Portal:Cornwall

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Porth Kernow a'gas dynnargh!
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P:CW

Cornwall (/ˈkɔːrnwɔːl, -wəl/; Cornish: Kernow; Cornish pronunciation: [ˈkɛrnɔʊ]; or [ˈkɛrnɔ]) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is recognised by Cornish and Celtic political groups as one of the Celtic nations, and is the homeland of the Cornish people. The county is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, Devon to the east, and the English Channel to the south. The largest urban area in the county is a conurbation that includes the former mining towns of Redruth and Camborne, and the county town is the city of Truro.

The county is rural, with an area of 1,375 square miles (3,562 km²) and population of 568,210. Outside of the Redruth-Camborne conurbation the largest settlements are Falmouth, Penzance, Newquay, St Austell, and Truro. For local government purposes most of Cornwall is a unitary authority area, with the Isles of Scilly having a unique local authority. The Cornish nationalist movement disputes the constitutional status of Cornwall and seeks greater autonomy within the United Kingdom.

Cornwall is the westernmost part of the South West Peninsula, and the southernmost county within the United Kingdom. Its coastline is characterised by steep cliffs and, to the south, several rias, including those at the mouths of the rivers Fal and Fowey. It includes the southernmost point on Great Britain, Lizard Point, and forms a large part of the Cornwall National Landscape. The national landscape also includes Bodmin Moor, an upland outcrop of the Cornubian batholith granite formation. The county contains many short rivers; the longest is the Tamar, which forms the border with Devon. (Full article...)

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View from the Royal Albert Bridge, 2009

The Tamar Bridge is a suspension bridge over the River Tamar between Saltash, Cornwall and Plymouth, Devon in southwest England. It is 335 metres (1,099 ft) long, running adjacent the Royal Albert Bridge, and part of the A38, a main road between the two counties.

During the 20th century, there was increasing demand to replace or supplement the Saltash and Torpoint ferries, which could not cope with the rise in motor traffic. The Government refused to prioritise the project, so it was financed by Plymouth City Council and Cornwall County Council. Construction was undertaken by the Cleveland Bridge & Engineering Company and began in 1959. It was unofficially opened in October 1961, with a formal presentation by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in April 1962. A reconstruction of the bridge began in 1999 after it was found to be unable to support a European Union requirement for goods vehicle weights. The work involved building two new parallel decks while the original construction was completely rebuilt. The project was completed in late 2001 and formally opened by Princess Anne in April 2002. The extra decks have remained in use, increasing the bridge's capacity.

The bridge is tolled for eastbound travel, with a discount available via an electronic payment scheme. It has become a significant landmark in Plymouth, Saltash and the surrounding area, and used on several occasions for protests or to highlight the work of charities and fundraisers. (Full article...)

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du Maurier, c. 1930

Dame Daphne du Maurier, Lady Browning, DBE (/duː ˈmɒrieɪ/; 13 May 1907 – 19 April 1989) was an English novelist, biographer and playwright. Her parents were actor-manager Sir Gerald du Maurier and his wife, actress Muriel Beaumont. Her grandfather George du Maurier was a writer and cartoonist.

Although du Maurier is classed as a romantic novelist, her stories have been described as "moody and resonant" with overtones of the paranormal. Her bestselling works were not at first taken seriously by critics, but they have since earned an enduring reputation for narrative craft. Many have been successfully adapted into films, including the novels Rebecca, Frenchman's Creek, My Cousin Rachel and Jamaica Inn, and the short stories "The Birds" and "Don't Look Now". Du Maurier spent much of her life in Cornwall, where most of her works are set. As her fame increased, she became more reclusive. (Full article...)

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Richard Trevithick Humphry Davy William Bligh Richard Lemon Lander Mark of Cornwall Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall John Arnold (watchmaker) Cuthbert Mayne Edward Boscawen

Did you know?

...that Cornish miners first brought football to Mexico, and the Cornishman Alfred C. Crowle was once manager of the Mexico national football team?
...that Tregenna Castle (pictured) in St Ives was the Great Western Railway's first holiday destination hotel?
...that the town of St Columb Major in Cornwall is used as a sports pitch for the game of Cornish hurling, making it the largest pitch in the world?
...that Cornish bagpipes, once common in Cornwall, feature two long chanters which are played independently?
...that a bowling green and a monument now occupy the site of Helston Castle in Cornwall?

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Photo credit: Severecci

The Scillonian Cross, an unofficial flag of the Isles of Scilly, and the result of a campaign launched by Scilly News in early 2002 for a design.

General images

The following are images from various Cornwall-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1Land's End (from Geography of Cornwall)
Image 2Bluebells on the Cornish coast (from Geography of Cornwall)
Image 3Stargazy pie, with sardines looking skywards before it is baked in the oven
Image 4A Cornish pasty, known traditionally as an oggy, can be found all over the world. (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 5Entrance at Truro Cathedral has a welcome sign in several languages, including Cornish. (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 6Cornwall seen from the International Space Station (from Geography of Cornwall)
Image 7The Minack Theatre, carved from the cliffs (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 8Lime-washed and slate-hung domestic vernacular architecture of various periods, Polperro (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 9The 9th-century Men Myghtern Doniert (King Doniert's Stone) commemorating the last independent King of Cornwall (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 10A map of camps and earthworks in Cornwall (from History of Cornwall)
Image 11Lady of Cornwall and flower girls at the 2007 Gorseth (Penzance) (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 12Millennium Cross, Landrake (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 13Penryn, Prayer Book Rebellion Memorial, near the site of Glasney College (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 14An aerial view of Carrick Roads (from Geography of Cornwall)
Image 15Cornwall's national tartan, bracca (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 16Church of St Morwenna, Morwenstow (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 17Remains of Tintagel Castle, according to legend the site of King Arthur's conception (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 18Low tide at Bedruthan Steps (from Geography of Cornwall)
Image 19"A Fish Sale on a Cornish Beach"l Stanhope Forbes; also showing traditional dress (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 20Three Holes Cross (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 21The cross at the end of Higher Bore Street, Bodmin (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 22Atlas of Cornwall by Christopher Saxton from 1576 (from History of Cornwall)
Image 23The font of St Nonna's church, Altarnun (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 24Harlyn Bay (from Geography of Cornwall)
Image 25Celebrating Saint Piran's Day (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 26Boscawen-Un stone circle looking north (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 27The War Memorial, in the churchyard, Constantine, Kerrier, carved from local stone by Elkana Symons (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 28Boscawen-Un stone circle looking north (from History of Cornwall)
Image 29The Roman milestone in St Materiana's Church, Tintagel (from History of Cornwall)
Image 30The cross on the grave of Charles Bowen Cooke, St Just in Roseland (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 31Lanner Band Room (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 32Rough seas off Trebarwith Strand on the north coast (from Geography of Cornwall)
Image 33Wheal Owles, example of a historic Cornish tin mine (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 34Will of Alfred the Great, AD 873–888 (11th-century copy, British Library Stowe MS 944, ff. 29v–33r) (from History of Cornwall)
Image 35A map of inscription stones, with and without Ogham inscriptions. (from History of Cornwall)
Image 36Cornish dancers (from Music of Cornwall)
Image 37St German's priory church, St Germans (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 38The view northwest from Carn Brea, Penwith (from Geography of Cornwall)
Image 39Cornish wrestling (Omdowl Kernewek) (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 40Flag of St Piran, used as a flag of Cornwall (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 41Bal maidens at work, showing traditional dress (from Culture of Cornwall)