Cornwall

Nearby places

Madron

The ancient parish of Madron (or St Madron), (Cornish: Eglosvadern), with Morvah is situated in the Deanery of Penwith, and in the western division of the Hundred of Penwith. Named after an unknown saint, this parish is located north-west of Penzance with pleasant views across Mounts' Bay and St Michael's Mount. It was formerly known as Madderne. It comprises two parts: the larger is bounded by Gulval to the north, to the east by the Borough of Penzance and the sea, to the south is Paul and Sancreed and on the west is Morvah. The lesser detached part is bounded on the east, south and west by Gulval and to the north by Zennor. Madron is not mentioned as such in the Domesday Survey of 1086; Madron Church, Tregwainton and Landithy were originally part of the Manor of Roseworthy in Gwinear. However the rest of the parish was taxed under the jurisdiction of the Manor of Alverton.

Its history goes back into the early middle ages. It possesses the mother church of Penzance and the famous holy well of St Madron, where it is claimed many miraculous cures took place. North of Madron is the prehistoric holed stone known as Men-an-Tol, also believed to have had the power of healing. Naked children suffering from rickets were passed through the hole three times in the hope of restoring their health.

Bibliography

The illustrated Story of Madron (entitled Madron's Story) covering the history of the parish has been published by: Bossiney Books, Langore, Launceston, Cornwall PL15 8LD (ISBN 1-899383-48-4).

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Cemeteries

In addition to the churchyard, a municipal cemetery of three-quarters of an acre was formed at Heamoor in 1880. There is also a Private burial ground attached to, but not part of, Wesley Rock Methodist Church in Heamoor; the records of this ground have been recovered and published by Peter Doe.

• The Cornwall Family History Society have published Monumental Inscriptions for:
  • The Parish Church - 194 entries
  • Heamoor Wesleyan Chapel - 369 entries
• War Memorial inscriptions for Madron parish.

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Census

Census information for this parish (1841 - 1901) is held in the Cornwall Record Office. The Cornwall Family History Society offers a census search service for its members. The Cornwall Family History Society have also published on-line census detail by surname on the FamilyHistoryonLine site.

Specific census information for this parish is available as follows:

• 1676. The first census of Madron was undertaken on 5th April 1676. It reads:
  "Complete Census Return, Maddern Parish Aprill 5th 1676.
  1st - We suppose there may be in the Parish of Maddern and town of Penzance...at least a thousand inhabitants.
  2nd - We know None popish recusant among the sayd inhabitants, and believe there are none such.
  3rd - The dissenters and such as obstinately refuse and absent themselves from the communion of the Church of England at such times as by law they are commanded - of this sort we know of but one man."
• 1841. The 1841 Census of Madron (HO107/143), which then included Penzance, is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project as follows:
  • Penzance - Enumeration Districts 1 to 4 [including Schools].
  • Penzance - Enumeration Districts 5 to 8 [including schools].
  • Penzance - Enumeration Districts 9 to 12 [including Schools and Prisons].
  • Madron - Enumeration Districts 13 to 16 [including Workhouses].
• 1851.
  • The 1851 Census of Madron (HO107/1918) (Enumeration Districts 3b, 3c, 3d, and 3e [including the Workhouse], ), is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
    (The Borough of Penzance is enumerated separately).
  • The New Zealand Society of Genealogists have compiled separate surname indexes of the 1851 Census for each Cornish registration district. Entries for Madron are contained in Volume 28. The booklets are available in Cornwall at the Cornwall Centre (formerly known as the Cornish Studies Library), and is also in the Library of the Cornwall FHS.
• 1861. The 1861 Census of Madron is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project as follows:
  • RG9/1593.
    • Enumeration Districts 10 to 13 [including Workhouse].
    • Enumeration Districts 14 to 16 [Penzance].
  • RG9/1594:
    • Enumeration Districts 17 to 18 [Penzance].
    • Enumeration Districts 19 and 20 [Penzance].
    • Enumeration Districts 21 and 22 [including schools] [Penzance].
  • RG9/1595: [Penzance].
• 1871.
  • The 1871 Census of Madron is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project as follows:
    • RG10/2339:
      • Enumeration Districts 10 and 11.
      • Enumeration Districts 12 and 13.
    • RG10/2342: Workhouses.
  • The 1871 Census of Madron is also available from the Cornwall Family History Society.
• 1881. The 1881 Census of Madron (RG11/2345) is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project as follows:
  • Enumeration Districts 10 [including Workhouse] to 12.
  • Enumeration Districts 13 and 14 [Madron - Borough of Penzance].
• 1891. The 1891 Census of Madron (RG12/1857) is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project as follows:
  • Enumeration Districts 9 and 10 (including Workhouse).
  • Enumeration Districts 11 and 12.

