| Notes |
- "Following Sir Francis Basset's death on 14 Feb 1835, Tehidy passed to his spinster daughter Frances Basset. The Basset barony died with her (22 Jan 1855). Tehidy was inherited in succession by three grandsons of Francis Basset's younger brother John Basset - John Francis Basset (died 9 Feb 1869), Arthur Basset (died 7 May 1870), Gustavus Lambart Bassett (died 24 Jul 1888) - then passed to the son of this last, Arthur Francis Basset. It was he who had to sell the estate to pay his gambling debts, and then took all the papers out of the estate and burnt them."
According to John Collins
The Cornishman
Thursday, August 2, 1888
Death of Mr. Basset of Tehidy
Mr. Gustavus Lambart Basset, of Tehidy, died at half-past five o’clock on Wednesday afternoon, and the news of the sad event was received in West Cornwall generally with extreme surprise. It was known that Mr. Basset had been for years in delicate health (he suffered from paralysis of the lower limbs,) but it was not widely known that the lord of one of the largest manors, the finest properties, and the greatest mineral wealth in Cornwall had been suffering from cancer. His death, however, has brought this fact to light.
For the past three months Mr. Basset had been a victim to cancer in the lip, and it is understood that the disease spread to the throat. Mr. Basset left London as late as Tuesday night. Sir William Gull was in charge of the case, and his well-known patient had just before undergone a painful operation. That operation had more immediate effect than, it is believed, was anticipated.
It is locally rumoured also that Mr. Basset underwent an operation in June, Sir James Paget being surgeon. Mr. Bassett had been told by other medical men that he was suffering from the smoking of too many cigarettes. When Sir James Paget saw deceased, however, the latter was informed that he had cancer. The lip was cut open, but it was then ascertained that the disease had spread to the glands of the neck. Mr. Basset was however, afterwards seen at the Harrow and Eton match. He drove up in his carriage and viewed the match while seated in a bath-chair.
But the deceased gentleman’s delicate health arose years before these weakening and fatal diseases. He had been an invalid for many years. Soon after his accession to the Tehidy estate he was sorely stricken with an affection - said to have been the result of exposure in the trenches during the Crimean war - which resulted in the paralysis of his lower limbs. At one time his case was regarded as so critical that Sir William Gull attended him at Tehidy. Subsequently he recovered to some extent the powers of locomotion and was able to resume some public duties. There was, until a few months ago, a gradual and very gratifying improvement in his condition, and as recently as May last he occupied his position as chairman of the East Penwith petty sessions, sitting at Camborne. Soon afterwards he removed to London for the season, and whilst there he had a serious relapse, and several times rumours of his death were circulated.
On his last journey by special train to the ancestral home of so many generations Mr. Basset seemed cheerful. Mrs. Basset, a physician, and attendants were with him. Those who witnessed his arrival on Tuesday evening, at the railway-station and at Tehidy, were surprised at the ravages disease had made. Mr. Basset not only looked seriously ill; he seemed dying. There were hopes that the fatigue of the journey partly accounted for these sad appearances.
On Wednesday morning it was reported that Mr. Basset was somewhat better. In the afternoon it became known that his son had been hastily summoned to the bedside of his father, and a messenger on horseback dashed into Camborne at half past six with the intelligence of the decease of his master.
Mr. Gustavus Lambart Basset was the eldest surviving son of the late Mr. John Basset, of Stratton, (who once represented Helston in Parliament, and who died in 1843) by Elizabeth Mary, daughter of the late Sir Rose Price, Baronet of Trengwanton. He was born in 1833, and was therefore 55. He succeeded his brother to the estates in 1870.
Mr. Basset was one of the largest and wealthiest landowners in Cornwall. The largest of his estates were in the West, in and around Camborne and Redruth, but he was also the owner of considerable tracts of land at St. Justin-Roseland, at Tywardreath, at Stratton, and on the banks of the Tamar.
He was chief of the mining lords, the important mines of Colcoath, East Pool, Cook’s Kitchen, New Cook’s Kitchen, Carn Brea, West Basset, Weald Basset, South Frances, and West Seton being on his property. He was also part lord of West Frances and other mines in Cornwall; and the Red River and other principal tin streams of Cornwall ran through his estates, and were a large additional source of income. He was also owner of Portreath barbour.
