Tehidy

Coordinates: 50°14′31″N 5°18′18″W / 50.242°N 5.305°W / 50.242; -5.305

Tehidy House, Illogan, near Camborne, Cornwall, depicted circa 1900. This is the neo-classical house re-built 1861–63 by John Francis Basset (1831–1869). Collection of Cornish Studies Library, Cornwall Centre, Redruth
Tehidy House photographed circa 1916
Tehidy House photographed circa 1916
Tehidy House, Palladian building started in 1734 by John Pendarves Basset (1713–1739) and completed in about 1740 by his brother Francis Basset (d.1769). Demolished c. 1861 for re-building in neo-classical style by John Francis Basset (1831–1869)
Tehidy, depiction of a public celebration circa 1800

Tehidy is located on the west coast of Cornwall, England about two miles north of Camborne, two miles west of Redruth, and about a mile south of the harbour at Portreath. The country park was once part of an ancient manor owned by the Basset family which gained much wealth from local tin mining.

Covering 250 acres (1.0 km2), the estate was purchased by Cornwall County Council in 1983. It is one of four country parks in Cornwall.

The park's facilities include an events field, barbecue hire facilities in a specially designated woodland, outdoor education facilities, a permanent orienteering course and a schools and youth campsite.

House

"Tehiddy House, Cornwall. The Seat of Francis Basset, Baron De Dunstanville" (1757-1835). 1832 engraving by John Thomas after T. Allom

The Basset family owned the estate from Norman times. They acquired the manor of Tehidy in the mid-12th century when William Basset married Cecilia, heiress of the house of de Dunstanville. Recorded as 'Tehidin' in the 12th & 13th centuries, its name is derived from the Cornish language 'ti', a house, and a personal name. By 1330, William Basset owned a substantial building but during the Cornish Rebellion of 1497 it was dismantled by rebels led by Richard Pendyne of Pendeen in revenge for John Basset's (then Sheriff of Cornwall) loyalty to the Crown.

In 1734 the mansion house was commenced by John Pendarves Basset and in 1739 Francis Basset took possession of the estate and the almost completed house. In 1861 John Francis Basset commenced its rebuilding, funded by the income from mining and land rents. During 1860–61 his income from Dolcoath mine and the Basset mines amounted to £20,000. The house was complete by 1863. By 1882 Arthur Basset had inherited the estate but because of diminished income from the mining industry it was difficult to finance the estate. In 1915 the mansion was vacated and after 700 years of Basset ownership, the estate was sold in 1916. In 1918 the house became a hospital for tuberculosis sufferers.[1] On 23 February 1919 the house was destroyed by fire but by January 1922 had been completely rebuilt.[2]

Country park

Within the boundaries of Tehidy Country Park, evidence of man's activities can be found dating back many centuries. In the woodland in the North Cliffs area is an ancient earthwork and in Oak Wood, earth banks that were field boundaries can still be seen. The Basset family obtained the "Manor of Tehidy" in the mid-12th century and today's landscape is the result of their activities. Many features created by the Bassets have now disappeared but some relics of the estate can still be seen.[2]

Flora and fauna

The woodland at Tehidy is composed of distinct vegetation layers. Trees such as Ash, Alder, Oak, Beech, Sycamore, Birch, Japanese Maple, Conifers and Chestnut are the tallest, most dominating trees, followed by lower growing shrubs including Holly and Hazel. Typical woodland plants such as Bluebells, Wild Garlic (Allium triquetrum), Daffodils and a range of native ferns inhabit the park as well as many different varieties of Rhododendron. The park is home to, amongst others, swans, geese, rooks, jackdaws, coots, moor hens, grey squirrels, otters, and badgers.

Hospital

In the centre of the park, but now private property, is a large building which was once Tehidy Hospital (sometimes referred to as Tehidy Sanatorium). It was originally converted from the Bassets' home into an isolation hospital for patients with tuberculosis, but in later years also dealt with patients who had strokes, head injuries and various respiratory disorders. Like many old TB Hospitals there were several wards distributed throughout the extensive grounds and the operating theatre was refurbished in the early 1980s although was never reopened. Over the years most of the wards closed and finally the hospital shut completely in April 1988, and has now been converted into luxury apartments. Several new luxury houses have now been built around the former hospital buildings. There is no public right of way through this section of the park.

Basset family lineage

Main article: Basset family
Arms of Basset: Barry wavy of six or and gules

Senior line

The Heraldic Visitations of Devon gives the Basset lineage thus:[3]

Junior line

Monumental brass of James Basset (d. 1603) of Tehidy, Illogan Church

"Here lyeth buryed the body of James Bassett Esquire who had to wife Jane Godolphin ye daughter of Sr Frauncis Godolphin, knight, haveinge 5 sonnes and 5 da'u'hers. He departed this life ye 8th day of February An'o 1603 beinge of ye age of 43 yeres"

See also

References

  1. ↑ Bernard Walke was a patient here and during that time wrote his book Twenty Years at St Hilary.
  2. 1 2 3 Tangye, Michael (1984) Tehidy and the Bassets. Redruth: Dyllansow Truran ISBN 0-907566-97-9
  3. ↑ Vivian, pp. 45–48, Basset pedigree
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Vivian, p. 45
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Vivian, p. 46
  6. ↑ "English Licences to Crenellate 1199 - 1567" (PDF). Castlestudiesgroup.org.uk. Retrieved 2016-08-08.
  7. ↑ Per Vivian, p.46: Licensed kernellare mansum suum de Tuthidy 4 Edward III (Patent Rolls 4 Ed III, membrane 10)
  8. ↑ Burke's Landed Gentry, 1937
  9. ↑ Dunkin, Edwin Hadlow Wise, The Monumental Brasses of Cornwall with Descriptive, Genealogical and Heraldic Notes, 1882, p. 60
  10. ↑ Dunkin, 1882, plate XLVIII
  11. ↑ Who Owns Britain ? by Kevin Cahill

Sources

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