the hollow log - one-name
TRANSCRIPT
The Hollow Log Page 1
THE HOLLOW LOG Issue 23, September 2004 The Hollow Family Researchers’ Newsletter ISSN 1445-8772
Shared Ancestors but a hemisphere apart These two families have their origins in and around Zennor. The ancestors of the family above moved away from Zennor, first to
Redruth and then to Australia. Those in the family below have stayed there for generations farming the land at Zennor and Towednack
INSIDE THIS ISSU E
Redruth Masons to Melbourne Builders – part 4 The last instalment of the story of Hollow & Sons.
Page 2
The Hollows and Towednack Not only have Hollows lived in the Towednack Zennor, area for a long time but they have had close associations with the Towednack church. Keith Hollow documents these associations
Page 8
Cornish Churches - Towednack A short history by Christopher Norman Hollow
Page 10
Towednack Parish Hollow Records Entries in the parish registers and from
monumental inscriptions
Page 12 Hollow Spotting Spotting has been held over until next issue
▲ Christopher and Mary Hollow with sons Augustus William Hollow
(left) and Christopher Norman Hollow (right). circa 1930
Christopher Hollow, born 1878, was from a long line of Hollow farmers who
worked the land in and around Towednack for hundreds of years. He was a
descendant of John Hollow , also a son of John Holla and Chessen Thomas
who married at Zennor on 26 March 1695. Their story and that of the
Towednack church begins on page 8.
Born in Redruth in 1863 Henry
Hollow migrated with his parents
to Australia in 1879. He married
Elizabeth Whelpton in 1887 at
Queenstown (now St Andrews)
Victoria in 1887. Henry’s forbear,
Matthew Hollow, son of John
Holla and Sarah Eddy, moved
from Zennor to Redruth around
1765. Four generations on,
Henry’s father, also Henry
established Hollow & Sons,
Builders and Contractors. Their
story has been told in the previous
three issue of The Hollow Log.
The story continues on page 2
▲ Henry and Elizabeth Hollow and family from left, Harold, Elizabeth, Edward Charles, Hazel and Henry.
Circa 1922.
The Hollow Log Page 2
Redruth Masons to Melbourne Builders – part 4 In the previous two issues we have concentrated on the
Hollow & Sons the company, now we will return to the
family and see how they lived through the 20th century.
After moving to Melbourne from Adelaide and living initially
in and around Clifton Hill, Fairfield, Kew and Alphington, in
the 1920s the Hollows began moving south of the Yarra
River. Henry Hollow (1835-1901) and wife Priscilla Gray
(1837-1904) saw little of the 20th century it was to belong to
their children and their children.
Clara the first-born child remained a spinster all her life living
with and looking after her parents at “Pendarvis” in Como
Street Alphington until their deaths. She lived on in Pendarvis
until the move to south of the river commenced. Pendarvis is
of Cornish origin but its significance to the Hollows is
unclear.
Ellen (Nellie), the second born, had married Thomas Jeffrey
Rye in 1889. They lived in Surrey Hills and Hawthorn. Rye
became a manager of one of Melbourne’s big department
stores in Bourke Street, Buckley & Nunn. Nellie had two
sons, Samuel Henry (Harry) Rye (1890-1954) and Clarence
George Rye (1893–?)
Nellie’s brothers, Henry and Samuel Hollow had both
married in 1887. (Note, Nellie had kept those names for one
of her sons) The family seemed to enjoy living close to one
another. The early years were spent in Alphington/Fairfield
where the Hollows had three adjacent houses; Priscilla
Hollow lived at Pendarvis and had son Samuel on one side
and son Henry (Harry) on the other. When Priscilla died her
unmarried daughter Clara continued to live there. Eventually
one of her grand daughters, Marie Annette, daughter of
Samuel, and her husband Bill Tolson lived in a Hollow and
Sons house a few doors down the street. They called their
house “Swinside”.
H E L L O T H E R E
It has taken me a while to get this together, what with
being a grandpa and all. Nathan Paige Lowery arrived in
Dublin on June 22. Joy and I were there, well almost, he
came a week early while we were in Scotland but we met
him at 4 days old and spent two glorious weeks with him
(and his parents Jo our daughter and partner Ryan). We
are now long-range grandparents but there are lots of
photos coming across cyberspace chronicling his every
development. Look for a photo next issue.
T H E H O L L O W W E B S I T E
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~chollow/
The database on the website continues to grow, I try to
update it every couple of months.
O D D S P O T
Harold hollow’s eagle eye found a reference to another
Hollow resident of Brighton in the Melbourne Age of
December 27 last year.
“A fellow called Mark Hollow could not have had no idea of what
he was starting when he erected what is believed to have been the first
Brighton bathing box in 1862.”
A recent sale of one of these boxes had just bought
$150,000.
Mark Hollow arrived from St Buryan with his family in
1849 and kept a market garden in Brighton for many years.
C O N T A C T
Colin Hollow edits the Hollow Log, comments and
contributions are always welcome.
Write to 11 Dorothy St. Croydon, 3136, Australia. Or e-
mail: [email protected]
Hollow and variants Holla, Hollah, Hollaw and Hollowe
are registered with The Guild of One-Name Studies. Guild
members who are Hollow researchers are Colin Hollow
(Mem.No. 3056) and Keith Hollow (Mem. No. 3257)
©No material in this newsletter should be produced
without permission.
“Swinside” Como St. Alphington
The Hollow Log Page 3
By 1924 Harry was living in a Hollow and Sons built house at
7 Menzies Ave, Brighton. The house still stands today.
Leaving Como St about the same time as Harry, Samuel had
moved to 7 Aroona St. Caulfield. Which is about 7 km north
of Brighton.
When Samuel lived in Aroona Rd he lived on a double block
and opposite was his daughter Clara and husband Robert
Harkness. His sister Clara lived with him and his wife until
Clara’s death in 1934. Samuel Hollow’s house was called
Cartref. He also owned the block next-door which was his
huge garden. Cartref is Welsh for Home or abode; this was
Mary Ellen’s influence for although she was born on the
goldfields at Sebastapol near Ballarat her parents were both
Welsh.
