Stithians (St. Stedian)
STITHIANS (St. Stedian), a parish, in the union of Redruth, E. division of the hundred of Kerrier, W. division of Cornwall, 9 miles (S. W.) from Truro; containing 2530 inhabitants. This parish, which includes a part of the village of Ponsnooth, comprises by computation 3445 acres, whereof 2591 are arable and pasture, 59 wood, 693 furze, and 102 moor and waste; the surface is hilly, and the soil underlaid with granite. In Kennall Vale and in Cofawes Wood are mills for making gunpowder, which is chiefly used in the mines; and above the Kennall mills is a paper-mill. A cattlefair for stock is held on the Monday nearest to the 13th of July. The living is a vicarage, with that of Perran-Arworthal annexed, valued in the king's books at £14. 0. 10., and in the gift of the Earl of Falmouth: the great tithes have been commuted for £255. 7., and the vicarial for £322; there is a glebe-house, and the glebe contains 50 acres. The church, which is 390 feet above the level of the sea, has a handsome embattled tower crowned with pinnacles. There is a place of worship for Wesleyans. The parish contains various ancient crosses enriched with sculpture; and in Cofawes Wood was formerly a chapel, dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene.
Transcribed from A Topographical Dictionary of England, by Samuel Lewis, seventh edition, published 1858.