 Tenements in 1695 -The `white` area to the right is the heart of the settlement
Manor of Predannack Wollas
There were 3 Tenements here at this time. The field strips are still intact today.
A later history of Predannack Manor can be found here;
https://historyofpredannackmanor.blogspot.co.uk