Penhallam
Encyclopedia
Penhallam is the site of a medieval manor house surrounded by a protective moat. It was designated as a Scheduled Monument in 1996 and is now in the guardianship of English Heritage
.
The site is situated in the civil parish
of Jacobstow
in northeast Cornwall
, United Kingdom
, at one mile west of Week St Mary
and seven miles south of Bude
.
The site is a grass-covered ruin showing the complete ground-plan of the manor. The manor dates from the late 12th century and was abandoned during the mid-14th century. Penhallam is one of only four such moated medieval manor sites in Cornwall and it consists of a quadrangle of buildings around a central courtyard.
Some excavations took place between 1968–1973 and the foundation trenches recorded by excavation can be seen as low, wire-framed and turf-covered earth banks.
Historical records show that the manor of Penhallam formed part of the honour of Cardinham, held by Richard fitz Turold in 1087, and by his descendants (eventually the de Cardinham family). The male line became extinct with the death of Andrew de Cardinham in about 1256.
By 1270, Andrew's heiress, Isolda de Cardinham, had given Penhallam to the Champernowne family, who held the manor for the rest of the manor's habitation. During much of the early 14th century, it was occupied by the Beaupre family as tenants. It is thought that the site was abandoned by about 1428 when the land was divided into six partitions.
The manor was originally reached by a drawbridge over the moat. Later on in the 13th Century a fixed stone bridge was built.
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
.
The site is situated in the civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
of Jacobstow
Jacobstow
Jacobstow is a civil parish and village in north Cornwall, United Kingdom. The village is located east of the A39 road approximately seven miles south of Bude....
in northeast Cornwall
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...
, at one mile west of Week St Mary
Week St Mary
Week St Mary is a civil parish and village in northeast Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated south of Bude close to the River Tamar and the border between Cornwall and Devon in the Hundred of Stratton....
and seven miles south of Bude
Bude
Bude is a small seaside resort town in North Cornwall, England, at the mouth of the River Neet . It lies just south of Flexbury, north of Widemouth Bay and west of Stratton and is located along the A3073 road off the A39. Bude is twinned with Ergué-Gabéric in Brittany, France...
.
The site is a grass-covered ruin showing the complete ground-plan of the manor. The manor dates from the late 12th century and was abandoned during the mid-14th century. Penhallam is one of only four such moated medieval manor sites in Cornwall and it consists of a quadrangle of buildings around a central courtyard.
Some excavations took place between 1968–1973 and the foundation trenches recorded by excavation can be seen as low, wire-framed and turf-covered earth banks.
Historical records show that the manor of Penhallam formed part of the honour of Cardinham, held by Richard fitz Turold in 1087, and by his descendants (eventually the de Cardinham family). The male line became extinct with the death of Andrew de Cardinham in about 1256.
By 1270, Andrew's heiress, Isolda de Cardinham, had given Penhallam to the Champernowne family, who held the manor for the rest of the manor's habitation. During much of the early 14th century, it was occupied by the Beaupre family as tenants. It is thought that the site was abandoned by about 1428 when the land was divided into six partitions.
The manor was originally reached by a drawbridge over the moat. Later on in the 13th Century a fixed stone bridge was built.