Ertach Kernow - Cornish heritage at risk the winners & losers
Cornish Heritage at Risk on the heritage at risk register has been published for 2024 by Historic England. Although Cornwall has had some sites removed from the register since last November there have been some sizable additions to buildings and sites at risk. Cornwall’s heritage is an important part of our economy and the well-being of cultural sites generally has the potential to effect business and jobs.
Looking firstly at the positive sites there are no major buildings included. At Kilkhampton a scheduled monument known as The Castles, has been removed as it has seen an improvement to the management of the site. The charity running the site has set up a Monument Management Scheme. Archaeological sites like this and others which have been removed over the past year have done so because a management scheme has been enacted. Regular works, not necessarily expensive, can be carried out by volunteers and this makes a huge difference to some of these archaeological sites because as mentioned many times before the roots of invasive plants can cause irreparable damage. The earthwork redoubts 1,2 and 3 at Maker-with-Rame, and the rectangular camp close to Trevarnon Round in Gwinear-Gwithian parish are two of these.
As always click the images for larger view
Perhaps better known is Castle Dore near Golant an Iron Age bivallate (two ditches/ramparts) hillfort. Over the years this ancient site has undergone a large amount of investigation starting with that carried out by the renowned archaeologist Ralegh Radford from 1936. Modern techniques and understanding have now dated the beginnings of this hillfort to the Celtic period of 5th to 4th centuries BCE based on pottery found there. That this site has been removed from the at risk register through improved management is good news. Two other scheduled monuments at Altarnun have also been removed through better management and consolidated repairs. A long deserted medieval settlement and field system as well as a prehistoric stone alignment are some of the lesser known, but still important sites where improvement have taken place.
Caer Bran at Sancreed was purchased by the Cornwall Heritage Trust in 2022, with regular appearances on the at risk register over the past years. This was first occupied during the Bronze Age and through to the Iron Age with many later interventions on the site. The purchase of the site now ensures the ancient hillfort archaeology is protected, and the subsequent work and planning has ensured its removal from the Cornish heritage at risk status. Once again one of the factors that placed it at risk was the growth of scrub and bracken as well as potential continued risk from agricultural beyond the grazing of domesticated farm animals. This important ancient site has been poorly treated but now it will be a wonderful place for people to enjoy and appreciate. It will need monitoring and hopefully many local people will undertake occasional scrub bashing forays to reduce the bracken.
King Arthur’s Hall on Bodmin Moor has been in the news recently following archaeological investigation. Like many things associated with King Arthur by name it has absolutely nothing connecting him to it at all. Far from this structure being from the time of the early medieval period it is now being dated to around 5,500 years ago during the Neolithic Stone Age. It has a bank measuring 49 metres by 21 metres and is thought to have been an animal pen from around 1,000 CE, the latest revelations have completely changed this earlier understanding. It is not just this site that these revelations effect, but the overall occupation of Bodmin Moor in general during that time frame. Archaeological dating techniques are constantly evolving and this investigation used Optically Stimulated Luminescence, which estimates the last time soil was exposed to light. There are all the other available tools for use on organic material, pollen, seeds and insect remains which can be used for radiocarbon dating and pottery sherds if any are found at ancient sites. This stone lined rectangular enclosure has 56 standing stones along its inner embankment, some of which are six feet high. The stones on the site have been geologically examined and found to be from a local source close by. Some 2,000 thousand years ago the enclosure began to be filled in and believed to have been used for other varied purposes from then onwards. The name appears to be medieval and records show it was known as King Arthurs Hall in 1584.
Now for the less good news, those sites that have deteriorated and now included on the Cornish heritage at risk register. There are seven of these, but this relatively low figure belies the actual number, these likely just the tip of the iceberg with many more that remain unreported due to lack of monitoring capability. This is where the general public and local heritage groups can help by acquainting themselves with the relevant information and reporting sites that may have declined or becoming overgrown.