In mining matters he took a great interest. It was chiefly through his exertions that the rock drill was introduced into the county, he having contributed £500 towards the first experiment made at Carn Brea. Afterwards he gave valuable help to other mines, introducing the rock-drill. The Mining Institute, the Miners’ Association, and the Royal Cornwall polytechnic society reckoned him among their warmest and most liberal friends.
It was also through his instrumentality that what was known as the five-weeks-month was abolished, a movement which was regarded as greatly for the benefit of the working miner.
Mr. Basset was a man of most kindly disposition, and when, a few years ago, hostile feeling was aroused by what was known as the Do coath fine, it was directed more against his advisers than against him. His agricultural tenants knew him as a considerate landlord; the poor of Camborne and Redruth and the immediate locality of Tehidy mourn him as a generous benefactor.
He was a liberal supporter of every movement that had for its object the promotion of the social, moral and religious well-being of the people. A staunch Churchman, he was a liberal donor to all schemes of Church buildings, extension, and restoration within his district, and he also showed his catholicity of spirit by giving sites for Nonconformist chapels, and, in not a few cases, subscribing to their building funds. To the Jubilee scheme of the Wesleyans of Camborne he last year subscribed £100.
Mr. Basset was the patron of five livings, including Illogan, Redruth, Camborne, and Bodmin. Of the Tehidy working-men’s club at Camborne he was the founder, giving the large and commodious building, and making a large annual grant to the funds, whilst leaving the management almost entirely to the working men themselves. He was also a generous donor to the building-fund of the science and art schools at Redruth and Camborne.
Owing to ill-health Mr. Basset did not fill the place in the public life of the county it was hoped he would fill when, in the prime of life and in apparently robust health, he succeeded to the valuable Tehidy property; but whenever he was able he discharged his duty as a county magistrate.
For several years he was chairman of the Illogan school-board, and he became president of the East Penwith agricultural society. Politically, Mr. Basset was a Liberal, and in 1874 when Sir Colman Rashleigh and Mr. Reginal Kelly contested East Cornwall against Mr. Tremayne and the late Mr. Pole Carew, he supported their candidature by his presence and speech at the meeting held at Calstock. When, however, Mr. Gladstone adopted the Parnellite policy of home-rule he joined the ranks of the Unionists.
It was at home that Mr. Basset was seen at his best. The owner of one of the handsomest mansions and most beautiful parks in Cornwall, he seemed to find his greatest happiness in entertaining his guests, and never was a cricket-match played at Tehidy without his driving to the ground, seeing to the comfort and entertainment of the players, and watching with interest the progress of the game.
He succeeded to the estates after his brothers (John Francis and Arthur) had passed away. The latter’s tenure of the estate was very brief. About eighteen years ago Mr. Basset married Miss Elmhirst, a sister of Major Elmhirst, who has since almost permanently stayed at Tehidy.
Mr. Basset is succeeded in the ownership of the valuable Tehidy estates by his son, the only child of marriage, who is said to have been the first direct heir to the Tehidy estates for the last one hundred years. He is about 16 years of age.
The sad news of Mr. Basset’s death caused profound sorrow in Camborne and district. It cannot by gain-said that there never was a better friend to the Cornish mining community than the deceased. Mrs. Basset will now have sole charge of the estate, and public opinion is that there need be no fear in regard to the poor, that lady having always been exceedingly kind to them.
The death of the lord of Tehidy (Mr. G.L. Basset) was the absorbing subject of conversation throughout the district on Thursday. His praise was on everyone’s lips, his sterling worth and his princely liberality were universally acknowledged. All seemed able to recall some fact testifying to his benevolence. Mention was made of the fact that when he was requested to allow his son to lay the foundation stone of the schools in connection with the Centenary Chapel of the Wesleyans, he not only consented, but added, And I will give you £100 towards the scheme. He also recently subscribed £30 towards the new chapel at Rosecroggan, intimating that if the front elevation was a pleasing one, he would give a second subscription to the building fund. Perhaps that most dwelt upon by the people was his kindness to the Illogan postman whose duty it was to trudge every day to and from Camborne. Very frequently Mr. Basset, out for a drive, would take up the aged postman, convey him into the town, wait at the post-office, and drive him back to the village again. His death is declared to be the severest blow that has fallen upon the district for a generation. The heir being under age the estates will be administered for the next five years by trustees, who it is feared, will not have the power to continue those reductions of rents and dues which Mr. Basset made in so many cases to meet the exigencies of the times. If that fear is realized, it will indeed be a serious matter for the district. The funeral was fixed for the day previous to the opening of the exhibition of the Mining Association of which he was the president, and in which he took a great interest. It appears that Mr. Basset was anxious to return to Cornwall before Tuesday, but his medical advisers thought he was not in a fit state to travel. He had a presentiment that he was going home to die, but although seriously ill he was able at Carn Brea to give gratuities to the guard, the driver, and the fireman of the special train in which he had travelled from London. One of the traits of his character was a keen appreciation of services - often trifling services - rendered him, and it was thus illustrated within a few hours of his death, which was due to paralysis and not to cancer.
