History

The house is an original fisherman’s cottage, built Circa 1850, of two feet thick (60 Centimeter) granite walls and old ships' oak timbers.  At the time Ealing House was built, the outer harbour at Porthleven had been completed some 25 years previous but the pier and inner harbour protection was still under construction   Clearly the port was beginning to flourish and fishermen began to construct their homes near and around the port but just sufficiently away to avoid the vagaries of the winter weather.  Little history of the property is known; Title Deeds do not now detail previous ownership, although we are investigating.  What we do know is that the lower floor was used for hanging the fishing nets and the upper floor housed the living quarters.  Also what is known as a 'coffin drop' was installed upstairs so those that had sadly passed away could be easily lowered down to the ground floor.

Although little history is known about the property, in a conveyance dated 28th July 1926, John Peverell Rogers (the then Squire of Penrose) sold land and property to the recently wed (Q3 1925 at Helston), Thomas James Hocking and his wife Emily Jane (née Turner), for £230.  This property comprised what is now Ealing House plus two cottages that are now combined as Kyldenna (formerly named Homleigh) and cellars to the rear.  

The land upon which Jersey Cottage stands (next door) is shown as property owned by the Squire and the building the other side of Ealing House is described as a Fish Cellar occupied by Fox & Co, behind which is a garden and land that must now be Elfin Cottage.  The plans are definitely inaccurate as they show the properties, yards and lands stretching as far as The Gue (incorrectly spelt Gew) and both Elfin Cottage and cottages in Church Lane, that must predate 1926, are not shown.  The plans are very arguable as there is much property situate between Kyldenna and The Gue and the buildings are out of proportion with the described land area.  Prospect Place is an unnamed road and the path leading to Kyldenna (Church Lane) is also unnamed.

What is particularly interesting however is that Ealing House is described as a shop and dwellinghouse late in possession of Harriet Kitto (sister of Richard Kitto who famously owned the boatyard). 

On the 1861 census, Harriet Kitto was said to be a 22 year old Grocer's assistant and in the 1871 census she was an unmarried Grocer.  By the 1881 census she was then the shopkeeper, still unmarried, with her assistant niece Elizabeth Kitto who was married to a Mariner.  Harriett remained a spinster as the 1911 census shows her remaining as the owner of a 6-room "small general shop" in Prospect Place.   

So Ealing House was almost certainly used as a shop from the 1880's through 1911 and possibly on to 1926 when Harriet passed away during the March Quarter at the age of 87; shortly after which its conveyance to the Hockings occured.  What the cellars are to the rear of Kyldenna is unknown.  However it is known that the two cottages comprising the now named Kyldenna were sold by the Hockings' to the Orchards' in 1930 for the princely sum of £150; Ealing House therefore having cost the Hockings' £80.  Kyldenna stayed in the Orchard family for 66 years.

But there is a further interesting fact about the property, that being a one time resident.  Up until his death on August 31st 1946 Percy Edward Pinkerton, the writer, poet and translator lived here.

We are aware that Ealing House was a sweet shop and tobacconist during the late 40’s and 50’s. At which time the front conservatory and balcony did not exist and the entrance was from steep steps up through the double doors. When the front conservatory was built the entrance became easier to negotiate but due to the lay of the land you now step down into the house. The property is only approximately 100 yards from the harbour (116 of my paces). However, due to the lay of the land and surrounding properties, the cottage doesn’t possess views of the harbour; although the hillsides to the west are clearly visible and a glimpse of the sea may be had from the balcony on good days. The cottage faces due South West and therefore, weather permitting, the front benefits from sunny afternoons in both summer and wintertime. Though its position also serves to provide considerable protection in stormy weather and its location was no doubt well considered by its builders for that very reason.

Ealing House was given its name by Emily Hocking who hailed from Ealing (West London).  We coincidentally at one time lived in Ealing and we have therefore retained the name.  

In view of its age, Ealing House is in excellent condition and it has been tastefully modernised in keeping with its heritage.