First Half

Nicholas St Aubyn will visit Pencarrow on Tuesday, October 9^th. He will give a talk on his family history: Saints and Sinners. Specifically, the focus will be on four generations of St Aubyns and Molesworths. Their families became bonded by inheritance, marriage, and politics during this period.

The first half of the talk describes a political battle. This duel was between Sir Robert Walpole and his arch enemy Sir John St Aubyn 3^rd Bt.  Walpole famously complained “all these men have their price, except the little Cornish baronet”, as a result, a deadly enmity grew between the irredeemably corrupt ‘first prime minister’ and the fiercely independent MP for Cornwall.  He will reveal how the notorious ‘Skewis Affair’, Sir John’s triumph at the fall of Walpole, and a secret Jacobite plot with France, were all connected. Consequently, this became one of the most extraordinary episodes in British–and Cornish–history.

Second Half

In the second half, he will portray the colourful life of his grandson the 5^th Sir John. His marriage to a farmer’s daughter shocked Cornish society, and later became Winston Graham’s inspiration for the characters Ross and Demelza Poldark. As well as fourteen children of his own, one of whom proved the epitome of a ‘Regency rake’, Sir John showed great affection for Hender Molesworth. Significantly, Hender was the nephew to whom he left a sizeable fortune, including the many St Aubyn portraits now hanging at Pencarrow.

Sit back and relax in our beautiful Drawing Room and let Nicholas take you back in time

Enjoy a glass of wine and nibbles in the interval

Nicholas will be signing copies of his book which will be on sale after

This is a Friends of Pencarrow event and proceeds from ticket sales will go towards the upkeep of this beautiful house through the Friends of Pencarrow

Tickets are £10 pp

Please note that this event is not suitable for children and dogs are not allowed inside the house

Comment on ‘Saints and Sinners’

‘There are real insights on the turning points of English history…hugely absorbing…scholarly, wittily and elegantly written’
Country Life

‘Chocabloc with the most fascinating detail…all told with the lightest of touches’
Adam Nicolson

‘Beautifully designed, beautifully written’
Sir Nicholas Coleridge

‘This book is extraordinary’
Rob Rinder