Samuel and wife Mary Ellen Williams had five children, Clara,
Lillian, Marie Annette, Irene Alexandra and Norman Henry.
The births of the children were spread over 20 years. While
Samuel settled initially in Caulfield he eventually moved to
Brighton too. Gradually Brighton became the family
stronghold. Henry (Harry) moved there first in 1920, and
then son Harold W Hollow bought there in the late 1920s
and Sam moved there from Caulfield in 1940. Samuel’s
nephew, Edward Charles (Charlie) also lived in a Hollow &
Sons built house in Kean St. Caulfield. The family tradition of
living together in an area continued.
Samuel and Mary’s family
Clara Hollow (1887-1945)
Clara was a milliner and married Robert Ellis Harkness, a
surveyor, in 1926. Robert Harkness had served in the
Australian Army pay Corps during World War I and may
have continued to work with the army after the war. He is
remembered as have worked at Victoria Barracks in St Kilda
Road in Melbourne. The wedding party included Irene
“Cartref” 7 Aroona Ave. Caulfield
Clara Hollow’s wedding party taken on the front steps of Cartref, next to Clara are sister Irene and brother Norman
The Hollow Log Page 4
Hollow as bridesmaid, Norman Hollow as groomsman and
two of Clara’s nephews, Mervyn Tolson and Jack Trezise as
pageboys. Robert and Clara Harkness lived opposite Clara’s
parents in Aroona Avenue Caulfield. The house at 12 Aroona
was called “Cregah” after Cregah Rd. in Belfast where the
Harkeness family used to live. Cregah was later sold to Clara’s
nephew Mervyn Tolson, one of the pageboys at her wedding,
son of Marie Annette Hollow and William Tolson. The
Harknesses did not have any children.
Lillian Hollow (1889-1969)
Lillian married Cyril Rowland Trezise a bank clerk, at
Alphington on 10
March 1917. They had
two children, Jack born
1920 and Kenneth
born 1925.
Marie Annette
Hollow (1897-1975)
Marie Annette married
William Tolson at
Alphington in 1918.
William (Bill) was English; he came out to Victoria and
worked in the coalmines at Wonthaggi. He volunteered for
the army at the outbreak of WWI and gained the rank of
corporal in the 14th Battalion.
Bill became General Monash’s
personal signaller and was
with him during the Gallipoli
campaign. They landed at
Gallipoli on the 25th April
1915. He contracted
dysentery and eventually was
repatriated back to Australia.
It was while he was
convalescing in hospital in
Melbourne that he met Marie
Hollow. She was a gifted
violinist and was a member of
a group of musicians who
visited the hospital to
entertain the injured troops.
The meeting began a romance
that culminated in their
marriage on July 9th 1918.
After discharge from the army
Bill Tolson worked for the
Victorian Railways. In his
spare time he pursued his
interest in things electrical at
the Melbourne Working Man’s
College. After gaining his qualifications Bill set up his own
electrical contracting business. The first premises his
company worked from were 14-16 St Francis St. in the city, a
building owned by the Hollows. Part of Bill Tolson’s business
was fire restoration like Hollow & Sons and the two firms
often worked together.
The Tolsons lived in Como Street Alphington, a few doors
down from the three Hollow houses. The house was called
“Swinside” after the town in Cumberland, England, Bill
Tolson’s hometown in England.
Geoff Tolson, second son of Bill and Marie, remembers
living there and having lots of open paddocks to
play in. The streets and footpaths were unmade.
One prank of the Tolson boys (Geoff’s brother
also bill was four years older) was to dig a hole in
the footpath, fill it with water then put sticks
over the hole. On top of the sticks newspaper
was laid then a thin film of dirt. Then boys then
lay in wait for some unsuspecting pedestrian to
step into their trap. Another memory Geoff has
of Alphington was the Williams Jam Factory
nearby. The factory was owned by the family of
his grandmother, Samuel Hollow’s wife Mary Ellen Williams.
The Tolsons left Como Street in the late 1920s and lived in St
Kilda for a short time
before moving into a house
at 11 Otira Road Caulfield,
the next street to the family
stronghold at Aroona
Road..
Irene Alexander Hollow
(1902-1972)
Irene Alexander married
Charles Waghorn Gilbert in
1940. Charles died in 1950,
they did not have children.
Norman Henry David
Hollow (1907-1959)
Norman married Catherine
Avis Nankerville in 1928,
they had one son, Stanley
born in 1931. Norman was
a carpenter by trade and
worked for Hollow & Sons.
He was also a keen
sportsman, tennis in
particular. His sporting
prowess must have been
passed on to his son Stanley
Lillian Hollow and Cyril Trezise
Marie Annette Hollow and William Tolson
The Hollow Log Page 5
who was became a champion Squash player.
Sam moves to Brighton
Samuel’s wife Mary died on March 18th 1931. Samuel married
again to Frances Caroline Dowd on June 17th 1933. The lure
of Brighton must have been strong though and in 1940
Samuel moved to “Redruth”, 31 South Rd. Brighton, where
he lived until his death on March 22nd 1951.
Uncle Sam's house "Redruth" in South Road was just around the
corner and we often called to see him on a Sunday afternoon. It was a
beautiful home that he had built and it is still very much intact as is 7
Menzies Avenue.”
Val Pugh
Sam’s Marriage to Frances Dowd in 1933 was not popular
within the family. Frances had worked for Sam and Mary
Ellen in their home and was eighteen years younger than
Sam. She had been married Edward Thomas Johnston in
1909, a man 21 years older than her. Amongst the younger
members of the family she was renowned for her striking but
unconventional clothes.
There was much discomfort when Sam died at the St Ives
Hospital in Richmond in 1951. His wife Frances and his son-
in-law William Tolson were joint executors of his estate. The
machinations on the board of directors of Hollow & Sons
have been described in the last Hollow Log. Tolson found
himself in a difficult position. He had to represent the
interests of Sam’s estate amongst parties that were in conflict.
