St Keverne

Last updated

St Keverne
St Keverne Village Square - geograph.org.uk - 1815453.jpg
St Keverne village square
Cornwall UK mainland location map.svg
Red pog.svg
St Keverne
Location within Cornwall
Population2,147 (Civil Parish, 2011)
OS grid reference SW789212
Civil parish
  • St Keverne
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town Helston
Postcode district TR12
Dialling code 01326
Police Devon and Cornwall
Fire Cornwall
Ambulance South Western
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Cornwall
50°03′00″N5°05′20″W / 50.050°N 5.089°W / 50.050; -5.089
St Keverne parish church St keverne church.JPG
St Keverne parish church
St Keverne in relation to neighbouring parishes CornwallMapOfParishesOnTheLizard.gif
St Keverne in relation to neighbouring parishes

St Keverne (Cornish : Pluw Aghevran (parish), Lannaghevran (village)) is a civil parish and village on The Lizard in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. [1]

Contents

In addition to the parish, an electoral ward exists called St Keverne and Meneage . This stretches to the western Lizard coast at Gunwalloe. The population of the ward at the 2011 election was 5,220. [2]

The Cornish rebellion of 1497 started in St Keverne. The leader of the rebellion Michael An Gof ("the smith" in Cornish) was a blacksmith from St Keverne and is commemorated by a statue in the village. Before his execution, An Gof said that he should have "a name perpetual and a fame permanent and immortal". In 1997 a 500th anniversary march, "Keskerdh Kernow 500", celebrating the rebellion, retraced the route of the original march from St Keverne, via Guildford to London.

Geography

The parish is a large one. It includes some 10 miles of coast from Nare Point at the mouth of the Helford River to Kennack Sands, and the Manacles offshore. Settlements on the coast include Porthallow, Porthoustock and Coverack. Inland the parish includes the hamlets of Zoar, Laddenvean, Traboe, Trelan and Gwenter. The eastern part of Goonhilly Downs is also in the parish.

St Keverne lies within the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Parish Church of St Akeveranus

St Keverne was, in the Middle Ages, the site of an important monastery. The church is dedicated to St Akeveranus, although for a considerable period this was corrupted to Kieran; the form Keverne was revived at the Reformation. [nb 1]

The church is very large for a village church and in its present form is 15th-century: however parts of the stonework appear to have been reused from a previous church building. Unusually for Cornwall, the tower is topped by a spire. Other features of interest include the bench ends and a mural painting. [4]

A 32-pounder carronade that divers recovered in 1978 from the wreck of HMS Primose stands by the lych-gate to the churchyard. (Primrose was wrecked on The Manacles off The Lizard on 21 January 1809 with the loss of 125 lives and only one survivor, a drummer boy.)

The peal of ten bells is one of the largest two peals in a Cornish parish church; until 2001 St Keverne had eight bells to which two more were then added (Carbis Bay already had a peal of ten). [5]

History and antiquities

St. Keverne has been inhabited for many thousands of years, and there is evidence of human habitation from at least the Mesolithic period, c. 5550 BC. The area is rich in archaeological history from a variety of different periods, including flints, pottery, cists, round houses, and cliff castles.

Prehistory

The Mesolithic
In 1967, A Mesolithic site known as Rock Mound was discovered at Poldowrian Site, which is situated near the Lankidden Cliff Castle. The Mesolithic site was dated between 5,550 and 5250 BC, from some hazelnut fragments. Flint tools were first discovered during attempts to plow the land for planting, and overall, nearly 48,000 flint tools were discovered. [6]

Neolithic
During the Neolithic period and beyond, St. Keverne was one of the primary sources of clay for pottery. Gabbroic clay covers an area of approximately 7 square miles of the Lizard Peninsula, mainly in the area of St. Keverne Parish. The clay lies at a depth of 8 – 18 inches below the topsoil. In the late 1960s, Dr. D. Peacock examined numerous potsherds from around Cornwall, and came to the conclusion that they were all made from the same gabbroic clay from St. Keverne. [7] Most of the paleolithic pottery from around Cornwall has been found to be made of gabbroic clay, such as the sherds at the Neolithic site of Carn Brea at Redruth.

