Part of the
Acorn Archive
Penzance,
Cornwall
Architecture
and Heritage
Richard Oxnam
Penzance in
1817
From the 1842
Tithe Map
Mincarlo & Scranton House
The
whole site from Chapel street to the harbour front ( later Coulson's Wharf )
was under the ownership of the Oxnams, from the upper side of Nr 37 to Abbey
Street. The water’s edge can be seen to be quite different from the present day
scene. These two properties were originally constructed as one household.
There
is a brick in Nr 45 (Mincarlo), which is dated 1734. Bricks were brought over
from Holland in the 18th century, as ballast, at various times, and were bought
up and used in a number of houses of the time in Penzance, to great effect. The
precise location of the granite used in the building frontage is identifiable,
when the rocks of Cairn Jenny in the harbour area were removed. The foundations
of the basement appear much older than 1734, possibly the rest of the building
is around 1734, probably built on the foundations of an earlier building. The brick fronted
house (Millett, Penzance Past & Present 1880) at the corner of Abbey street
was “built by one of the Oxnam family; but will be remembered as General
Tench’s house. It was formerly approached by a double flight of steps, which
protruded far into the narrow street. In the construction of the house, a great
deal of the stone from Cairn Jenny was used. Cairn Jenny was a rock or group of
rocks which, of old, was within the harbour, at no great distance from the
Abbey slip. It proved inconvenient and dangerous to shipping and was gradually
removed, though it did not entirely disappear until comparatively recent times.
The stone was famous for making good hones, and now and then some carpenter
alludes with pride to the fact of posessing a bit of the real Cairn Jenny. On
the 23rd January 1796, there was a strong gale from the south and
south south west, with very high tide, and a Bremen ship of about 300 tons,
having with her cable hauled out a post upon the old pier, was stranded near
Cairn Jenny. This misadventure seems to have suggested its removal.”
Considering the family of the Oxnams, it seems the house (one property at that
time) was built by the father of Richard Oxnam (born 1730) and grandfather of
Richard Oxnam (born 1768).
The house
built for Benjamin Batten 1840
on the site of
the bank inaugurated by Richard Oxnam
The
Bank
OXNAM, BATTEN & CO. Established in Chapel St.
1795
Founders : John Batten, William Carne and Richard
Oxnam, merchants.
John Batten d 1810; Henry Boase (Alverton ) became a
partner Sept. 1810; Richard Oxnam retired 1810 and d1844. Renamed BATTEN, CARNE
AND BOASE 1810-1823; Henry Boase retired 1823; John Batten junior entered firm
1823; Joseph Carne (son of W. Carne) became a partner 1823. Renamed BATTEN,
CARNE AND CARNE 1833; John Batten junior d 1834; William Carne d 1836; John
Batten the third, also merchant of Penzance became partner 1834. Philip Marrack
(Newlyn) employed by bank since 1810 left his position as manager, became a
partner 1844; John Batten the third, retired 31 Oct. 1849 and d 1875; Joseph
Carne, F.R.S. d 1858 and his daughter Elizabeth Catherine Thomas Carne became
partner 12th Oct 1858; Thomas Hacker Bodilly, merchant, Penzance
joined the firm 1859; John Josias Arthur Boase became a partner in 1859 and
retired 30 June 1859; A new banking house was built in the Penzance Market, and
opened 1864; Nicholas Berryman Downing ( a clerk since 1848 ) became manager
1861; Thomas Bodilly d 1873, his eldest son Thomas Hacker Bodilly received his
father's share in the business 1873; Charles Campbell Ross, grandson of Joseph
Carne; Nicholas Downing became partners 1872; Miss Carne d 1873 when her
interest passed to Charles Ross; Nicholas Downing retired from the firm 1874.
The grand entrance
This building was, at
one time,
The Office of West
Penwith Rural District Council
Richard
Oxnam
He
was born 20th December 1768 and died at Wellington Terrace, Penzance
on the 23rd August 1844.
He
was the second son of Richard Oxnam, Merchant ( d 1793 aged 63)
He
was married at Madron 12th August 1794 to Mary John
(she
died at Rosehill 26th July 1812, aged 45.
Sheriff of Cornwall 1810
Lieutenant
Colonel of Mount's Bay Regt. of Local Militia 1814.
Ship
owner and general merchant.
Partner
in Penzance Bank. In commercial
difficulties in 1817, and confined for many years in the King's Bench at the
suit of George John, solicitor, Penzance.
Rosehill
Manor was built for him, in 1814 by builder Robert Hitchens.
His
Will shows the property of …
With
50 acres of land; Of Boscaswell in St. Just, being 26 acres in fee simple; Of
the lease of two cellars at Sandybank, Penzance; Of the set of Wheal Reath tin
mine in Towednack; Of the lease of a house at Chyandour; Of the lease of Kerris
in Paul, being 58 acres; Of the Fee of the Long Cellar, Penzance; Of the Fee of
a plot of ground opposite the Coinage Hall, Penzance; Of the Fee of a house in
Chapel Street, Penzance; Of the Fee of 3 meadows at the Minney, being 3½ acres;
Of the reversion of all Regent's Terrace, Penzance and the fields adjoining; Of
seats in St. Mary's chapel and Madron Church. By his Will he left £5 per annum
to the township of Newlyn, and £3 per annum to Mousehole.
John Cornish
John
Cornish (grandson of William Cornish and Frances James) born 29th
Oct 1759, son of Richard Cornish (tin smelter, merchant and seine owner).
[John’s brother Richard Cornish was a lieutenant RN, sailed with Admiral John
Jervis; he died 1786 of a severe injury in that his cheek was cut off by a mast
splinter]. John Cornish was articled to Richard Oxnam senior, later became a
partner in Oxnam & Cornish, coal, timber and iron traders, with Richard
Oxnam, born 1768. John Cornish was manager of the mercantile and banking
business in Penzance, carrying on the business when Richard Oxnam retired. John
Cornish owned St Clare House, which passed to his son Richard Cornish in 1839.
The family were mostly merchants and mariners.
Raymond
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