Harewood House, Calstock

Harewood House was an ancient manor house, built originally by the Saxons, in Cornwall, England. It is located by an ancient river crossing, originally used by the Romans to get to a nearby Roman fort. Harewood Estate is surrounded by old mine workings, so the house faces towards Morwellham Quay.

Harewood House


Arms of the Williams family an Coronet of a Baron
Harewood House
Location within Cornwall
OS grid referenceSX4368
Civil parish
  • Calstock
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townCALSTOCK
GUNNISLAKE
Postcode districtPL18
Dialling code01822
PoliceDevon and Cornwall
FireCornwall
AmbulanceSouth Western
UK Parliament

History

In Saxon times Calstock was in the Kingdom of Cornwall, which resisted the spread of Wessex from the east. In 838 CE Wessex had spread as far as the River Tamar, and a battle for independence was fought near Calstock. Following the Norman Conquest, Calstock manor was recorded in the Domesday Book. The Saxon manor (held by Asgar) was taken over, and in the 14th century became part of the Duchy of Cornwall: one of the 17 Antiqua maneria.

Arms of the Williams family of Scorrier, Vair, three crescents or

At the time of Domesday Book (1086) the manor was held by Reginald from Robert, Count of Mortain. There were two and a half hides of land and land for 12 ploughs. Reginald held one virgate of land with 2 ploughs and 12 serfs. 30 villains and 30 smallholders had the rest of the land with 6 ploughs. There were 100 acres of woodland, 3 square leagues of pasture and 3 pigs. The value of the manor was £3 sterling though it had formerly been worth £6.[1]

Arms of the Trelawny family, Argent, sable chevron

The manor was sold by the Duchy to John Williams of Scorrier House circa 1807.[2] 1807 saw Sir William Lewis Salusbury-Trelawny, 8th Baronet, of the Salusbury-Trelawny baronets, purchase the estate.


St Andrew's Parish

Granite cross

A granite cross at the eastern end of the churchyard marks the grave of Sir William Lewis Salusbury-Trelawny, 8th Baronet, of Harewood House, Calstock, part of Salusbury-Trelawny baronets, who was for sometime the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall and M.P. for East Cornwall. He died at Harewood in 1856, aged seventy five years. Folklore says that Sir William didn't want his body ever to leave his estate and so he was carried in through the back gate to his current resting spot, closest to his estate. Inside the church, just north of the pulpit, are two plaques:

  1. At the top of one is inscribed "Laus Deo" ("Praise God"). Below that is inscribed the names of the four children of Sir William, the oldest living to just 28.
  2. At the top of the other is an image of the cross, inscribed "Beneath The Cross"; below, Sir William and his wife are depicted. Below them is their fifth child, whom also died in middle age.

Modern day

Harewood House has since been changed. The house is now only two storeys tall as the roof height has been lowered. The building is divided east and west by a rather out-of-place looking large stone doorway. Whilst West Harewood House is a single residential property the East comprises two.

References
  1. Thorn, C. et al., ed. (1979) Cornwall. Chichester: Phillimore; entry 5,2,12
  2. "The Rise of the Williamses, of Scorrier". The Cornishman (37). 27 March 1879. p. 8.
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