His wife and her sisters and brother were not happy with the
claim Sam’s wife Frances had on the estate yet Tolson had to
work with her as joint executors. There was no obvious
successor to the business in Sam’s family. He had been head
of Hollow & Sons since 1901 when his father died. There
were tensions with the other side of the family as well, they
had not been exactly happy
with the entry of Frances
into the family. Little
wonder the issues were not
quickly resolved. Tolson
was truly between a rock
and a hard place. A truce of
sorts must have been
struck, as Frances remained
a director until 1959 when
she sold her shares to
Harold W Hollow. She
moved out of “Redruth”
about this time too.
Frances died in 1973 aged
90.
Henry (Harry) and Elizabeth’s Family
Henry married Elizabeth at Queenstown (now St Andrews)
an outer suburb of Melbourne over 30 kilometres from
where he lived. He is believed to have met his wife while
visiting his Uncle George a lay preacher in that area. George
later became an Anglican clergyman. After moving to
Brighton Henry (Harry) and wife Elizabeth went on an
overseas trip in 1922. They visited England, Cornwall, and
Switzerland amongst other places.
Falmouth was one place in Cornwall they visited, possibly to
meet Henry’s aunt Mary Ingram (nee Hollow) who lived
there and was the only one of Henry’s father’s siblings who
did not migrate to Australia.
The house at Menzies Avenue was built of red brick and
quite large. Elizabeth’s mother lived with them for most of
their married life.
Elizabeth had been a country girl and was a horsewoman.
This interest continued in Brighton where she kept a horse
and rode out in full equestrian gear. Harry died unexpectedly
on May 5th 1928.
His granddaughter Valda says,
“Apparently he sat in his favourite chair after lunch one Sunday, the
maid thought he was asleep and drew the blinds. Unfortunately, he had
sat there and died. The family was deeply traumatised, as was my
grandmother, as he was greatly loved. As children we were never allowed
to play his special song, "Love's old Sweet Song" on their player piano.
I don't think that song was ever played in their house in Menzies
Avenue again. My grandmother, Elizabeth lived on at 7 Menzies
Avenue, Brighton Beach until she died in 1942. She was left very
comfortably and always had a driver/handyman employed to drive her
about and always had a maid in the house as we did in our early days.
My grandmother was a very good sportswoman. She apparently was an
excellent horsewoman as her father
was a farmer in Queenstown.
According to my father she used to go
to the beach to swim every morning of
the year winter and summer.
Elizabeth’s grandchildren
would often visit her on a
Sunday at Menzies Avenue.
Part of the pleasure was getting
pocket money from their
grandmother, two shillings
each. Although two of her
grandchildren were twins, Valda
and Wylma, and they had to
share two shillings. Being twins
had its down side. The Hollow house at 7 Menzies Ave. Brighton
The Hollow Log Page 6
The family
Hazel Hollow (1888 – 1964)
Hazel married Richard Norman Trevena at Sunshine,
Victoria in 1914, before the move to Brighton. They had
three children, Nancy Margaret, born 1916, Hazel Gwenneth,
b. 1920 and Lorna, b 1921.
Harold Whelpton Hollow (1889 – 1962)
Harold Whelpton Hollow was 26 when he enlisted in the
Australian Army in Melbourne on August 17 1915. He was 5’
6¾” and weighed 11 stone. He entered the 23rd Depot
Battalion at Royal Park a month later. He was a driver and
embarked for Egypt on May 8th 1916 and was attached to
headquarters of the Australian Service Corps. Eventually he
was transferred to the 2nd Light Horse Brigade. He was
promoted to through the ranks
and became a Staff Sergeant.
After the war had ended he was
sent on leave to England and
eventually returned to Australia
on the “Aenus” on January 20th
1920.
Harold Married Gwendoline
Mary Hughes in 1923. Their first
home was at 271 Beaconsfield
Parade South Melbourne after
two years they moved to Highett
Grove Moorabbin and then in
1927 to 20 Gray Street Brighton.
They had two children, Gwladys
Beth, born 1929 and Harold
Hughes, b. 1932.
Glwadys and Harold’s childhood
was spent at Gray Street at a time
when the milkman, butcher,
iceman, grocer and fruiterer still
made home deliveries, often in
horse drawn carts. They
remember also the Chinese
Market Gardeners travelling along New Street taking their
produce to market.
Their house was close to the Melbourne Orphanage. The
orphanage had been transferred to Brighton from central
Melbourne and occupied 17 hectares at the end of their
street. In later years their father Harold was “Father
Christmas” for the orphanage Christmas party. His wife
Gwendoline would supply the cakes and sandwiches for the
party. He would arrive as Santa in his Dodge car. Gwlad still
has the costume he used to wear.
Life in Brighton was very much beach orientated. After
school and especially during the summer holidays, the
children were regulars at the Brighton Beach baths and used
to fish from the jetty next to the baths. Often their cousins,
Calvin, Valda, and Wylma from Caulfield joined them.
Another great memory is the Sunday school picnics, held at
Rickett’s Point at Beaumaris a suburb about 7 kilometres
further around the Bay. One of the highlights was the trip to
the picnic in the old fashioned Charabanc.
At that time there was a tunnel under Beach Road linking the
railway station to the pier. It had been built originally to
enable coal, unloaded from boats at the pier, to be carried to
the railway station to fuel steam trains. Bay excursion tourists
used the tunnel too. They would leave the excursion steamers
at Brighton and take the train back to Melbourne or the tram
along Beach road to St Kilda.
The tunnel has been filled in
but the stone structure is still
visible.
Both Gwladys and Harold went
to Primary School at a local
private school, St Leonards.
One vivid memory they have is
of a polio epidemic. The
authorities in an effort to halt
the epidemic suspended school
so they had a month or so at
home. Harold left after grade 3
to go to Brighton Grammar
School where he finished his
schooling. Gwlad stayed at St
Leonards until she completed
grade 6 and then went on to
Firbank Girls Grammar School
in Brighton.
Harold Hollow did a lot of trips
around the suburbs and into
country Victoria to inspect
buildings after fires to quote on
damages. Fire restoration was a major part of the business.
