OS Grid Reference: 50°45'N 4°30'W
Name Origin: originally Old English wic dairy farm. The name also refers to the church of St Mary in the village.
LAND OF THE COUNT OF MORTAIN
Richard also holds WICH. Cola held it before 1066, and paid tax for ½ hide; 1 hide there, however. Land for 8 ploughs; 3 ploughs there; 4 slaves. 6 villagers and 10 smallholders. Woodland, 2 acres; pasture, 1 league long and as wide. Formerly 20s; value now 30s. [2 cattle; 8 pigs; 40 sheep; 20 goats. Exon]
A Topographical Dictionary of England, Samuel Lewis, 1831:
WEEK (ST. MARY), a parish in the hundred of STRATTON, county of CORNWALL, 6 miles (S.) from Stratton, containing 782 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry of Cornwall, and diocese of Exeter, rated in the kings's books at £17, and in the patronage of the Master and Fellows of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. In all ancient records this is termed the borough of Week St. Mary, and the occupiers of certain fields are still called burgage-holders. The custom of electing a mayor is still observed, but the office is little more than nominal. Fairs for bullocks and sheep are held on September 8th and 12th. Adjoining the churchyard is the site of an ancient fortress, called Castle Hill.
The Comprehensive Gazetteer of England and Wales, ed J.H.F.Brabner, 1895:
Week St Mary, a village and a parish in Cornwall. The village stands 11 miles NW by N of Launceston, and 7 from Tresmeer station on the L. & S.W.R., with a post and telegraph office under Stratton; money order office, Whitstone. Acreage of parish, 6123; population, 548. An ancient fortress stood on Castle Hill. Fairs are held on 29 July, 15 Sept., and the Wednesday before Christmas Day. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Truro; net value, £340 with residence. Patron, Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. The church is a building of stone and granite, with a handsome tower, and was restored in 1880 and 1887. There are Free Methodist and Bible Christian chapels. There are traces of a chantry founded about the beginning of the 14th century by a native maiden who became the wife of Sir J. Perciva], lord mayor of London.
Week St. Mary is a quiet village about seven miles south of Bude. Its history dates from the time of Domesday when it was probably the religious centre of the district - a Harvest Revel is held every September. The great lady of Week St. Mary was Thomasine Bonaventure, a local shepherdess who was taken to London by a rich merchant. Here she married three Lords in turn, the last Sir John Percival who became Lord Mayor in 1497. When he died she came back to her village home as Lady Bountiful. She built a school which has now become a group of cottages, she endowed a chantry in the church and left the vicar of Liskeard a beautiful chalice.
Associated Families: Berriman Goodman Harefoot Perkin Webb
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