Dr. Frank Hichens, of Redruth, who attended Mr. Basset professionally before his departure for London, received a letter from Mrs. Basset on Tuesday asking him to be at Tehidy at eight o’clock on that evening, that he might meet Mr. Basset’s London physician, who was accompanying him home, and confer with him as to the case. Dr. Hitchens went to Tehidy at once, and did so again Wednesday evening. Mr. Basset seemed to have borne the journey quite as well as was expected; he was cheerful, and talked pleasantly of local matters, inquiring particularly as to how affairs were going at the Miners’ hospital at Redruth. Dr. Hichens was much struck with the change in his appearance since he left Cornwall, but did not expect death so soon. Universal sympathy is being expressed for Mrs. Basset, who has greatly endeared herself to the people of Illogan, Redruth, and Camborne, and also for the young heir, who is deprived of his father at a critical period of his life. Mrs. Basset’s brother, Major Elmhirst, who was the late Mr. Basset’s companion in arms in the Crimean war, and who has for some years resided at Tehidy, is fortunately there at this time.
The list of good things done for the inhabitants of Cornwall by Mr. and Mrs. Basset would be sadly incomplete without reference to their constant and thoughtful kindness to the patients of the Miners’ hospital at Redruth. From the first they subscribed liberally to the funds of the hospital, and about five years ago they increased their subscription to £180 per annum. And not content with thus munificently subscribing they, during the summer months, at short intervals, sent conveyances for the patients and entertained them with marked liberality at Tehidy, themselves superintending all arrangements, taking the patients through the house and sending them back to the hospital thoroughly refreshed and delighted at the kindness shown them. Mr. Basset, when in Cornwall, regularly attended the weekly meetings of the Hospital Committee, and took a personal interest in the welfare of the inmates. In all probability, the Women’s Hospital would never have been built but of the action of Mr. and Mrs. Basset. When the suggestion, first made by Dr. Carlyon was afterwards practically seconded by Mr. Wilson, both Mr. and Mrs. Basset readily took up the scheme, being anxious that is should be carried through, and offered the handsome contribution of £500 towards building and furnishing, as well as £200 per annum towards it maintenance. Mr. Basset himself took the chair at all preliminary meetings, nor rested until the scheme was successfully launched. But for Mr. and Mrs. Basset the church of St. Andrew’s, Redruth, would not have been built. Their first liberal contribution of £500 decided the rector and committee to commence the work, and Mrs. Basset laid one of the foundation stones, and afterwards gave the communion service. Mr. Basset himself attended the consecration service being lifted from his carriage and carried into the church in his chair. And last year, when the Building Committee were almost in despair at the existing debt the owners of Tehidy again came liberally to their help, offering £200 towards the debt provided the remainder of the deficit could be raised by the end of May, an offer which so stimulated the committee that the debt is now entirely wiped out. At Redruth on Thursday the Union Jack was hoisted half-mast high at the Clock Tower.
Dr. G. Moore, of Hertford-street, Mayfair, London, attended the late Mr. Basset for several years, up to the time of his death.
The Cornishman
Thursday, November 29, 1894
The Tehidy Estates
The Late Mr. Basset’s Will
In the Chancery division, on Thursday, before M. Justice Stirling, the adjourned summons was heard in the case of Basset v. St. Levan. The question was one of construction arising on the will of Mr. Gustavus Lambert Basset.
Mr. Basset made his will on March 6th, 1888, and died in the following July. At the time of his death he was tenant for life under a settlement of March 3rd, 1854, of the Basset estates at Camborne in Corwnall. That settlement contained certain limitations, amongst them being a limitation of the estate to Gustavus Lambert Basset for life with remainder to the first and other sons in tail.