Gwladys remembers her brother Harold being fascinated by a
fire demonstration at the Eastern Hill fire station in
Melbourne. So fascinated that he started his own fire at
home, setting fire to the shed in the back yard. Young Harold
eventually began working for the company and remembers
commencing work on sites were the embers were still
burning.
In 1940 the family moved to 7 Cairnes Crescent Brighton. In
1960 Harold and Gwendoline moved to 36 New Street
Brighton. The Cairnes Crescent house remained in the family
Harold Whelpton Hollow
The Hollow Log Page 7
though, it became the home of their daughter Gwladys and
her husband Bob Jeavons. 36 New Street was a block of flats
built by Hollow and Sons; they are still there today although
more flats have been added to the original building.
Edward Charles Hollow (1896 – 1971)
Edward Charles, known as Charles, married Maria Winnifred
(Winnie) Holloway in 1924. They moved into a Hollow &
Sons built house at 23 Kean Street
Caulfield a few months after they were
married and it remained their family
home for the rest of their lives. The
house was a Californian Bungalow
styled house built of weatherboards.
Weatherboards on the advice of
Charles’ father, he considered it
healthier for the Caulfield area, which
was swampy in many parts. In fact
“From Sand, Swamp and Heath” is the
title of a book on Caulfield’s early days.
The house was built on a grand scale
however and the cost in 1924 was
£1282. Daughter Valda still has the
original receipt.
Charles was not involved in the
building business; he had a job with a company in Flinders
Lane as a commercial traveller selling imported flowers and
lace to milliners. Flinders Lane was the home of the fashion
industry in Melbourne. Charles took pride in his appearance
and always dressed well, he even wore a tie while gardening.
Millinery was big business in those days, most people went to
church and ladies would not consider going without a hat.
Nor would they go to the city shopping without a hat,
handbag and gloves. It was Winnie Hollow’s habit to go
shopping to the city each
Friday.
Charles and Winnie had three
children, Henry Calvin, born
1926, and twins Valda and
Wylma, born 1929.
Growing up in Caulfield,
Valda reflects
“You wondered what it was like to
live in Caulfield when I was
growing up. We were very happy
there. We were brought up in the
days when neighbours all knew one
another. I do not think there was
a house in Kean Street that we
could not have named the family
who lived there. The week-ends were taken up with Dad doing the
garden and we (my brother Calvin, my sister and I went off the Sunday
school at the Church of England. We then would be picked up and we
would go off to Hampton and Brighton Beach to my mother's relatives in
Hampton and my father's relatives in Brighton Beach for afternoon tea.
Of course in the hot weather we would go to Hampton Beach or
Brighton Beach for a swim. We had a bathing box in Hampton, which
we enjoyed very much. We often would stay on at the beach for tea if it
was hot enough.
We loved to get to see our cousins in Brighton Beach and also visited
Grandma in Menzies Avenue. I remember very well taking a sugar
lump from the sugar scuttle as we passed the autotray.
However, back to Caulfield. In the 30's of course were the days when
the milk was delivered daily by the milkman in the early hours of the
morning. We would leave a "billy" out on the front verandah and the
milkman would scoop out the milk with a large ladle from a milk can.
We also had the bread delivered by
the baker who would carry the bread
in a large basket with a tea towel
over the top and you could just
choose what bread you wanted for
that day from the back door. The
iceman also called to bring the ice for
the ice chest in the summer and that
same man brought wood for the fire
in the winter. I remember having a
maid whilst we were at primary
school but that all changed when the
war came because there were jobs a-
plenty for the likes of the young
maid. She lived in as I remember.
During the war my father joined the
Auxiliary Police Force and would
Charles and Winnie Hollow’s house at 23 Kean St Caulfield
Edward Charles Hollow in cricketing gear
The Hollow Log Page 8
often be called out at night if there was an alert due to an unidentified
aircraft in the area or some such thing. His job was to control traffic
and make sure lights were not showing from the houses during the
"brown-out". They were very dark days.
We attended the local State school until the sixth grade when my brother
went on to Caulfield Grammar School and my sister and I went to Mac
Robertson Girls' High School. We always walked to the local school
often home for lunch and back again. My father travelled to the city
every day by tram. In those days he could go to the city for sixpence per
trip. The car only came out of the garage on Sundays I think. During
the war the Hollows (Harold) had a gas producer on the back of their
car. I remember my aunt having to stop and stoke it up. I think it
burnt coke or coal. Petrol of course was rationed.
Our house was very close to the Caulfield Racecourse so it was nothing
for us to see racehorses being exercised past the front door. We always
asked what the horse's name was and it seems we were always told that
it was "Phar Lap". Whether it was or not, I will never know.
A devoted family man, Charles other great interest was the
Masonic Lodge where he rose to the exalted rank of Grand
Lodge status. Charles passed away in 1971 and Winnie in
1994.
A Sense Of Family
Geoff Tolson reflected that when he grew up the family was
always very close. His grandparents Sam and Mary Ellen had
their family living close to them and they gathered together at
least each week, usually on Sunday for a meal. It wasn’t a
formal affair but full of fun. New girlfriends and boyfriends
were introduced here and subjected to the scrutiny of the
extended family. While Sam and Mary Ellen were at church
the family would gather and would play music or cards until
the parents were observed walking back from St Mary’s C. of
E., which was nearby. Then the cards would go away and the
family would be gathered around the piano singing “bringing
in the sheaves” or something similar when Sam and Mary
Ellen walked through the door.
The closeness of the family is evident all through this family’s
story. They lived close to one another, they named their
houses after places important to them and they looked after
one another. Many lived in Hollow & Sons built houses, and
a family trust set up by Sam and Henry continued to support
the family over at least four generations.
The houses, you may have noticed, have a similarity about
them whether brick or weatherboard. The Californian
Bungalow Style with step leading to a central front entrance
with porch seems to have been a Hollow favourite?
