MARAZION, a market-town (incorporated), in
the parish of ST-HILARY,
hundred of PENWITH, county
of CORNWALL, 63
miles (S.W. by W.) from
Launceston, and 282 (W.
S.W.) from London, containing
1253 inhabitants.
The ancient name of this
town was Marghasiewe: the
more recent appellation of
Market-jew, still in use Corporate Seal.
among the common people, is supposed by some to
take its origin from a market formerly held here,
which was much frequented by Jews; while others
deduce it, somewhat fancifully, from Market-die Jow, in
reference to its Thursday's market; thus making i t a
corruption of the Latin name for that day, Dies Jovis.
In the early part of the reign of Henry VIII., a party
of French soldiers, having landed from a fleet then
cruising in the channel, took possession of Marazion,-
but, on the approach of the sheriff of the county with
the posse comitatus, they set fire to the town, and retreated
to their ships; it again suffered by conflagration,
in the reign of Edward VI. The town is very pleasantly
situated on the eastern side of Mount's Bay,
chiefly at the bottom of a hill, by which it is sheltered
on the north; the air is particularly mild and salubrious;
the streets are not lighted, nor regularly paved; and,
on account of its neighbouring mines, the inhabitants
are badly supplied with water. It is stated to have formerly
been a trading town of great note, and to have
fallen into decay in consequence of the second conflagration,
having continued in a very dilapidated condition
till the grant of a charter by Elizabeth. The profits of
a fair held here were given to the priory of St. Michael's
Mount, in the reign of Henry I.; and in the reign of
Henry III., that religious community was empowered,
by Richard, Earl of Cornwall, to hold three fairs and
three markets, which had been previously granted to
them at Marghas-bigan, by charter of the kings of
England, on their own land at Marchadyon. In the
year 1331, a market on Monday, and a fair on the
festival of St. Andrew, to continue three days, were
granted to Ralph de Bleyon. The present market is
held on Saturday, and there is a fair on Michaelmasday
for horses and cattle. The town was incorporated
by charter from Queen Elizabeth, in 1595: the corporation
consists of a mayor, eight burgesses, and
twelve capital inhabitants; the mayor being chosen from
among the burgesses by the corporation, who also
appoint the town clerk; the burgesses are elected from
the capital inhabitants; the mayor is the only justice
of the peace within the borough. The living is a perpetual
curacy, annexed to the vicarage of St. Hilary, in
the archdeaconry of Cornwall, and diocese of Exeter,
endowed with £200 private benefaction, and £1100
parliamentary grant. The church is dedicated to St.
Catherine. There are places of worship for the Society
of Friends, Independents, and Wesleyan Methodists.
In 1753, Joseph Hill gave £100 for the instruction of
children, and £40 to the poor inhabitants. There is
also a free school.