Little Trevean is located off the B394, to the west of Rosudgeon. This profile of Little Trevean Wesleyan Chapel has been compiled by Jo Lewis and Tony Mansell.
Little Trevean Wesleyan Chapel (Photo: Jo Lewis)
Build date unknown but likely to have existed before 1841.
1841: The Perranuthnoe tithe map of circa 1841 shows the small settlement of Little Trevean divided into a number of plots and with a building in the exact position of the extant chapel at that time. The chapel is numbered 664 and is listed in the Apportionment as Meeting House and Plot, owned by a Richard Mildrum and leased to the Wesleyan Methodists Trustees.
There has been a Wesleyan Chapel or meeting house at Trevean Farm/Little Trevean since at least the mid-19th century. The earth bond of the wall fabric suggests that the current building is probably that marked on the tithe map of 1841, probably established to serve the workers of the nearby mining district at Rosudgeon, located just to the north-east of Trevean, or possibly the occupants of the former cottages here at that time may have helped establish the chapel for their own worship.
1867: It is very probable that the building underwent significant renovations and or referbishment later in the 19th century, the plaque (1867), now inside the building, may have formerly been placed within the recess on the exterior north wall, recording the date of these works which very probably included work to this exterior elevation. The chapel retains a number of 19th century features including the ceiling rose and gas light fittings as well as the six hornless sash windows which may be original to the first phase building.
A Wesleyan Methodist chapel is recorded on the 1st and 2nd Edition 1:2500 1880 and 1907 OS Maps. It is shown as a surviving on the current Mastermap and the 2005 County Aerial Photography. (Cornwall Council Heritage Gateway)
8 Mar 1888: Conveyance, house in Trevean and Trevean Chapel, Perranuthnoe. Parties: 1) William Richards of Trenowles, St Hilary, yeoman. 2) Henry Trevenen of Skewes, Crowan, farmer. 3) John William Favell Milldrum of Racine, Wisconsin, United States of America: Samuel Jose of Helston, retired farmer; George Muldrum of Havard City, Wisconsin, United States of America, miner; Johanna Tregear of Chygwins, Germoe, widow. 4) William Henry Milldrum Tregear of Pentreath, Breage, farmer; William Polglase of Breage, farmer and Mona his wife; John Tregear of Pentreath, farmer; Mary Johanna Tregear of Pentreath, spinster; Johanna Tregear. 5) Samuel Jose. 6) George Milldrum. 7) Johanna Tregear. 8) Elizabeth Ann Turner, wife of George Washington Turner of Paver, New Jersey, United States of America. 9) Peter Bray of Penzance, farmer.. Conveyance, house in Trevean, Perranuthnoe and Trevean Chapel. Consideration: £121. (Kresen Kernow X866/43)
1911: Seating for 193. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)
1932: The Wesleyan, Primitive Methodist and the United Methodist Church amalgamated to become the Methodist Church of Great Britain.
1938 closure. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)
Used for storge. (David Easton, Methodist Minister and historian)
The chapel was formerly located within the holding of (Little) Trevean Farm, which has been farmed by the Smith family for several generations. When the chapel fell out of use during the 20th century the building was utilised by the Smiths as a store associated with the flower production business carried out on the farm
4 Oct 2013:M Historic building record, Trevean Chapel, Rosudgeon, Perranuthnoe. Project reference PRT13. Historic building record of the former Wesleyan Methodist chapel on Trevean Lane adjacent to Little Trevean farm, prior to its conversion to a dwelling. The chapel ceased to be used as a place of worship in the 1940s and was subsequently used by the farm’s owners as a store associated with the farm’s flower production business but some original features and fittings were retained, including the ceiling rose. Pdf file. (Kresen Kernow X1358/23)
2013: Draft Historic Building Record:
Now (or soon destined to be) a holiday cottage.