Cornwall: history, surnames and society, from Bernard Deacon
My religious correspondent has sent me this description of two Cornish churches which both have medieval art worth taking a look at. Breage The most striking thing about Breage church is its wall paintings. The two largest are opposite the main door. On the left is St. Christopher, patron saint of travellers, greeting you as … Continue reading What to see in Cornish churches: 1
A hundred years ago today the man engine collapsed at Levant mine, Pendeen, near St Just. This was the second worse mine disaster in Cornwall’s history. Thirty-one miners lost their lives and many others were badly injured. The man engine was a device that conveyed miners to and from the surface, allowing them to avoid … Continue reading The Levant mine disaster
Yesterday, I was asked to give a short talk on the history of Cornwall. How do you sum up 2,000 years of history in 45 minutes? Tricky. This was my attempt. A golden age is a period of victory or defeat (or both) which later becomes mythologised and looked back on with pride. A turning … Continue reading Three golden ages and six turning points: a history of Cornwall in 500 words
In 1862 a Parliamentary enquiry into the condition of metal miners interviewed several miners in Cornwall. Their life histories provide a fascinating insight into their moves from mine to mine. They indicate that miners moved frequently. One of the most extreme examples was an anonymous miner at St Cleer. Aged 36 in 1862, he had … Continue reading A miner on the move
Cornish studies resources 