GRAMPOUND, a chapelry and market-town (corporate),
partly in the parish of PROBUS, but chiefly
in the parish of CREED, western division of the hundred of POWDER,
county of CORNWALL, 40 miles (S. w) from Launceston,
and 247 (W.S.W.) from London, containing 668 inhabitants.
This place is situated on the great road from
London, through Plymouth, to the Land's end, and on
the declivity of a hill, at the foot of which runs-the river
Fal. John of Eltham, Earl of Cornwall, brother of Edward
III., granted a guild-merchant to the burgesses
of Grampound, in 133C2, which included, besides other
privileges, the right of holding a market and two fairs.
The market, which is inconsiderable, is on Saturday:
fairs are held January 18th and June llth; and there
are two new free fairs, on the -Tuesdays next after
Lady-day and Michaelmas. The corporation, which
exists by prescription, consists of a mayor, eight aldermen,
a recorder, and town clerk. The mayor is
elected on the Sunday before Michaelmas, and he
nominates two aldermen, styled Eligers, who have the
power to choose eleven freemen, forming a jury, who
make presentments, appoint persons to municipal offices,
and possess the right of making new freemen, whose
number is indefinite. The manor is held by the corporation,
under the duchy of Cornwall, at a fee farm rent
of £12. 11. 4. per annum. Grampound was formerly
a borough, having sent two members to parliament from
the reign of Edward VI. till 1824, when, in consequence
of the discovery of corrupt practices among the electors,
an act of parliament was passed for disfranchising the
borough, and returning two additional members for the
county of York. The chapel, dedicated to St. Nunn, or
St. Naunter, was a chapel of ease to the rectory of
Creed, but is now falling to ruins. In 1705, John
Buller gave a sum of money, directing the interest to be
applied in teaching and clothing eight poor boys.