Clowance Street

Since they acquired the Manor of Stoke Damerel in 1749 the St. Aubyn family have been the principal private landowners in Devonport and many names there reflect the family connection, among them is Clowance Street.

Originally a French family who came over in the wake of the Norman Conquest, the St. Aubyn's moved into an ancient manor house in Cornwall 1380. Not far from the mining village of Praze-an-Beeble the house appears to have been known as “Clunewic” at the time of the Domesday survey, later evolving into Clowance.

For many centuries the house was the main family residence until the move to St. Michael’s Mount, which they had purchased in 1659.