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Church History

• Anglican. Madron is the Mother Church of Penzance. Until the middle of the 19th century, the whole of the town on Penzance, and half of Newlyn, were in the parish of Madron. The Christian history of Madron can be traced back to the very earliest days of Christianity in Britain ; no doubt it was a centre of worship in the Celtic Church. In Madron is the ancient domain of Landithy, meaning the "Lan" or sacred enclosure of Dithy. St Dithy is believed to have been one of the companions of St.Ia, who came to Cornwall in the 5th Century. Landithy is close to the parish church, which may stand on the ground where St Dithy built his little church.
  About 100 years later, in the 6th Century, St Maddern came to West Cornwall from Brittany. His name is variously spelled as Madern, Padern, Badern, Patern, etc., and some historians suggest that he may have been a Bishop. He was evidently a man of some influence, and it is his name which is preserved in the place-name of Madron, the official name of the parish which locally is often called Maddern.
  The chief town of the parish is Penzance, which became three separate ecclesiastical parishes during the course of the 19th century. There are other Anglican churches in Madron Parish:
  • Madron Parish Church. The parish church is located in OS Grid Square SW4531; it is dedicated to St Madernus (or Madderne) and is probably the third built on this site.
    A church had been here since the earliest of times. In 1203 Thomas de Chimelly had been appointed to the benefice of Madron for life. In 1309 the Knights Templar had turned the living of Madron from a rectory to a vicarage, which it has remained ever since. This arrangement allowed the church taxes to go to the Order. This income was used for their work in helping pilgrims and building Hospitals. The church remained with the Order until 1540 when it was supressed and its possessions confiscated by Henry VIII.
    A new church was begun during the time of the Templars, and the church building was consecrated on July 10th 1336 by the Bishop Grandisson of Exeter. However it was not finished before 1500 when the north aisle was added. During the early years of the reign of Elizabeth I, Madron Church became a Royal benefice.
    The church comprises a chancel, nave, and north and south aisle. In the base are 3 funeral hatchments: two of which are of the Borlase and Price families. The arcades each have six arches; those in the north are four-centred, those in the south are pointed. The material in both arcades and pillars of of Caen stone.
    The tower is in two stages, the second resting on a corbel table. It is finished with battlements and pinnacles; it contains five bells; these bells were refurbished and rehung in 2005.
    Details about the plans of the modern church are available on-line.
    Further photographs of the inside of Madron Church are also available on-line.
  • In 1379 a Chapel in Penzance near the harbour, dedicated to St Mary, was licensed for Services. This was to remain a daughter church for some 500 years. This is the historic basis for St Mary's parish in Penzance.
  • Heamoor. The Mission Church of St Thomas's was built in Heamoor in the late 19th century as a chapel-of-ease to serve those living in the outskirts of Penzance. The Church of St Thomas's is part of Madron parish and was dedicated in 1892. This Church was licenced for weddings in 1975.
  • Morvah. In 1390 a chapely at Morvah was licensed for Services, and the parish of Morvah has been united with Madron since the dawn of parochial history.
  Madron is now part of the United Benefice of Gulval-Madron.
• Non-Conformist. By 1884, there were five chapels for the Wesleyan Methodists in Madron parish. These were at: the Churchtown, Trenere Road, Tregevera, Boswarthen, and Bosullow. Pictures of Madron Methodist Church are available.
  There was a chapel for the Bible Christians at Hea Moor (Heamoor), and another for the Primitive Methodists in the Churchtown.

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Church Records

The church registers for marriages and burials commenced in 1577; baptisms commenced in 1592. (there were earlier records but these have all been lost). They were kept tolerably well for the first 100 years or so, then confusion set in until about 1700. The records of Heamoor are combined with those of Madron; Morvah records were maintained separately.

