Halsetown is a unique village being the first recorded planned settlement in Cornwall. It is named after James Halse who founded the village in the early 1830s to provide housing for his mine workers. He designed the village so that each house had enough land (1/4 acre) to entitle the occupier to vote. The houses were laid out in a grid pattern and some of the original lanes between the houses can be seen by going down the track opposite the Wesleyan Chapel building. Nearby St Ives formed the oldest Methodist Society in Cornwall, following a visit from John Wesley who had been invited to visit in 1743. This profile of Halsetown Wesleyan Chapel has been compiled by Val Thomas of St Ives Old Cornwall.
1908 map of Penwith District Council on the cover of 1992 St Ives Town Plan
1832: 3rd Feb. The Chapel opened. According to records: ‘It is 50 feet by 35 feet without, with seats for 310 and a good gallery at the end.’ It was on a 100 year lease. It was one of the two original chapels in the settlement, which was staunchly Methodist. The Ebenezer Bible Christian chapel, built at about the same time, had seating for 140.
(The Cornishman and Cornish Telegraph Thursday 18th July 1940)
1845: The Wesleyan Teetotal Chapel was founded nearby: also known as Methodist New Connexion and later as St Mary’s Mission. This was the third Chapel in Halsetown.
1851: William Burgess completed the return for the Wesleyan Chapel.
1887: The Chapel had a Band-of-hope in 1894, with a choir.
1894 June 28th: The Cornishman reported that funds were needed for the improvement to the school which is next to the Chapel but not affiliated. The village was suffering financially from the end of mining locally.
The Old School Steps. This photo is taken on the steps of the Old School which was next to the Chapel. It is now a private home. It was a National School affiliated to the St Ives School Board. It was still functioning as a school in 1951. (Image: St Ives Retreats via St Ives Archive)
Photo: ‘geograph’ – Sheila Russell 2006
1883: The National School (mixed) had 80 children with an average attendance of 50, supported by a Government grant and School fees. Miss Taylor was mistress. This is the school next to the Methodist chapel.
1896: The Cornishman December 8th mentions that the Halsetown Wesleyan Chapel had an organ.
1901: The Chapel is renovated.
1908: The Cornishman Thursday May 21st. The Hellesveor choir, under the conductorship of Colan Williams gave a service of song at the Chapel. In his speech on the Sunday evening he spoke of Mr Tom Curnow, his friend, who had departed for America. This was a period of time when many people emigrated, as Colan Williams himself had. Some families or men returned: others never did. Colan Williams himself returned after becoming blinded in a mining accident in America.
1921: The Cornishman and Cornish Telegraph March 23rd reported that St Ives Salvation Army Band rendered a capital miscellaneous programme in Halsetown Wesleyan Chapel. A collection amounting to £2 1s 8d was devoted to the lighting and heating fund.
The Cornishman and Cornish Telegraph Wednesday August 31st reported that the boy preacher, Master W.T. Harvey from Penzance preached anniversary sermons at Halsetown Wesleyan Chapel on Sunday morning and evening.
1933: The Cornishman and Cornish Telegraph, Thursday June 1st: ‘St Ives Male Voice Choir gave an excellent programme of music at Halsetown Methodist Chapel on Tuesday in aid of the Sunday School fund’. This is the last newspaper report I can locate at present.
1960 – 1977: The Chapel was converted into living accommodation and the School next door to the Chapel was converted into a 4 bedroom home with a large back garden.
The back garden of the Old School still shows the split between the boys and girls playgrounds with the toilet blocks at the end. The property still has a septic tank. The Chapel next door is now holiday let units attached to Polmanter Touring Park which is behind.
Back of Chapel, or front as it is in 2021
There were originally two side extensions. One has now been removed to allow for a vision splay and parking area.
The marks are still visible on the wall to show the original position. The plaque on the top between the two windows has now been replaced by a new window with a granite lintel.
Image; David Allan collection courtesy of the St Ives Museum
The Chapel fronts onto Laity Lane which leads from The Halsetown Inn to Carbis Bay.
All new images: Val Thomas. March 2021
Kresen Kernow:
Resources:
St Ives Retreats holiday brochure –stivesretreat.org.uk
Find My Past newspaper reports and census returns
The Churches of Britain and Ireland – churches-uk-ireland.org
West Penwith Resources – west-penwith.org.uk
St Ives Museum
Kresen Kernow resources