A Cornish Family History

William of Mortaine was Earl of Cornwall from 1090 until he retired and his son got the job. He was probably the one who said to Thomas Paynter, one day in 1120, "Dyth Da, Paynter, Fatla genes?" because no-one spoke English then. He then said something like 'Would you be the Mayor of Bodmin, please?' and Thomas said 'OK.'

Since that day the Paynters have been an important part of the history of the world and Cornwall, being mentioned in many of the papers of the day. Also mentioned in all the important publications of the times was Sir George Camborne who led the front rank of the Archers at the battle of Poictiers in 1356. This is where the crest (3 broken broad arrows) on our family coat of arms comes from. Things were fairly quiet from then until one day John de Camburne killed or murdered a man in London and fled to Ireland to escape retribution. He returned a few years later and was known as William Camborne alias Paynter of Deverill in Gwynear. He had claimed his victims wife, title, lands and family which indicates that the murder was actually a duel. As he now had two sons, both called William, it also indicates bad judgement on his part. He was granted new arms by Garter King of Arms on 22nd July, 1569 and had lots of issue and we spread out everywhere.

The Camborne part of the name was dropped after a few generations and regularly cropped up as a first name. This is still the case in some branches of the family. Arthur Paynter of Trelissick is mentioned in 1597 when he married a nice girl called Grace Roskrig. Francis Paynter of Boskenna, born in 1639 and married in 1678 to Margaret, daughter of Sir Henry Paulet.

Round about this time they drifted slowly from buccaneering, a profitable business which operated from Fowey against nearly everybody who was Spanish or maybe French, and slowly veered towards more reputable endeavours. Many of the Paynter family became either Lawyers or Priests because, as reported by Mary Paynter in the 1700's, 'It was the only way they could hang on to what they had got!' Many others became sailors, mostly Admirals and other Officers. One was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun when he delivered a ship to the Japanese, under the Russian guns, when they were fighting the Russians! Edward Paynter of Boskenna, 1798-1826 was prosecuted by Sir Rose Price in Sept 1824 for poaching and killing, without having a game license, 5 partridges at Bosleavan, for a dinner party at Boskenna at which Sir Rose Price was himself to be a guest. The case was tried on 9th April 1824, verdict for the plaintiff, £5. This case made legal history. The plaintiff was the prosecuting counsel and the defendant was the defending counsel!

Especially notable among the Churchy types were a Paynter of Boskenna who took a whip to John Wesley because he disagreed with his preaching, and a certain George William Camborne alias Paynter, who was the vicar of Totnes Priory and Father to Charles Paulet Camborne Paynter who felt that only the first or true line of the Family should have the surname Camborne-Paynter. He was born a Paynter and buried as a Camborne-Paynter in Kilmington, Wiltshire on January 1st 1948. If it had not been for him neither Robert Gerald Camborne-Paynter, nor his son Paulet Robert Camborne-Paynter would have been born. But they were, and Paulet Robert was responsible for the sudden appearance of the current brood of Camborne-Paynters, one of whom is the chef proprietor of Austell's.

And so to the current day, where Brett comes to Carlyon Bay fresh from winning 2 AA rosettes for the Parkside, Milton Keynes. He gained his culinary skills from some highly respected establishments including The Ivy, The Waldorf and perhaps most notably, The Four Seasons with Jean Christophe Novelli of Hell's Kitchen fame. A passionate believer in using fresh, local, seasonal produce and cooking it with respect and care to ensure the real flavours burst through, Brett's style is resolutely modern British but he often varies it with a delicate Mediterranean twist. Brett has since won 2 AA rosettes for Austell's

Our aim is to gain a third AA rosette for Austell's as soon as possible and also work towards a Michelin star creating St Austell's first Michelin restaurant.

We hope you enjoy your meal and that everything meets or exceeds your expectations!