• LDS Church Records.
  • The LDS Church batch numbers for Madron are: C001693, E001691, M001691/4, P001691/2. These are searchable by surname.
  • The IGI coverage of this parish is 1577 - 1876.
• The Cornwall Record Office holdings: Baptisms 1592 - 1888, Burials 1577 - 1877, Marriages 1577 - 1870, Boyd's Marriage Index 1577 - 1812, Pallot's Marriage Index 1790 - 1812, Non-Conformist records 1812 - 1837.
• The Cornwall Family History Society have published on-line transcripts of:
  • Pre 1813 Marriages.
  • 1813-1837 Marriages.
  • 1813-1837 Burials
  They also have transcripts of 1909-1953 Marriages.
• Baptisms.
  • Baptisms 1784 to 1901 for this parish are available on-line through the OPC search Facility - (C-PROP).
  • The Cornish Forefathers' Society have published on CD, baptisms 1700 to 1840 for this parish.
  • Cornwall Legacy have published on CD, baptisms (1839 to 1900) of the Penzance Bible Christian Circuit. The Circuit covers Penzance, Sancreed, St Just, Madron, Gulval, St Hilary, Ludgvan, Paul, Sennen, St Buryan, Zennor, Towednack and Morvah.
  • Cornwall Legacy have published on CD, baptisms (1844 to 1900) of the Penzance Primitive Methodist Circuit. The Circuit covers Penzance, Madron, St Ives, Gulval, Lelant, Ludgvan, Paul, Newlyn St Peters, and Towednack.
  • Cornwall Legacy have also published on CD, records of the St Just Bible Christian Circuit. These comprise baptisms (1860 to 1900). The areas cover St Just, Sancreed, St Buryan, Madron, Sennen and Morvah.
• Marriages.
  • The Cornwall Family History Society have published transcripts of: Parish Marriages 1577 to 1837, which is available in CD or downloadable .pdf file formats.
  • Marriages 1863 to 1901 for this parish are available on-line through the OPC search Facility - (C-PROP).
  • Marriages in Madron 1863 to 1903 have been transcribed by Diane Donohue which have now been placed on-line by the West Penwith Resources.
• Burials.
  • The Cornwall Family History Society have published transcripts of: Parish Burials 1813 to 1837, which is available in CD or Book format.
  • Burials 1756 to 1910 for this parish are available on-line through the OPC search Facility - (C-PROP).
  • Burials in Madron 1813 to 1902 have been transcribed by Diane Donohue which have now been placed on-line by the West Penwith Resources.
• Other Non-Conformist Records. OPC Coverage of Non-Conformist records of this parish is available.
• Mixed Records.
  • The First Book of the Parish Registers of Madron, containing compiled baptisms, marriages and burials from the start of the registers in the parish until: 1726 (baptisms), 1678 (marriages) and 1728 (burials), is available on-line in .pdf format. It was edited by George Bown Millett, of Penzance, in 1877.
  • Cornwall Legacy have also published on CD, records of the St Just Wesleyan Circuit. These comprise baptisms (1856 to 1900), Wesleyan Chapel burials (1849-1900), Trewellard Wesleyan Chapel Baptisms 1894 to 1900. The areas cover St Just, St Leven, Sancreed, St Buryan, Madron, Morvah, Botallack and Paul.

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Civil Registration

The parish of Madron is in the Penzance Registration District and has been since 1st July 1837. There were sub-districts at St Buryan and at St Just but these have now been abolished. Parishes within the district are: Gulval, Ludgvan, Madron, Marazion, Morvah, Penzance, Perranuthnoe, St. Buryan, St. Erth, St. Hilary, St. Ives, St. Just in Penwith, St. Levan, St. Michael's Mount, St. Paul, Sancreed, Sennen, Towednack, Uny-Lelant, Wolfe Rock Lighthouse, and Zennor. The Superintendant Registrar can be contacted at: Alphington House, Alverton Place, Penzance, TR18 4JJ. Tel: 01736 330093.

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Description and Travel

• Photographs of Madron are available on-line.

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Description & Travel

• ePodunk's Cornwall page - providing general, plus some historical and genealogical information, about Cornwall and its parishes, together with links (mainly relating to general sites and services, rather than ones that are specific to Cornwall or particular parishes).
• Kelly's Directory of Cornwall 1856 covering Madron.
• Kelly's Directory of Cornwall 1883 covering Madron.
• Kelly's Directory of Cornwall 1893 covering Madron (including Hea Moor).

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Genealogy

• The On-line Parish Clerk (OPC) scheme operates a service to help family historians; the OPC page for this parish is available on-line, from where the OPC can be contacted by email.
• The West Penwith Resources has produced a website for Madron to help family historians.

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Historical Geography

• Alverton (Aluuartona, Alwaretone), Grid Reference 463301.

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Manors

Alverton Manor was in existence before 1066; it comprised the greater portion of the parish of Madron, Penzance, as well as part of Paul and Mousehole.

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Maps

• Map of the Penzance Registration District in which the parish lies.
• An old map of the parish of Madron in the 19th century is also available.
• A map showing Madron in the context of its neighbours is available.

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Medical Records

• 1646 - 32 burials
• 1647 - 170
• 1648 - 48
• 1649 - 19
• 1650 - 26
  (approx figures).

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Occupations

Apprenticeship Indentures for Madron (Register 1759 - 1831, 1732 to 1835 Register) can be found in the Cornwall Record Office.

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Poorhouses, Poor Law, etc.

• Madron parish was part of the Penzance Union for Poor Law administration and parish relief.
• The Penzance Union Workhouse was erected in Madron in 1838 from designs by the Architects G. Gilbert Scott and W. Bonython Moffatt. It was located on Mount View, Penzance, and it later became the Penzance Institution and was closed on the Introduction of the National Health Service in 1948.
• Overseers' Accounts (1757 to 1841), Settlement Papers (1797, 1803 and 1746 to 1837 - Register) and Bastardy Bonds (1769 to 1830, 1717 to 1840 Register) are available in the Cornwall Record Office.

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Population

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Probate Records

• Wills & Admons for Madron parish (including Penzance), 1660-1730 are available on-line.

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Societies

The Madron Old Cornwall Society News Page is on-line.

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Statistics

The parish comprises 5589 acres of land.

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