I wish to thank the following members of the family who have been very generous with their time and family records. Harold Hollow, Gwladys Jeavons Valda Pugh, Wylma Smith, Pamela Cummins, and Geoff Tolson. – Colin Hollow
The Hollows and Towednack Christopher 1878 – 1944 and Margaret (nee Quick) 1879 –
1965 were married at Towednack on 22nd October 1902. It
was during the tenancy of Christopher that he purchased
Chytodden Farm, Towednack from the Porthia Estate. This
family have farmed in the area for over 300 years. Their son
Christopher Norman Hollow was the churchwarden at
Towednack and wrote a short history of the parish (see page
10).
The association of Christopher Norman Hollow’s family with
Towednack Parish Church is further indicated in the
following obituary of Norman’s grandfather Augustus
William Hollow who had also been a Sidesman and
Churchwarden at Towednack.
William James Hollow, the eldest of Augustus William’s sons
was also a Churchwarden at Towenack.
Augustus William Hollow (1842 – 1930) was the son of
James Hollow and Nanny Quick and was baptised at
Towednack on 5th June 1842. The parish register entry shows
that at the time of the baptism the family was resident at
Trendrine, Zennor. Later, in the 1851 census, James is
recorded at Trendrine as a farmer of 25 acres. August William
Hollow married Mary Dally at Zennor on August 14th 1875.
The Hollow Holdings
As in St. Ives and Zennor, large areas of Towednack formed
part of the Porthia Estate in the early 20th century, having
been acquired from the Bolton Estate in 1904. The Porthia
Estate was owned by the Hain family of St. Ives and
following the death of Edward Hain junior, who was killed in
action during the First World War, the estate was inherited by
Mrs.Kate Bullivant.
On the 19th September 1930 2,523 acres of Freehold Lands in
the parishes of St. Ives, Towednack and Zennor were sold by
public auction. In the description of Estate particulars the
properties were defined as being comprised of Valuable Dairy
Farms, Small Holdings, Cottage Holdings, Accommodation
Lands, Etc.
It is interesting to note the Hollow families that were resident
on the Estate at the time of the sale from the description of
Lots below. (With thanks to ‘West Penwith Resources’ by
Rick Parsons).
Lot 9. Trevega Wartha Farm (mostly in Towednack) 111a. 2r
38p. Let to Mr. A. Hollow. House, buildings, thatched
cottage (known as “Poynter’s Cottage”) in Trevega village.
The Hollow Log Page 9
Lot 10. Dairy Farm (Towednack, known as Part Trevega
Wartha). 78a. 3r. 13p. in the occupation of Mr. Hollow.
Dwellinghouse and buildings.
Lot 11. Freehold Small-holding (Towednack and Zennor,
Part Trevega Wartha). 45a. 3r. 5p. Let to Mr. Loosemoor.
Cottage. [note. Ernest H Loosemoor was the husband of
Isabella Hollow 1888-1967]
Lot 15. Wicca Farm (Zennor). 202a. Or. 37p. Let to Mr.
W.Hollow. House, buildings and cottage.
Lot18. Breja farm (Towednack). 119a Or. 7p. Let to Mr. W.J.
Hollow. House and buildings
Lot 20. Chytodden Farm (Towednack). 62a Or. 22p. Let to
Mr. Christopher Hollow. House and buildings.
Lot 21. Cold harbour Cottage, and Three Enclosures of Land
(Towednack). 5a. Or. 39p. in the occupation of Messrs. J.
Hollow and H. Dunstan.
Lot 22. Amalveor Farm (Towednack). 68a. Or 12p. Let to
Mr. A.W. Hollow. House and buildings. Together with two
equal undivided eighth shares of Amalveor Downs 155a.
Lot 23. Lower Amalwhidden Farm (Towednack). 34a. 2r.
29p. Let to Mr. J. W. Hollow. House and buildings. Together
with two equal undivided eighth shares of Skillywadden Moor
7a.
[all of the above Hollows are descendants of John Holla &
Chesen Thomas]
Line of descent from John Holla and Chesen Thomas to Christopher Norman Hollow
John Holla = Chesen Thomas (mar. 26 mar 1695 Zennor) ↓ John Holla = Sarah Eddy (m. 30 Sep 1727 Zennor) ↓ John Holla = Catherine Osborne (m. 23 Feb 1757 Zennor) ↓ John Hollow = Wilmot Quick (m. 23 Jun 1788 Towednack) ↓ James Hollow = Nanny (Ann) Quick (m. 21 Jan 1835 Zennor) ↓ Augusts William Hollow = Mary Dally (m. 14 Aug 1875 Zennor) ↓ Christopher Hollow = Margaret Quick (m. 22 Oct 1902 Towednack) ↓ Christopher Norman Hollow (1909 – 1977) and Augustus William Hollow (1913 – 1994)
THE LATE MR. A.W. HOLLOW FUNERAL AT TOWEDNACK
There was a large attendance at the funeral of Mr. Augustus William Hollow, which took place on Sunday 11th May, at Towednack Parish Church, amid every token of sympathy and esteem, the Rev. W. Whittley, vicar officiating in the church and at the graveside. Before leaving the church for the graveyard, the Vicar, in a few well-chosen words, referred to the sterling character of deceased, and to the esteem and respect in which he was held by all who knew him. The mourners were as follow; Mr. W. J. Hollow (son). Mrs. W.J. Lutey (daughter), Mr. C. Hollow (son), Miss M. Hollow (daughter), Mr. J. Hollow (son), Mrs. W.J. Hollow (daughter-in-law), Mr. T.A. Hollow (son), Mrs. C. Hollow (daughter-in-law), Mr. W. Hollow (son), Mrs. J. Hollow (daughter-in-law), Mr. C.N. Hollow (grandson), Mrs. W. Hollow (daughter-in-law), Mr. A.W. Hollow (grandson), Mr. W. J. Lutey (son-in-law), Mr. J. Quick, Miss M. Quick, Mrs. H. Dunstan (Churchtown), Mr. W.M. Hollow (Penzance), Mr. And Mrs. Trudgeon (Heamoor), Mr. And Mrs. H. Elwick, Mrs. Dunstan (Coldharbour), and Mr. Arthur Jose (Camborne). The floral tributes were as follow; Wreath, “In ever loving memory of a dear husband and father,” from his