The settlement contained a power of sale and a direction that the proceeds of any such sale should be invested in the purchase of land either in Cornwall or elsewhere. There was also created under the settlement a term of 99 years in trustees who, during the minority of any tenant in tail, had power to enter and manage, and after making certain provisions out of the rents, were under the obligation of investing the surplus rents in the purchase of land.
At the time of Mr. Gustavus Lambert Basset’s death there were considerable funds, which under the trusts of the settlement were liable to be laid out in the purchase of land, the amount of money being now £140,000. The testator left surviving him an only son, the plaintiff, Arthur Francis Basset, who had attained the age of 21, and during his minority considerable accumulations were made of the rents of the real estate comprised in the settlement.
The testator, by his will, stated that he was desirous that the Tehidy manor and estates should be sold in the event of failure of his own issue, and he directed his son, Arthur Francis, “within six months of my death, or on this attaining the age of twenty-one years, whichever shall first happen, to effectually disentail the said manor, estate, and all other estates and hereditaments,” subject to the limitations in the settlement of March 3rd, 1854, and to execute within the time aforesaid an effectual resettlement thereof to the use of Arthur Francis Basset during life with remainder to his first and other sons in tail male.
The questions left for the determination of the Court was what property was to be comprised in the disentailing deed and resettlement which the testator desired his son to execute, it being contended by the trustees that these funds would not come within the scope of such disentailing deed.
On the other hand it was contended that these funds were restated or hereditaments which at the time when Arthur Francis Basset attained his majority were subject to the limitations of the settlement of March 3rd, 1854. It was stated in the course of the case that the trustees (Lord St. Levan, Mr. Higgins, and Mr. Marriott) had not the slightest desire to interfere with the plaintiff’s enjoyment of the estate in any way, but simply desired to safeguard the interests of those who were entitled to remainders over.
Mr. Justice Stirling, in the course of a very elaborate judgment, decided that the funds were described by the words “all other estates and hereditaments subject to the limitations or the settlement of the 3rd of March, 1854,” saying that in order that a proper disentailing assurance and resettlement should be made according to the directions in the testator’s will it was necessary that both the disentailing assurance and resettlement should include these funds. - Judgement accordingly.
There was a second summons in the case under the title of Basset v. Higgins, in which Arthur Francis Basset was plaintiff and the trustees were defendants. The object of the summons was to obtain sanction for setting aside certain securities so as to satisfy certain annuities left by the testator. The annuities amounted to £795, and the plaintiff proposed to set apart securities which would produce an annual income of £814. In addition there were two annuities amounting to £1300, which the testator had granted during his lifetime, and which was secured upon certain property. The trustees did not oppose, and the Court sanctioned the application.
Mr. Graham Hastings, Q.C., and Mr. Arthur Challis for plaintiff; and Mr. Gifford, Q.C., and Mr. Morton for the trustees.
The Indianapolis Star
Saturday, November 13, 1915
A sensation has been created in Cornwall by the announcement of the private sale of Tehidy estates, which have been owned by the Bassett family for 700 years. The Bassetts established themselves in Cornwall shortly after the Norman conquest. About a century later they obtained Tehidy by marriage with the heiress of the noted family of DeDunstanville. They were lucky in marrying a succession of heiresses in Devon and Cornwall after they had almost lost their fortune in the war of the roses. Francis Bassett was created a baronet in 1779, and in 1796 he was raised to the peerage by Mr. Pitt as Baron DeDunstanville. Like so many other peers, he followed the family tradition by marrying an heiress and left a daughter, who succeeded under a special remainder to the barony of Bassett, which had been created in 1797. On her death the estates passed to a collateral branch, and they have been owned for many years by A.F. Bassett.
Tehidy Park, near Camborne, comprises about 900 acres. The place was greatly improved about half a century ago by F.A. Bassett, who rebuilt the house, which contains a gallery of fine pictures, old masters and portraits. In the grounds is a striking memorial to Susannah, first wife of Lord DeDunstanville, who died in 1823. The estates include valuable mineral rights, notably the famous Dolcoath mine. The mines for years produced about $85,000 a year for the owner, but the return now is much smaller. The sale has excited a feeling of consternation in the district, when most of the farmers on the estates at Michaelmas received notices to terminate their tenancies within twelve months. FLANEUR
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Bassett Family Association Database
1834 - 1888 (53 years)
(Age 51 years)