Boconnoc
Encyclopedia
Boconnoc is a civil parish in Cornwall
, United Kingdom
, approximately four miles east of Lostwithiel
. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 121.
The parish is rural in character and is fairly well wooded. It is bordered to the west by St Winnow
parish, to the south by St Veep
parish, to the southeast and east by Lanreath
parish, and to the north by Broadoak parish .
as Bochenod. The first known owners were the De Cant family in 1268.
The present house was built on the site of a medieval house owned successively by the families of Carminow and Mohun. Lord Mohun's widow sold the estate to Governor Thomas "Diamond" Pitt, a wealthy trader who had made a fortune in India. Pitt founded a political dynasty that included numerous MPs, including his grandson William Pitt
and great-grandson William Pitt the Younger
. After Governor Pitt's death in 1726 the estate passed to his son Robert Pitt
and then the following year to his son Thomas Pitt
. In 1872 Mr Cyril Fortescue of Boconnoc was listed in the top ten landowners in Cornwall with an estate of 20148 acres (81.5 km²), or 2.65% of Cornwall.
The country estate is steeped in history and includes the largest landscaped park in Cornwall. It is home to a cricket team who play in Deer Park. In 1993, the estate was used as a location for the film The Three Musketeers
.
A chapel stood in the hamlet of Trecangate between 1820 and 1954. It was built using cob walls; a sign marking its position was erected in 2009.
, Governor of Madras, and the other in 1772 by Thomas Pitt, 1st Baron Camelford
. The two wings formed an L-shape and the grounds are finely landscaped: on a hill behind the house is an obelisk in memory of Sir Richard Lyttelton (1771). During the 19th century the estate passed into the ownership of the Fortescues who made some alterations to the structure in 1883: therearea some more recent additions and the south wing was demolished in 1971. The parish church is behind the house and fairly small: it contains an interesting 15th century font and a monument to Penelope Mohun, 1637.
and woodland. Parts of the estate are designated as Boconnoc Park & Woods Site of Special Scientific Interest
, noted for its biological
interest.
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, approximately four miles east of Lostwithiel
Lostwithiel
Lostwithiel is a civil parish and small town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom at the head of the estuary of the River Fowey. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 2,739...
. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 121.
The parish is rural in character and is fairly well wooded. It is bordered to the west by St Winnow
St Winnow
St Winnow is a civil parish situated in Cornwall, England, UK. Its name may be connected with either that of Saint Winnoc or Saint Winwaloe. It has a population of 304....
parish, to the south by St Veep
St Veep
St. Veep is a civil parish in Cornwall, United Kingdom situated above the east bank of the Fowey Estuary about three miles southeast of Lostwithiel....
parish, to the southeast and east by Lanreath
Lanreath
Lanreath is a civil parish and a village in southeast Cornwall, United Kingdom. The village is situated five miles west-northwest of Looe. The name Lanreath means 'church of Raydhogh' and it has been known variously as Lanreythow, Lanrathew, or Lanrethou...
parish, and to the north by Broadoak parish .
History
Boconnoc is mentioned in the Domesday bookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
as Bochenod. The first known owners were the De Cant family in 1268.
The present house was built on the site of a medieval house owned successively by the families of Carminow and Mohun. Lord Mohun's widow sold the estate to Governor Thomas "Diamond" Pitt, a wealthy trader who had made a fortune in India. Pitt founded a political dynasty that included numerous MPs, including his grandson William Pitt
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham PC was a British Whig statesman who led Britain during the Seven Years' War...
and great-grandson William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger was a British politician of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He became the youngest Prime Minister in 1783 at the age of 24 . He left office in 1801, but was Prime Minister again from 1804 until his death in 1806...
. After Governor Pitt's death in 1726 the estate passed to his son Robert Pitt
Robert Pitt
Robert Pitt was a British politician who sat as Member of Parliament for Old Sarum from 1705, a pocket borough controlled by his family. He was the eldest son of Governor Thomas 'Diamond' Pitt, a businessman who had made a fortune while in India. Governor Pitt built the family's wealth on his...
and then the following year to his son Thomas Pitt
Thomas Pitt of Boconnoc
Thomas Pitt of Boconnoc was the Lord Warden of the Stannaries until 1751, when the Cornish Stannary Parliament last met. He was the grandson and namesake of the better known Thomas Pitt, and the son of Robert Pitt and elder brother of William Pitt the Elder...
. In 1872 Mr Cyril Fortescue of Boconnoc was listed in the top ten landowners in Cornwall with an estate of 20148 acres (81.5 km²), or 2.65% of Cornwall.
The country estate is steeped in history and includes the largest landscaped park in Cornwall. It is home to a cricket team who play in Deer Park. In 1993, the estate was used as a location for the film The Three Musketeers
The Three Musketeers (1993 film)
The Three Musketeers is a 1993 film from Walt Disney Pictures and Caravan Pictures, directed by Stephen Herek from a screenplay by David Loughery and starring Charlie Sheen, Kiefer Sutherland, Chris O'Donnell, Oliver Platt, Tim Curry and Rebecca De Mornay....
.
A chapel stood in the hamlet of Trecangate between 1820 and 1954. It was built using cob walls; a sign marking its position was erected in 2009.
Boconnoc House
Boconnoc House (Grade II listed) was built in the 18th century by two members of the Pitt family: one wing was built ca. 1721 by Thomas PittThomas Pitt
Thomas Pitt , born at Blandford Forum, Dorset, to a rector and his wife, was a British merchant involved in trade with India....
, Governor of Madras, and the other in 1772 by Thomas Pitt, 1st Baron Camelford
Thomas Pitt, 1st Baron Camelford
Thomas Pitt, 1st Baron Camelford was a British politician and connoisseur of art.-Early life:He was the son of Thomas Pitt of Boconnoc , a brother of William Pitt the Elder, and was born and baptised at Boconnoc in Cornwall on 3 March 1737. His mother was Christian, eldest daughter of Sir Thomas...
. The two wings formed an L-shape and the grounds are finely landscaped: on a hill behind the house is an obelisk in memory of Sir Richard Lyttelton (1771). During the 19th century the estate passed into the ownership of the Fortescues who made some alterations to the structure in 1883: therearea some more recent additions and the south wing was demolished in 1971. The parish church is behind the house and fairly small: it contains an interesting 15th century font and a monument to Penelope Mohun, 1637.
Estate
The estate, surrounding the River Lerryn, contains a deer park, lake, agricultural landAgriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and woodland. Parts of the estate are designated as Boconnoc Park & Woods Site of Special Scientific Interest
Site of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
, noted for its biological
Flora and fauna of Cornwall
Cornwall is the county that forms the tip of the southwestern peninsula of England; this area has a mild and warm climate regulated by the Gulf Stream...
interest.