sorrowing wife, Thomas, and Minnie; wreath, “In loving memory of dear father,” from Willie and Minnie; wreath, “In ever-loving memory of dear father and grandpa,” from Christopher and Maggie and the boys Norman and William; wreath, “In loving memory of our dear father and grandpa,” from Johnny, Dora and Dorcas; wreath, “In loving memory,” from Fred, Nellie and the children; wreath, “In affectionate remembrance of dear father,” from Flora, William John, and Dorothy; wreath, “In loving memory,” from Mr. And Mrs. H. Elwick; wreath, “With deepest sympathy,” from Mr. And Mrs. J. H. Jose; spray, “With deepest sympathy to dear Mr. Hollow,” from Mr. And Mrs. And Arthur Jose (Camborne); spray, “In loving memory,” from Ernest T Berriman; spray, “With deepest sympathy,” from Mr. And Mrs. T. Paynter (Amalveor); spray, “Peace, perfect peace, with kindest sympathy,” from W.J. Sherris and all at Embla Vean; wreath, “With sincere sympathy,” from Mrs. Eric Bullivant. The deceased for a time was sidesman at St. John’s Church (Halsetown), churchwarden and sidesman at Towednack Church, Parish Councillor, and member of the West Penwith Rural District Council, and member of the Penzance Board of Guardians. The chosen bearers were; Messrs. Jas. Roach, J.Q. Curnow, D. Berriman, P. Husband, T. Paynter, and T. Nicholas. Amongst the general public present were; Col. J.M. Findlay, D.S.O., Messrs. Philip Chellew, W.A. Hosking (T.F. Hosking and Co.), M. Trewhella, C. Mitchell (E. Mitchell and Sons), T. Osborne, Wm. Pemberthy, W.J. Hollow (Breja), C. Eddy, D.J. Berriman, W. Trevaskis, E. Trudgeon, A.J. Curnow, J. Hosking, J.W. Trudgeon, Mr. A Curnow, Mr. And Mrs. J. Martin, Mr. John Coles, Messrs. J.H. Jose, D. Sleeman, Jas. Thomas, C. Olds, T Kernick, J. Chellew, P.H. Berriman, A. Trewhella, Miss E.A. Martin, Mr. And Mrs. W. Care, Mr. P. Carbis, Miss M.J. Martin, Mrs. Whittley, Mrs. R. Roberts, Miss J. Trewhella, Messrs. W. Osborne, Jas. Dunn, Hy. Williams (Long Rock), F. Trethowan, C. Williams (St. Ives), Mr. F. Pope, Miss O. Rowe, Messrs. W.F. Smith, S.T. Eddy, J. Sampson, and others. The casket was of oak, with brass fittings and bore the following inscription; “Augustus William Hollow, died 7th May, 1930 aged 88 years.” The undertaking arrangements were satisfactorily carried out by Mr. J.JL. Daniel, and the hearse was supplied by Messrs. Wm. Phillips and Sons of St. Ives. From: The Cornishman, Wednesday, May 14, 1930.
The Hollow Log Page 10
Towednack Parish Map
The Towednack Church
The following notes, that form a leaflet about Towednack
Church, were compiled
by Christopher Norman
Hollow on his
retirement in 1977 as
Churchwarden of
Towednack after 25
years service.
___________________
In ancient records
Towednack Church is
named as the Chapel of
St. Ewin. There was also
a Chapelry at St. Ives
and both were
administered from the
parish church of St.
Uny, Lelant. Both these
chapelries appear to
have had parochial boundaries and there is a record of the
year 1340 suggesting this is the case of Towednack. Their
distance, however, from Lelant must have been the cause of
great inconvenience and led to a petition being made to
lessen this. As a result of this petition there
was a recommendation from Pope John XXIII, a schismatic
Pope of the 15th century. (The famous Pope John XXIII who
died in 1963, took the
same title.) This
petition went to
Bishop Stafford of
Exeter, which included
Cornwall in its
diocese, that the
chapelries of St.
Tewinnoc
(Towednack) and St.
Ives be made parochial
but dependant on
Lelant. These
recommendations
were made on 18th
November, 1410 and
were apparently
implemented. The
right of sepulchre was
not granted to Towednack until 1532. In 1903 it was
constituted as a separate benefice and since 1947 has been
held in plurality with Zennor.
The church, which probably stands on the site of an earlier
one, is a diminutive building of considerable interest. It is the
Norman granite altar
Key 1. Trendrine, Zennor 2. Trevessa Farm 3. Trevega 4. Trevega Wartha 5. Trevalgan, Halsetown 6. Trowan, Halsetown 7. Hellesveor, Halsetown 8. Lower Bussow 9. Polmanter Water 10. Higher Bussow Farm 11. Chytodden 12. Breja Farm 13. Skillywadden 14. Amalveor 15. Embla Vean 16. Embla 17. Georgia 18. Chypons 19. Amalebra 20. Higher Amalwhidden 21. Lower Amalwhidden 22. Cold Harbour 23. Cripplesease 24. Nancledra 25. Halsetown
The Hollow Log Page 11
only church in West Cornwall to possess a chancel arch and
this dates from the late 13th or early 14th century. The nave
and parts of the north wall are Norman. The south aisle was
added in 1460 and the tower in 1500.
The tower is squat and massive.
There is a legend which
purports to explain its lack of
height. When the courses being
built by the masons had reached
a certain level the devil came
and knocked down subsequent
building every night. This
happened time and again. As the
work was resumed by day so it
was removed by night. Finally
the builders gave up in despair
and erected the battlements as
they are today. The tower
staircase is unusual, springing
direct from the north west angle
of the nave in the church itself,
with five steps. At one time
there was a gallery at the west
end of the nave.
Perhaps the most striking feature of the church is the stone
altar. It is roughly hewn from a solid block of granite and has
five crosses incised at the
centre and four corners
(these crosses representing
the five wounds of Christ).