A stone cross some 400 metres to the north of Altarnun village is built into a hedge. A nearby gateway has recently been widened making the cross is very vulnerable to damage from farm vehicles. This is a scheduled monument and needs to be monitored for potential damage. Two small cairns near St Cleer have suffered from archaeological vandalism. This is an example of people, perhaps through ignorance, have moved stones on scheduled monuments. In this case stones have been moved to create a seating area within the stones of the cairn. Carrying out activities such as this on scheduled monuments is actually a criminal offence and should be reported.
Perhaps more visually apparent to those visiting Helston Guildhall, home to the town council, is the effect of water ingress. This is a fine neoclassical building at the heart of Helston, which has many other interesting historic structures. Nearly 200 years old the Guildhall was completed in 1839 replacing the Market House of 1576 on that site. It was a time of prosperity for Cornwall and a period when many fine buildings were being built in and around Cornish mining towns. Helston was a historic Stannary town where the tin was assayed and traded and as such benefited from this before the mining decline later in the 19th century.
The Guildhall was constructed of granite cut and laid in the expensive ashlar style and helped illustrate Helston’s wealth. Internal features of the main rooms include the Helston Town Council Chamber, Mayor`s Parlour and what was once the Corn Exchange now a large function room. Other parts of the building including kitchen, offices and storage areas have become outdated and rundown. To ensure the Guildhall remains significant to Helston’s community it needs updating to 21th century standards. To see buildings such as this failing far enough to be placed on the Cornish heritage at risk register is sad. Buildings built in the heyday of Cornwall’s mining history are a reminder of those lost days and a type of quality construction long gone. Today’s new buildings of steel framework, cladding and glass are unlikely to last far into the future despite their shiny new contemporary look. One would hope that many Georgian and Victorian buildings which still grace Cornish towns will survive if given the attention they deserve.
Cornwall became a centre of nonconformity of religion with Methodism taking off here during the 18th century. The Quakers also still have meeting houses throughout Cornwall perhaps the best known and oldest is located in the hamlet of Come-to-Good south of Truro near Carnon Downs. This Grade I listed building has unfortunately also been included on the at risk register during 2024. A sheltered valley became home to a small settlement and the first Quakers meeting house in Cornwall 1710 and humbly constructed of cob and thatch. A simple building it’s well suited for its purpose as a place of tranquil reflection and personal guidance and has been used for over 300 years.
George Fox the founder of Quaker beliefs came to Cornwall in 1656 after being charged many time under religious laws for blasphemy. The Toleration Act of 1689 allowed most nonconformists from the Church of England like Quakers the freedom to worship publicly. This led to the building of the meeting house at Come-to-Good. Today the thatch needs replacing and some internal work caused by insect damage needs attention. Classified as slow decay the meeting house is temporarily closed whilst remedial work is carried out. Let’s hope the work needed to bring this simple but lovely building back to life as a meeting place is carried out soon. I’m sure that with today’s humdrum lifestyle the Quaker way of valuing silence and stillness with time spent in quiet reflection as an antidote to busy lives and a way to find guidance would benefit many folk.
A lesser known movement, links to find out more about the Quakers below
Cornwall’s industrial past also features with the Grade II listed Wheal Prosper pumping engine house near Breage listed in the top category of importance. This building dates from around 1860 and is located overlooking Rinsey Cove between Marazion and Porthleven and a beautiful local tourist attraction. There is an immediate risk of further rapid deterioration and loss to the building despite restoration by the National Trust in the 1970’s and stabilisation work carried out during the 1990’s. Timber lintels are rotting and there seems to be an issue of potential subsidence. This historic beam engine house although a ruin is important to Cornwall’s tourist industry, illustrating our industrial past and a reminder of Cornish engineering and mining prowess.
Whatever appeals to people relating to our tangible Cornish heritage, whether ancient stone crosses, sites of archaeological interest, places of worship or historic buildings, they all matter.
Heritage Column
- Heritage in the News online links:
- www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/hegoledh-a-cornish-short-film
- www.instagram.com/trengellickrisingfilm
- www.darkcornwall.com