Beaker Pottery
St. Keverne has yielded an exceptional amount of Beaker pottery. The Beaker Mound at Poldowrian has yielded one of the finest caches of Beaker pottery in Cornwall. [8]

Bronze Age

Bronze Age "Dry Tree Menhir," Goonhilly Downs Dry Tree menhir, Goonhilly Downs - geograph.org.uk - 526157.jpg
Bronze Age "Dry Tree Menhir," Goonhilly Downs

Goonhilly Downs contains over 65 Bronze Age barrows, as well as the "dry tree" standing stone. [9] A Bronze Age standing stone exists at Tremenheere, which means "Standing Stone Farm" (Tre = place/farm, Menhir = standing stone) and there is another place of the same name in Ludgvan. [10] Other antiquities are a cist called the Three Brothers of Grugith on Crowza Downs and a destroyed fogou at Polkernogo. [11]

Iron Age
St. Keverne has a number of Iron Age sites, with two of the most dramatic being the cliff castles of Chynalls and Lankidden. All that is left in these sites are the faint markings of the ditches and banks that would have protected these castles, but during the Iron Age they would have provided a "prominent focus within a landscape quite densely populated by contemporary settlements or "rounds."" [12] Another notable Iron Age artefact originating in St. Keverne is the elaborately engraved bronze mirror discovered in a cist grave, in 1833. This mirror was accompanied by two brooches, some beads, and two rings. [13]

Middle Ages

St Keverne was in Celtic times part of the Meneage which belonged to several small monasteries. The monastery at St Keverne survived the Norman Conquest but was seized soon after by a lay lord. (According to the Geld Inquest of 1083 the canons of St Achebranus held one hide in the hundred of Winningtone (i.e. Kerrier) that never paid geld.) [14]

The Condura and Tregarne manors in St Keverne parish were associated with Condura, the Cornish Earl of Cornwall at the time of the Norman Conquest, according to antiquary William Hals. [15]

By 1236 the churches and demesnes of Tregonan had come into the possession of the Cistercian abbey at Beaulieu and their title was confirmed by Richard, Earl of Cornwall in 1258. This was a valuable possession including as it did the rectorial tithe of a large and prosperous parish, the tithe of fish, and the lands of the churchtown. The right of sanctuary held by Beaulieu Abbey was extended to St Keverne. A small cell of monks was maintained at Tregonan; slight remains of the building there existed until the early 20th century. [16] In the parish is Lesneague which can be derived from Cornish lis (court) and manahec (monks' land) which would indicate that it was once the seat of a local chieftain. [17]

Cornish wrestling

There have been Cornish wrestling tournaments in St Keverne for prizes. [18]

James Polkinghorne James Polkinghorne.jpg
James Polkinghorne

James Polkinghorne (1788–1851) [19] was born at St Keverne [20] and was one of the most famous champion Cornish wrestlers who had a number of famous contests against Devon fighters, including Flower, Jackman (1816) [21] and Abraham Cann (1826), which drew very large crowds of spectators (c17,000). [22] [23]

Henry Cuttance (1807–?), from St Keverne, was a champion Cornish wrestler who the initiator in rallying the local people to assist in the rescue of the crew of the Norwegian schooner, the Elizabeth of Bergen, when it ran aground in 1846. [24]

Notable residents

St Keverne war memorial St Keverne Cross - geograph.org.uk - 543333.jpg
St Keverne war memorial

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Nothing certain is known of St Akeveranus whose name occurs in various forms in medieval records: "Achebranus" (1083), "Achebrann" (1086), "Akeveran" (1201), "Akevran" (1278); forms similar to Kieran do not occur before 1283. The name Lanhaverne at St Keverne churchtown is formed of "lan" and "Akeveran". A legend is told of St Just visiting St Keverne and stealing a chalice; as he fled Keverne threw three stones after him which landed near Germoe at a place known as Tremenheverne (i.e. the three stones of Keverne). [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bodmin</span> Town in east-central Cornwall, England

Bodmin is a town and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated south-west of Bodmin Moor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Lizard</span> Peninsula in southern Cornwall, England

The Lizard is a peninsula in southern Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The most southerly point of the British mainland is near Lizard Point at SW 701115; Lizard village, also known as the Lizard, is the most southerly on the British mainland, and is in the civil parish of Landewednack, the most southerly parish. The valleys of the river Helford and Loe Pool form the northern boundary, with the rest of the peninsula surrounded by sea. The area measures about 14 by 14 miles. The Lizard is one of England's natural regions and has been designated as a National Character Area 157 by Natural England. The peninsula is known for its geology and for its rare plants and lies within the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Austell</span> Town in Cornwall, England