It is late Norman and was
probably thrown out at
the Reformation which
required that altars should
be of wood. At the
beginning of this century
(20th) the late H. Dunstan,
churchwarden, discovered
it forming part of a wall at Churchtown Farm. It was brought
into the church again and in 1934 a faculty was obtained for
its restoration and use. There can be few altars in West
Country churches of such age.
Almost certainly the church in the past contained finely
carved bench ends but today only two remain which are of
great interest. They have been used to form a chancel seat
which is situated on the north side of the Altar. On each is
carved in deep relief the profile of a very Spanish looking
gentleman in a high felt hat with sweeping curves, and
wearing moustaches and a pointed beard. One bears the
lettering Matthew Trenwith, Warden and the other James
Trewhella, Warden and the inscribed date is 1633. [Sadly
since stolen]
A support for a rood loft remains on the south side of the
chancel arch. The northern door was blocked up when the
church was
restored in 1870.
The font is a simple
octagonal shape
dated 1720 and
bears the initials
W.B. and J.R. It is
unusual in that the
base is the inverted
bowl of a much
earlier font
undoubtedly
Norman.
Inside the south
porch there is an
interesting stone
with an incised
cross of the Celtic
period and is thought to be the shaft of a cross which stood
on or near this site. Over the porch gate is a small sundial,
dated 1720, and bearing the following inscription: “Bright Sol
and Luna Time and Tide doth hold Chronodix Humbrale”.
In 1933 Towednack was the first church in modern
times to hold a service said in the Cornish language,
following the Gorsedd.
BELLS – There is now a full peal of eight bells of
which three are medieval. In June, 1905 three bells
were recast and a fourth added at the cost of £184.15.0
by John Warner of London. Two new bells to
complete a peal of six were dedicated by the Lord
Bishop of St. Germans on February 14th, 1912. Two
more bells to make a peal of eight were given by H.
Dunstan, Esq., in 1947 and dedicated by the Bishop of
Truro.
The work was carried out by Gillet and Johnson of Croydon.
In recent years the bells were re-hung on ball bearings at a
cost of £867. By the offers of local assistance this was
reduced to £787 and the Baron Bell Trust contributed £300.
The balance was raised within twelve months by the
enthusiasm and hard work of the parish. The work was
carried out by Mr. A. Fidler of Bow, Devon and the bells
were re-dedicated on April 7th, 1973 by the Rt. Revd. J.M.
Key, Lord Bishop of Truro.
FEAST – Towednack Feast is held on the nearest Sunday
to April 28th. If St. Mark’s Day, April 25th, falls on a Sunday
Interior Towednack Church
Norman Granite Altar
The Hollow Log Page 12
that shall be feast or the first Sunday following April 25th. It is
said that at one time Towednack had no festentide but one
springtime a parishioner invited some friends to a merry-
making at his house. This was
evidently an event of some
importance or it would not be
recorded. A large log of wood
was placed on the open hearth
and no sooner had it begun to
crackle than a cuckoo flew out
of a hole in the log. The host
caught the strange bird and
kept it and he and his guests
resolved to renew their festive
gathering every year in the
future. From this remarkable
happening the Parochial
Festival gained the strange
name of Cuckoo Feast and it is a tradition that the cuckoo
must be heard before it is held. It is also called the Crowder’s
Feast or Fiddler’s Feast because the fiddler formed a
procession at the church door and led the people through the
village to some lively tune on his crowd (fiddle).
The organ was erected on 29th January, 1907.
PARISH HISTORY – Amalveor Farm is about one
mile due west of the church an on 11th December 1931, a pair
of gold bracelets were discovered in the course of farm work.
At the inquest they were declared to be treasure trove on the
evidence given and were dated as being of the Middle Bronze
Age, about 1000 B.C. They are in the British Museum.
There were once twenty two tin mines in Towednack parish
alone and of these Giew was the last to close in 1923.
The farm house at Towednack Church Town behind the
church was a public house in 1880 and some years ago there
were two public houses in Nancledra: “Ye Old Inn” and the
“Miner’s Arms”. There were two at Cripplesease: “The
Engine Inn” and “The Wink”. Of all these “The Engine Inn”
is the sole survivor.
In 1975 Towednack Church was used for the Marriage and
Burial services in the BBC film “Poldark”. In 1979 it was
used in the film “Penmarric”. In 1987 there was a great
Ecumenical Celtic Pilgrimage to Towednack to celebrate the
connection between the church and the abbey of
Landevennac in Brittany. Thirteen hundred people were
present including the Bishops of Truro and St. Germans, the
Roman Catholic Bishop of Plymouth, the abbots of
Landevennac and Buckfast, the Methodist Chairman for
Cornwall and Professor C. Thomas who gave a lecture on
Celtic Spirituality. By Christopher Norman Hollow
Hollow Parish Register Entries
Baptisms
Date Name Parent/s Residence
26 Sep 1762 William Holla Daniel & Elizabeth
16 Feb 1777 John Holla Edward & Hannah
30 Apr 1786 Jennifer Holow Richard & Ann
