CONGDON'S SHOP


There are many places in the Tamar Valley, and beyond, named 'Shop' and this frequently referred to a workshop more than a retail outlet. The surname Congdon is common in the south west of England and it would be reasonable to suggest that a man named Congdon once had a wokshop here.

We have not been able to determine who this man was; can you tell us? In 1773 Sir Richard Vyvyan of Trelowarren leased land in Treswell and Congdon's Shop to Aaron Jenkin of North Hill and so the name predates this transaction. Treswell is a little to the west of Congdon's Shop and was sold in 1840.

Treswell is now a Grade II listed building and is described as follows:

"Farmhouse and garden wall to front. Probably C17 origins extended in later C18. Stone rubble. Slate roof with gable ends on left and higher slate roof with hipped ends on right. Projecting stone rubble end stack on left and stone rubble rear lateral stacks with brick shafts near centre and to right.


"Plan: The original arrangement is uncertain. It is possible that the left hand range is the lower end of an earlier house; one room and entrance plan with entrance on right, abutting later range and room on left heated by a large projecting end stack. There is a distinct straight joint between the two ranges. To right the circa C18 range has a 2-room and cross passage plan with entrance to left of centre, a larger room on right and smaller room on left, both heated by rear lateral stacks. To rear of the passage an C18 stair projection. Circa late C18 and C19 service outshuts to rear.


"Exterior: Two storeys. Asymmetrical 2:3 window front. Earlier lower range on left has dressed stone arch to ground floor window which has a C19 3-light casement. C19 door with hipped slate hood to right. Two C19 2-light casements on first floor. Higher range on right has a probably C19 4-panel door with slate hipped hood to left of centre, flanked by two C19 tripartite sashes with dressed stone flat arches. Two similar windows on first floor with C19 12-pane sash in centre. Rear elevation has slate-hung stair projection with hipped end to rear of C18 range. Slate roofs to the lean-to outshuts and single storey small service wing. Stone rubble and quartz garden wall to front of C18 range."

1840 Tithe Map (extract)

Reproduced with the kind permission of Kresen Kernow ref: AD1409/1

Plots 213, 214, 215, 216, 315, 316, 317 and 318 were leased to Richard Crocker by the owner, Sir Richard Vyvyan of Trelowarren. Plots 319, 320, 321 and 322 were owned by Betsy Anne Dawe who rented them out to Mary Bennett.

The 1841 census shows that the properties were occupied by the Doney and Jenkins families, indicating a sub-letting activity. James Doney was a blacksmith and Charles Jenkins was a publican.

Congdon's Shop Bible Christian Chapel

The story of the Bible Christians who had this chapel in Congdon’s shop can be seen by clicking on the imnage below.

1869 - Edmond's Menagerie Comes to Congdon's Shop

In 1869 the famous Edmonds’s Menagerie came to Congdon’s Shop and displayed a host of exotic animals such that the local folk must have looked on in amazement. An extract from an Edmond’s programme and a newspaper report can be seen below.

The images at the top of the page show (L-R): The Temperance Inn, the war memorial and an aerial view of the crossroads.