Saint Austell is a town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, 10 miles (16 km) south of Bodmin and 30 miles (48 km) west of the border with Devon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael An Gof</span> One of the leaders of the Cornish Rebellion of 1497

Michael Joseph, better known as Michael An Gof, was one of the leaders of the Cornish rebellion of 1497, along with Thomas Flamank.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Flamank</span> Cornish lawyer and rebel

Thomas Flamank was a lawyer and former MP from Cornwall, who together with Michael An Gof led the Cornish rebellion of 1497, a protest against taxes imposed by Henry VII of England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carn Brea, Redruth</span> Civil parish and site in Cornwall, England

Carn Brea is a civil parish and hilltop site in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The population of Carn Brea including Bosleake and Church Coombe was 8,013 at the 2011 census. The hilltop site is situated approximately one mile (1.6 km) southwest of Redruth. The settlements of Bosleake, Brea, Broad Lane, Carn Arthen, Carn Brea Village, Carnkie, Four Lanes, Grillis, Illogan Highway, Pencoys, Penhallick, Piece, Pool, Tolskithy, Tregajorran, Treskillard, Tuckingmill and West Tolgus are in the parish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cornish rebellion of 1497</span> Popular uprising in England

The Cornish rebellion of 1497, also known as the First Cornish rebellion, was a popular uprising in the Kingdom of England, which began in Cornwall and culminated with the Battle of Deptford Bridge near London on 17 June 1497.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Cornwall</span> County in England, United Kingdom

The history of Cornwall goes back to the Paleolithic, but in this period Cornwall only had sporadic visits by groups of humans. Continuous occupation started around 10,000 years ago after the end of the last ice age. When recorded history started in the first century BCE, the spoken language was Common Brittonic, and that would develop into Southwestern Brittonic and then the Cornish language. Cornwall was part of the territory of the tribe of the Dumnonii that included modern-day Devon and parts of Somerset. After a period of Roman rule, Cornwall reverted to rule by independent Romano-British leaders and continued to have a close relationship with Brittany and Wales as well as southern Ireland, which neighboured across the Celtic Sea. After the collapse of Dumnonia, the remaining territory of Cornwall came into conflict with neighbouring Wessex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coverack</span> Coastal village and fishing port in south Cornwall, England

Coverack is a coastal village and fishing port in Cornwall, UK. It lies in the parish of St Keverne, on the east side of the Lizard peninsula about nine miles (14 km) south of Falmouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Egloshayle</span> Human settlement in England

Egloshayle is a civil parish and village in north Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village is beside the River Camel, southeast of Wadebridge. The civil parish stretches southeast from the village and includes Washaway and Sladesbridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manaccan</span> Village in south Cornwall, England

Manaccan is a civil parish and village on the Lizard peninsula in south Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village is about five miles (8 km) south-southwest of Falmouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Breward</span> Civil parish and village in Cornwall, England

St Breward is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is on the western side of Bodmin Moor, about 6 miles (10 km) north of Bodmin. At the 2011 census the parish population including Cooksland and Fentonadle was 919.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linkinhorne</span> Civil parish and village in south-east Cornwall, England

Linkinhorne is a civil parish and village in southeast Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village itself is situated at grid reference SX 320 736 and is approximately four miles (6.5 km) northwest of Callington and seven miles (11 km) south of Launceston. The parish population at the 2011 census including Downgate was 1,541

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meneage</span>

The Meneage is a district in west Cornwall, United Kingdom. The nearest large towns are Falmouth and Helston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coverack to Porthoustock</span> Protected area in Cornwall, England

Coverack to Porthoustock is a coastal Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Cornwall, England, UK, noted for both its biological and geological characteristics. The site contains four ICUN Red List plant species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Promontory forts of Cornwall</span> Cliff castles in north-west Europe

Cornish promontory forts, commonly known in Cornwall as cliff castles, are coastal equivalents of the hill forts and Cornish "rounds" found on Cornish hilltops and slopes. Similar coastal forts are found on the north–west European seaboard, in Normandy, Brittany and around the coastlines of the British Isles, especially in Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Many are known in southwest England, particularly in Cornwall and its neighbouring county, Devon. Two have been identified immediately west of Cornwall, in the Isles of Scilly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of Cornwall</span> Overview of and topical guide to Cornwall

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Cornwall: Cornwall – ceremonial county and unitary authority area of England within the United Kingdom. Cornwall is a peninsula bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall is also a royal duchy of the United Kingdom. It has an estimated population of half a million and it has its own distinctive history and culture.