Lelant
17 Aug 1828 Mary Ann Hollow John & Mary
14 Jul 1833 Margaret Hollow Richard & Ann
17 Nov 1840 Albert James Hollow James & Nanny
Trendrine
25 Feb 1840 William Hollow William & Ann
Trevessa
5 Jun 1844 Augustus William Hollow James &
Nanny Trendrine
28 Jun 1843 Elizabeth Hollow William & Ann
Trevessa
3 Sep 1843 Arthur Thomas Hollow Matthew &
Elizabeth Trendrine
6 May 1849 Patience Hollow William & Ann Trevessa
29 Jun 1851 William Hollow Matthew & Elizabeth Trevessa
13 Feb 1853 Matilda Vingoe Hollow Matthew & Elizabeth
Trevessa
23 Apr 1854 Olive Wilmot Hollow William & Ann
Trevessa
26 Jul 1857 Helena Hollow William & Ann Trevessa
26 Dec 1858 Arthur Thomas Hollow Matthew & Elizabeth
Trevessa
11 Nov 1860 Phillipa Catherine Hollow Matthew & Elizabeth
Trevessa
23 Apr 1867 John Hollow Francis & Mary Georgia Croft
23 Apr 1867 Mary Jane Hollow Francis & Mary Georgia Croft
23 Apr 1867 Sarah Ann Hollow Francis & Mary Georgia Croft
25 Sep 1867 Sarah Jane Hollow Matthew & Elizabeth Boscarras
10 Jul 1870 Alice Richards Hollow Zacharias & Alice
Nancledra
Marriages
Date Groom Occupation Residence Bride
Residence
7 Dec 1708 Edward Pryor St. Ives Mary Hollah
Towednack
22 Apr 1755 Daniel Hollow Towednack Elizabeth Trihall
Towednack
3 Feb 1757 Richard James Tinner Towednack Sibella
Holla Sojourner
15 May 1787 William Quick Towednack Elizabeth Hollow
Zennor
23 Jun 1788 John Hollow Zennor Wilmot Quick
Towednack
2 Jul 1827 John Hollow Towednack Mary Carbis
Towednack
6 Mar 1839 William Hollow Farmer Towednack Ann D
Baragwanath Towednack
Incised Celtic Cross in South porch
The Hollow Log Page 13
17 Jul 1848 Isaac Martin Labourer Towednack Mary
Ann Hollow Towednack
7 May 1854 John Hollow Tin Dresser
Ludgvan Mary K Jenkin Georgia Croft
1 Jan 1865 Matthew Hollow Farmer Trevessa Sarah Eddy
Trendrine
22 Oct 1902 Christopher Hollow Farmer Chytodden
Margaret Quick Bussow
21 Sep 1913 William Hollow Farmer Trevessa Wartha Olive
M V Curnow Towednack
Burials
Date Name Age Residence Note
9 Mar 1757 Bridget Holow wife of Wm. Holow
18 Jul 1758 Mark Holow son of Wm. & Bridget Holow
19 Jul 1789 Mark Hollow St. Ives
6 Dec 1797 Ann Hollow dau. of Wm. & Ann Hollow
31 Jan 1798 Ann Hollow
29 Dec 1799 Edward Hollow
27 Sep 1808 Hannah Hollow 72
17 Jul 1809 Arthur Hollow 75
8 May 1820 William Hollow 57
13 Dec 1824 Ann Hollow 54
1920 Albert James Hollow 79
1920 Catherine Ann Hollow 75
7 May 1930 Augustus William Hollow 88
Amalwidden Cottage
8 Feb 1932 Jane Hollow 72 Breja
10 Mar 1933 Mary Hollow 84 Amalwidden
Cottage
17 Apr 1944 Christopher Hollow 65 Chytodden
9 Jul 1947 William James Hollow 70 Breja
4 Feb 1952 Mary (Minnie) Hollow 61
24 Apr 1959 Mary Ann (Minnie) Hollow 79
Goongumpas, Gwennap
6 Jul 1959 Thomas Augustus Hollow 76
Carharrach, Gwennap
4 Dec 1959 William Hollow 75 Chypons
5 Dec 1960 Dorcas Hollow 76
19 Sep 1965 Margaret Hollow 86
2 May 1966 Wilfred Hollow 80
23 Jan 1967 Olive Mary Vivian Hollow 79
23 Nov 1968 John Hollow 88
15 Jan 1976 Ellen (Nellie) Hollow 83
23 Jun 1977 Christopher Norman Hollow 68
20 Nov 1985 Christine Elizabeth Hollow 37 Lower
Amalwidden
30 Mar 1987 Christopher David Hollow 42
17 Jul 1989 Dorcas Mary Quick Hollow 65
4 Jan 1994 Augustus William Hollow 80
Chytodden
10 Apr 1995 Lilian Trevenen Hollow 83
Hollow Monumental & Memorial Inscriptions - Towednack Churchyard
Albert J Hollow 1840 – 1920)
Catherine A Hollow 1844 – 1920
Josiah Dally 1817 – 1894)
Jane Newton 1833 – 1917) all buried in same grave
In loving memory of Augustus W Hollow died at
Amalwidden Cottage May 7th 1930 aged 89 years also of Mary
his wife died March 10 1933 aged 84 years - Until the day
breaks.
In loving memory of William James Hollow beloved husband
of Minnie died at Brega July 9th 1947 aged 70 years. Nearer
my God to thee. Also of the above Mary Ann (Minnie) died
at Goongumpas, Gwennap April 24th 1959 aged 79 years.
Reunited.
In loving memory of Christopher Hollow (late of Chytodden)
beloved husband of Margaret Hollow (Maggie) died April
17th 1944 aged 65 years. Also of Margaret his beloved wife
died Sept. 19th 1965 aged 86 years.
In loving memory of Mary (Minnie) beloved sister of Thomas
Hollow who fell asleep 4th Feb. 1952 aged 61. At Rest. Also
of the above Thomas A Hollow who died at Carharrach,
Gwennap. Formerly of this parish 6th July 1959 aged 76.
In loving memory of William Hollow who died at Chypons
Dec. 4th 1959 aged 75 years also his wife Olive Mary Vivian
died Jan. 23 1967 aged 79 years.
In loving memory of Dorcas Hollow who died Dec. 5th 1950
aged 76 years. Also John beloved husband of above who died
Nov. 23rd 1968 aged 88 years. Also daughter of above Dorcas
Mary Quick Hollow died 17th July 1989 aged 65 years.
Wilfred Hollow died 2nd May 1966 aged 80 years.
Remembered with love. Also Ellen (Nellie) his wife died 15th
January 1976 aged 83. Forever with the Lord.
Christopher Norman Hollow beloved husband of Pat died
23rd June 1977 aged 68.
Christopher David Hollow died 30 March 1987 aged 42
years.
In loving memory of Christine Elizabeth Hollow died 20th
Nov. 1985 aged 37 years beloved elder daughter of John and
Joyce Hollow formerly of Lower Amalwidden Farm.
In loving memory of Augustus Hollow late of Chytodden
died Jan. 4th 1994 aged 80 beloved husband of Lilly died April
10th 1995 aged 83. Reunited Asleep in Jesus.
Keith Hollow