West Country Tour – St Ive Church – get us to the Church on time … Part 8 …

Jenny had fixed to meet the artist and her husband, and some people from the village of St Ive (pronounced ‘St Eve’ – possibly of Welsh or Persian origin; and not the picturesque harbour of St Ives). 

 

First Rectory and the Church

Sally, who lives locally – obviously found Emily and the local connections via the Museum, the Church and asking around … a great inquisitor … and became interested in Emily Hobhouse’s story.

Gravestones for Emily's parents

Emily was born in the village in 1860 where her father was Rector for 50 years (1844-1895) … she was only able to leave the village once her father had died – he was an autocratic Victorian father.

Stained Glass window in the Church

Sally, who lives life to the full with her husband, is a great artist (though see the collage) – more next year … and having got hooked on Emily – traced Jenny to Vancouver Island … and that was that – we were invited to stay the night: the internet is a great thing.

The restored Organ Pipes

Sally had fixed to meet with a couple at the Church, one of whom had lived in the village all his life … and knew people who had known Emily Hobhouse and those connections.

Jenny was thrilled to be able to meet these parishioners, hear their stories, see all the papers they and the village had relative to Emily and/or her parents.

The nave looking west; the barrel
(wagon) roof

We had tea and scones … but Jenny was absorbed with Dennis and Doreen, and Sally – while they nattered about all things Emily.  It was lovely to see – books and papers all over the place …

Sally’s husband and I looked around the Church – wandering back to the group to ask pertinent questions … and finding out a bit about the history.

The manor of Trebeigh, St Ive was listed in the Domesday Book and has a history of the chequered sort, as well as the peaceful type …

An Armorial Hatchment - that has been slightly
touched up ... I've forgotten further details and thought I'd
be able to find it on the net - to no avail!

King Stephen in 1150 gave the manor to the Knights Templar where they settled, offering refuge and refreshment to pilgrims on their way to St Michael’s Mount in Penzance Bay, which was the point of departure to the Holy Land.

Henry VIII confiscated (1538-1541) the Templar lands – ultimately Elizabeth I abolished the Order of the Estate.  Trebeigh Manor changed hands … but there were stories and traditions about the field below the Church.

A view from the Churchyard across to
 the high point ofCaradon Hill

There might be secret tunnels linking Trebeigh to the Church … and locally Trebeth, as Trebeigh is known, means ‘farm with a grave’ in Cornish – thus giving credence that the field is an old burial ground.

The history is here … Dennis confirmed that the house next to the Church was the original Rectory, and that Emily’s father had lived there before he married.

Where Emily lived - the new Rectory

On his marriage to a daughter of a fairly well-connected and wealthy family … a new Rectory was built across the road.  Which was where Emily was born and where she and her sister, Maud, lived in their early years.

The blue plaque on the Rectory -
an historical marker

The Rectory had passed into private hands, was looking distinctly derelict … and was up for sale – but needed a huge amount of work done on it.

I’m certain the meeting for Jenny was of huge significance and interest … and she would have learnt and taken things in about the Hobhouses that she hadn’t found out when she looked through Emily’s papers – the papers she had inherited from Emily’s nephew, Oliver, her father.

The small permanent notice about Emily - the
bronze statue is locked up.

But what fun to meet up with two delightful couples who could share Emily with Jenny … they were all so enthusiastic – it was wonderful to see …

The church bronze of
Emily - sorry about the
fire-hydrant and
safety messages!

We bade our farewells to the St Ive parishioners, while Sally, her husband, Jenny and I ‘retired’ to their farm house for more discussion, more pouring over documents, papers, books etc … with Sally disappearing off to find more information … and bringing out some of her art work.

The kitchen table stretched out with Emily clutter … more tea was poured out … the nattering began – interspersed occasionally by the cook – Sally’s husband or me with some salient thought …

… Coq-au-vin aromas filled the kitchen space … but we were content … the Aga was put to use … Ralphie, the dog, happily settled at our feet … contentedness abounded.

One of Sally's drawings, some books and a definitive issue South African
Stamp commemorating Emily's death fifty years before.

St Ive sundial (1695)
with the inscription
"Quotidie Morior"
(I die daily)

Wine o'clock came about ...

Friends arrived, dinner was served, our brains too were replete … a good night was said – and we awoke to our next escapade … hurling some stones, building cheeses and doing some archaeological viewing … 

... after another layby stopover for two films!

Hilary Melton-Butcher

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