ORIGIN
OF PRIDEAUX,
PADSTOW
and
PRIDEAUX PLACE
THE FAMILY NAME OF PRIDEAUX
It appears that the name of
Prideaux dates back to 1423, when the name was originally "Preaux" or
"de Pratellis", as the names of two Benedictine monasteries of Lisieu
in Normandy. The monk of St.Peter in the diocese of Seez in Normandy came to
England where a scribe erroneously recorded that the new Prior was named
"Adam Prianho", later described, on being succeded, as "Adam de
Pratellis alias de Prydeaux, ultima Prioris ejusdem". Bishop Edmund
Lacey's Register for the small priory of Modbury in Devon so records the six
year stay.
Dr. Oliver and Rev. Geoge C
Gocham record that the name of the family, introduced first to Britain, when
Paganus Prideaux came over from William the Conqueror, was "Preus" or
"de Pratellis", taking the present form from the Lordship of Prideaux
Castle in the Parish of Luxulyan. Pajanus de Prideaux was given the large estate
in Cornwall and built his castle near Fowey. The castle was completed before
the Conquest, Pajanus died in 1080. It has been suggested that the Castle was
"pres d'eau", near the waters, but the name could equally have been
derived from "pre eau", water meadow, this contracts to the
"Preaux" as used by the monks, in fact there was a Benedictine
monastery in Rouen, by the name of "St. Marye Preaux", founded on
land where Matilda the wife of William the Conqueror received the news of the
Victory at Hastings in 1066. Preaux in Latin becomes de Pratis or de Pratellis.
This ties in with the idea the the original British use of the name was Preus.
Sir William Morice was the
Secretary to King Charles II, married to Elizabeth Prideaux [ CS Gilbert 391 ]
Nicholas Prideaux was killed,
at Modbury, during the War 21 Feb 1644.
PADSTOW
The town was known as
Aldestowe from the 11th century to around the 14th century, when "the Old
Place" became Petrock-stow, and subsequently Padstow.
In 836 King Edgar seized the
manor of Pawton, but spared the monks the sanctuary of Padstow.
King Athelstan gave Padstow
special priveleges in 930.
Anciently it was called
Lodenek, from Lanwethinoc, “the monastery of Wethinoc”,
The Domesday book records that
it was Languihenoc / Lanwenhoc.
Quoting Leland in 1535 ...
"the name of Lodenek in Cornische, and yn Englisch" ( mistakenly )
"Adelstow".
Usher says that Petroc was at
Lodenic or Laffenac afterwards Petrock-stow near Padstow.
Padstow was abandoned before
the 11th century, in favour of Bodmin, hence the name given as the "old
stow", Bodmin being the “new”.
Padstow was granted a Royal
Charter in 1583.
PRIDEAUX PLACE
Prideaux Place was not always
so called.
In olden days it was known as
Gwarthandrea;
John Norden refers to Padstow in
his Speculi Britanniae 1605....
"Padstowe or as Mr Camden
calleth it Petrockstowe...-at the upper end of the town dwelleth one Mr.
Nycolas Prydiauxe, in a howse situate on a loftie hill, healthful! for
situation, and pleasant for prospect...."
Joel Gascoyne's Map of
Cornwall, published 1699, shows the house as "Guadrondrane als
Place", with the family name of Predeaux,
Until 1538, the Prior of
Bodmin was Lord of Padstow.
The House was built on the
site of the monastery, destroyed by the Danes in 981, but more exactly on the
site of a manor farm house which must have been part of the Priory land which
Nicholas Prideaux had "acquired" and left to his nephew Roger, whose
son Nicholas inherited in 1581.
The house was commenced 1585.
When the house was built it
was quite simply "Place", meaning, according to some, "palace",
as opposed to a simple house. However, before
Nicholas Prideaux built his new mansion on the site of the monastery tithe
buildings, the area was known as “the playing place” or simply “the place”. It
is from this field name that “Place” got it’s name. With later association of
the family name it became “Prideaux Place”
By inspection of the present
layout of Prideaux Place, and a study of the stone used, the development can be
seen, and it is clear as to which parts are part of the original manor house
and priory buildings.
ABBEY TUNNEL
On the North quay of Padstow
harbour is an ancient building known as Abbey House. A subterranean passage is
thought to have been built between this old Guild House of the Padstow
merchants, dating from the 15th century, and the monastery. Though there is no
evidence for such a tunnel, it is not impossible that such a tunnel could have
been constructed, but the Vita Petroci offers "And to guard against the
possibility of disagreement with his neighbours arising from disputed
boundaries, he surrounded the limits of his lands with very long ditches, dug
deep like valleys, the ruins of which remain to this day...". No such
remains are to be found now, but could not the mediaeval builders have covered
in one or other of these with slabs to form tunnels? This would explain the
“story” and to underline the possibility, there is a recollection that, in John
Prideaux-Brune's time, there was a great pit that opened up in the middle of
the Deer Park.
THE CHURCH
The Church of St. Petroc dates
from the 13th Century, though it is mostly 15th century.
CHAPEL
The conveyance plan of 1742c,
for the area to the West of Prideaux Place, shows that at that time, a chapel
to St. Samson existed, right in the centre of the present access drive. The
access drive is built over shallow graves ( cut out of the slate bedrock).
The road, leading to the front
entrance of Prideaux Place, is called St. Samson Street.
WINDMILL
Edmond Prideaux makes
reference to the windmill in his Cash Book. He also has included it in his
paintings and drawings. John Prideaux of St Cadoc bought this windmill for £100
from merchant Thomas Johns of Newport, Wales, on the 24th Oct 1573.
This consisted of the freehold of “one corne myll called a wyndemyll and one
howse and a clause of ground conteyninge by estimation two Inglishe acres nigh
unto the same myll adjoyninge, with all and singuler their appurtenances
scituat lyinge and beinge in the parishe of Paddestowe aforesaid nigh bie a
place of ground there called the playing place which said myll howse and clause
are now in Inoccupation of the said Thomas Johans”, “at St. Cadyok aforesaid in
the newe dwellinge howse of the said John Pridyaux”.
Humphry Prideaux ( son of Sir
Nicholas Prideaux ) bought, in 1615, properties in and around Padstow, from John
Prideaux ( son of John Prideaux of St Cadoc ), and these included the corn mill
called the 'windemill and 2 acres belonging to it.'