Presented below is an alphabetical index of articles related to Cornwall:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cornish Bronze Age</span> Period of Cornish history from c. 2400 until c. 800 BCE

The Cornish Bronze Age is an era of the prehistory of Cornwall that spanned the period from c. 2400 BCE to c. 800 BCE. It was preceded by the Cornish Neolithic, and followed by the Cornish Iron Age. It is characterized by the introduction and widespread use of copper and copper-alloy (bronze) weapons and tools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prehistoric Cornwall</span> Period of Cornish history from c. 225,000 years ago until c. 43 CE

The prehistory of Cornwall spans an extensive timeframe from the earliest evidence of archaic human presence in Cornwall, perhaps c. 225,000 years ago, to the Roman conquest of Britain c. 43 CE, encompassing the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age, and Iron Age periods. Throughout this era Cornwall underwent significant cultural and environmental changes, evolving from a sparsely-populated hunter-gatherer society reliant on rudimentary stone tools to an agricultural society characterized by developed metallurgical practices, expansive trade networks, and emerging social complexity.

References

  1. ↑ Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 204 Truro & Falmouth ISBN   978-0-319-23149-4
  2. ↑ "Ward population 2011" . Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  3. ↑ Gilbert Hunter Doble (1962) The Saints of Cornwall; part 2. Truro: Dean and Chapter; pp. 54–58
  4. ↑ Cornish Church Guide (1925) Truro: Blackford; pp. 117–118
  5. ↑ Dove, R. H. (2012), A Bellringer's Guide to the Church Bells of Britain and Ringing Peals of the World, 10th ed. Guildford: Viggers (eight bells in Dove's Guide 6th ed., 1982)
  6. ↑ "St. Keverne Local Archaeology Society".
  7. ↑ "gabbroic clay". St. Keverne Local History Society. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  8. ↑ "Archaeology in The Parish". St. Kevern Local Archaeology Society. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  9. ↑ "Dry Tree Standing Stone". The Megalithic Portal. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  10. ↑ "Tremenheere". Cornwall's archaeological heritage. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  11. ↑ Hencken, H. O'N. (1932) The Archaeology of Cornwall and Scilly. London: Methuen; p. 300.
  12. ↑ "Iron Age Sites: Chynalls". Cornwall's Archeological Heritage. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  13. ↑ "Decorated bronze mirror". The British Museum. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  14. ↑ Doble, G. H. (1962) The Saints of Cornwall; part 2. Truro: Dean and Chapter; p. 55
  15. ↑ Gilbert, Davies, ed. (1838). "St Keverne". The Parochial History of Cornwall, Founded on the Manuscript Histories of Mr. Hals and Mr. Tonkin; with Additions and Various Appendices. Vol. 2. London: J. B. Nichols and Son. p. 320.
  16. ↑ Cornish Church Guide (1925) Truro: Blackford; pp. 117–18
  17. ↑ Henderson, C. (1933) "Helston", in his: Essays in Cornish History. Oxford; Clarendon Press; p. 68
  18. ↑ West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 2 July 1981.
  19. ↑ Deaths, Royal Cornwall Gazette - Friday 19 September 1851, p5.
  20. ↑ Pascoe, Harry, Cornish wrestling, Tre Pol and Pen The Cornish Annual, 1928, p63-69.
  21. ↑ Cornish wrestling champion of 150 years ago, Cornish Guardian, 17 March 1966, p10.
  22. ↑ Tripp, Michael: PERSISTENCE OF DIFFERENCE: A HISTORY OF CORNISH WRESTLING, University of Exeter as a thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 2009, Vol I p2-217.
  23. ↑ The great wrestling match, Globe, 26 October 1826, p3.
  24. ↑ Heroic collection under the hammer, The West Briton, 23 February 2017, p54.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.