Excerpts from the "History of Cornwall"

Page 311

In connection with the Parish of Egloshayle.

Kestell, in this parish, i.e. a castle, so called I presume, for that heretofore it had upon the lands thereof some camp or castle-like intrenchment, for kestell is derived from the provincial Latin of the Romans in Britain, casteum or castellum; which place gave name and original to an old familyof gentlemen surnamed de Kestell. The first possessor thereof ofthis tribe, as appears from the record in the Office of Arms,was John de Kestell, temp Edward 1 (1239-1307), where his posterity have ever since flourished, to the time of writing hereof, in good fame and reputation, between the degrees of a justice of the peace and that of a hundred constable; the present possessor James Kestell, gent, that married Vaughan of Trewothick and Ottery in Devon, his father Kestell of Manaccan,and giveth for his arms, Argent, three falcons proper; as also,Or, three castles turreted Gules.

Pen-davy, or pen-duffy, i.e. Davids Head (but why socalled, qu.?) a head or promontory of land situate between theAlan and the Kestell rivers, was formerly the lands of Kestell(and before that the Prior of Bodmin's as I am informed); by Kestell's daughter and heir it passed in marriage to NathanielMoyle, Esq., barrister-at-law, of Bake house, who for want of issue sold it to Mr Ustick now in possession thereof.

Referring to the north side of the belfry door of EgloshayleChurch:-

"are cut, impaled, a chevron between three falcons and a chevron between three ravens heads. Which first I take to be the arms of Kestell, and the latter of Ravenscroft of Cheshire, hiswife."

" on the south side are the arms of Kestell impaling Ravenscroft. The tower contains five bells, and in 1835 a clock was erected by subscription. Monuments in the church are thus inscribed:-

Here lyeth John Kestell, Gentylmane, and Margerett hys

wyfe dauter of John Byllen, Gentylmane, and John Kestell dyeyd

the 10th day of december, 1520; and Margerett diyed the 7th daye

of februari, 1522.

Here lyeth James Kestell sonne of John Kestell

Gentleman, and Elizabeth, his wyfe, dafter of Robarte Tredenyke,

gentleman, & James dyed the thurd daye of december, 1566; and

Elizabeth dyed the 27th daye of maye, 1570. Here lyeth Jakete,

wyfe of John Kestell, Gentleman, of Trevegan, daughter of John

Coffen, of portladge, Esquyre, who dyend the 7th day of maye,1578.

This tombe was made by John Kestell, Gentlema' of trevegan, In ye yere 1581."

Page 312

"Kestle. The very name implies that heretofore it was afortified place. Here liveth James Kestle, Esq., from thence denominated ever since that John de Kestle, lord of this placein the time of Edward 1, assumed that name; where his posterityfor about twenty descents, have ever since flourished in good fame and reputation; and give for their arms, Argent, a chevron Sable, between three falcons proper, armed with tasses and bells Or. Their crest, a castle Gules.

Pendavy, the good promontory, is situated on a hillforming a peninsula by the River Alan, on the West side, and a rivulet which has two heads, one in St.Teath and the other in St.Mabyn, on the east side. Here dwelleth Nathaniel Moyle, Esq.,a younger brother of Sir Walter Moyle, of Bake. to whom by his marriage with Johan, the daughter and heir of Thomas Kestle of this place, Esq., the lordship descended. Mr Moyle having only one son of the same name as himself, by this marriage, that died unmarried about four years since, and being something indebted, sold this lordship ( which claimed a royalty over all the river, and the bushelage of all the goods brought up to Wadebridge) for a very considerable value (reserving to his own and his lady's lives on the barton) in the year 1703. to Michael Ustick, gent, collector of Bideford and second brother to Oliver Ustick, of Lea, in S.Burian, gent.