The Rose in Vale Country House Hotel and the Valley Restaurant is said to have been built as a winter residence for Captain John Oates.
It seems as though although Captain Oates certainly was an early inhabitant of the Rose in Vale, the Original Occupiers were Mr & Mrs Townsend.
Captain Oates was the owner of the Great Wheal Leisure Copper Mine at Perranporth. He was involved in other mines and is said to have controlled all of the mines in the locality. It was an elegant private house with its Gatekeeper’s cottage at the entrance (on the right as you enter the drive) but it is unlikely that Captain Oates built it. It could be that he refurbished or extended it but he could not have built it.
The Tithe map of 1840 shows Capt Oates as the occupier and Sir R. R. Vyvyan as the landowner. It is not known when Capt Oates took up residence but it was probably during the very early 1800s. He was definitely living here in 1830 up until the 1850s. It seems likely that the Nankivells and James’ lived in the Rose in Vale before Captain Oates and that the house was built circa 1770.
The Rev. W. Haslam preached on the lawn of Rose-in-Vale and in his book, "From Death into Life" refers to Capt Oates as, the chief parishioner. He was an uneducated man who had risen from the rank of a common miner to that of a mine captain. He further describes him as "Being very shrewd and clever and as having succeeded in accumulating a considerable sum of money." He goes on to say, "Being the wealthy man of the parish, he sat on Sunday in the large square pew; but beyond giving personal attendance, and that very regularly, I do not know what other heed he gave, either to the service or the sermon." In another book, Capt Oates is described as, one of the mining kings of the day. Captain William Roberts in his book, "Perranporth", describes him as, "Uneducated, thrifty, genial, considerate with all". Captain Oates died with no direct relatives and his property passed to Mr. Charles Tregonning. He was buried at Perranzabuloe Parish Church.
The original inhabitants were Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Nankivell. The Nankivell’s lived here in the late 1700s. It was during this time that a young John Opie (born 1761) became a regular visitor to the House as is sister was in service there.
Ada Earland, in her book JOHN OPIE AND HIS CIRCLE (written in 1911) says, "Mr. Thomas Nankivell of Rosenvale and his daughter, Joyce, had also been kind to the boy; there is a tradition in the family that Opie painted young Mrs. Joseph Townsend (Joyce Nankivell) out of gratitude for assistance she had given him in his artistic training. Joyce Nankivell was a local beauty, possessing "great sweetness and animation." The name of her father’s house, "Rose-in-Vale", is said to have been given as a pretty compliment from a visitor to this fair Cornish flower set in the deep valley in which stood the house." Joyce has been described elsewhere as, "The Belle of Mithian."
During the early 1780s to the turn of the century The Rose in Vale was the home of John James. John James was the founder of Nalders Solicitors and he was one of the twenty-four capital burgesses of Truro who were the only people entitled to vote at general elections prior to 1832.
In 1804 the Rose in Vale then the estate of John James (senior) was wound up and sold by auction.
The auction notes read,
"Lot 2. For the remainder of 99 years determinable on the death of three lives that genteel and modern built dwelling house together with stables, barn, outhouses and about 14 acres. Called "Rose-in-Vale", Perranzabuloe. Rent £27.2.6.
Comprising drawing room, dining parlour, hall, kitchen, laundry, dairy, pantry, back kitchen, suitable office, eight bedrooms and being beautifully situated in midst of a fine sporting county, render it a suitable residence for a genteel family."