But there appears an extraordinary decrease of population
in the last ten years. In twenty years the increase was 19½ per cent. very nearly, which, continued for thirty years, would have given 30½ per cent.
Present Vicar, the Rev. John Arscott, presented in 1824 by the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe.
THE GEOLOGY, BY DR. BOASE.
The geological structure of this parish is the same as those of the adjacent parishes St. Eve and Gorran.
ST. MEWAN.
HALS.
St. Mewan rectory is situate in the hundred of Powder, and hath upon the north St. Stephen’s and Roach, east St. Austell, south Mevagissey, and south-west Creed.
In the Domesday Book this district was taxed either under the jurisdiction of Branell, Tybesta, Towington, or Refishoe, perhaps now Lefisick. In the Inquisition of the Bishops of Lincoln and Winchester into the value of Cornish Benefices, 1294, Ecclesia de St. Mewany in decanatu de Powdre, was rated 40s.; in Wolsey’s Inquisition, 1521, £10. The patronage in Hamley, formerly in the prior of Tywardreth, who endowed it; the incumbent Mitchell; and the parish rated to the 4s. per pound Land Tax, 1696, temp. William III. £91. 6s. 4d.