| Admin History | Johannes knill was actually John Knill born in Callington Cornwall in 1733. Between 1762 and 1782 he worked as a collector of customs revenue for the the St Ives area and he also became Major of St Ives Town Council in 1767. Knill was considered eccentric and in 1767 erected a 50ft 3 sided pyramid shped granite memorial, known as Knill's Steeple to be used as his final resting place with his will giving detailed instructions for ceremonies to be carried out every 5 years on St James Day - July 25th at the Steeple. This should include dancing by the daughters of fisherman, tinners or seamen under the age of ten who are accompanied by 2 widows, the Mayor, Customs Officer and a Master of Ceremonies. Knill left a legacy of £25 for the monument's up keep and for the ceremony to take place. The first ceremony was in 1801 and Knill participated in it himself. (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~kingsman/kinsman/cornwall/indiI1567.html Accessed 12.10.2016). |