Family history

1204

A ferry crossing between Devon and Cornwall since Medieval times.

1352

William Edgcumbe m. Hilaria de Cotehele = Peter and William (= Richard = Piers).

1485

Richard Edgcumbe knighted at the Battle of Bosworth.

1493

Sir Piers Edgcumbe m. Joan Durnford =Richard (= Piers). Her dowry included land both sides of the mouth of the Tamar River.

1515

King Henry VIII granted Piers permission to empark deer.

1547

Sir Richard (son of Piers) Commenced the building of Mount Edgcumbe House.

1588

The arrival of the Spanish Armada was signalled to Plymouth from St.Michaels Chapel on Rame Head in July.

1644

Colonel Piers (son of Richard) = Richard. A Parliamentary attack led by Captain Haynes during the Civil War. Piers did capitulate to the Parliamentary leader Fairfax in the following year and so succeeded in the difficult task of keeping his family's estates intact.

1742

Richard (son of Richard) 1st Baron = Richard 2nd Baron and George 3rd Baron.

1750

Work commenced on the construction of the Formal Gardens on the site of the former Wilderness Garden.

1779

A fleet of 80 French and Spanish ships sailed into Cawsand Bay. 100 ancient oak trees felled to make room for fortifications on Maker Heights and at Cremyll.

1789

George Edgcumbe (3rd Baron) Granted an Earldom by George III = Richard (2nd Earl).

1839

Ernest Augustus 3rd Earl = William Henry (4th Earl) = Piers (5th Earl).

1944

Piers died - no children Kenelm became 6th Earl = Piers. Kenelm's Grandfather was George, brother to the 3rd Earl.

1940

Piers Edgcumbe (only son of Kenelm). Killed at Dunkirk.

1941

Mount Edgcumbe House gutted by fire caused by enemy action.

1944

110th Field Artillery of the 29th Infantry Div. US Army left from Barn Pool beach for the D-Day landings in Normandy.

1947

Cotehele given to the National Trust in lieu of taxation.

1958

Restoration of Tudor mansion commenced.

1965

Kenelm died Edward Piers 7th Earl (no children). Edward's (formerly NZ) Great Grandfather was George, brother of the 3rd Earl.

1971

865 acres sold to Cornwall County and Plymouth City Councils with the House leased to the family.

1982

Robert Charles became 8th Earl. Robert's father was brother to Edward Piers.

1987

Lease relinquished and work of refurbishment commenced.

1988

House opened to the public on a regular basis.

Further details available in the Mount Edgcumbe House and Country Park Guide Book or for Edgcumbe Family History contact the 'Edgcombe Family Genealogy and History'. Editor: A J C Taylor, 60 Ashley Road, Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 7HB or email alan@efgh.freeserve.co.uk.

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