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Archiver > CORNISH > 1999-02 > 0917931098


From: "John Coles" <>
Subject: Re: ALTARNUN
Date: Mon, 01 Feb 99 20:51:38 PST


Hi Barbara

I'm posting this reply to the List because it may help others with similar
queries about other locations.

Altarnun is a typical large Cornish parish, where the Parish Church serves
a number of villages or hamlets, and where even the main village around
the church is split up.

Altarnun is a very large parish, on the edges of Bodmin Moor, and it serves
a very wide and scattered population...the Church Town is the village itself,
immediately surrounding the chuch (which is known as 'The Cathedral of the Moors')
whilst the main approach to the Church Town is through the hamlet of Five Lanes,
or Trewint a little to the west.

I would assume that the description 'Church Yard' refers to burial in the graveyard
actually surrounding the church.

I know little of the history of the village of Altarnun, so can't help a lot... but the
church is well worth putting on any visitor's itinerary... it is in a lovely setting,
a true bit of unspoilt Cornwall, and it possesses a very fine set of 15th Century
carved oak 'Bench Ends' many of which give you a really good idea of how
people looked back then! About 10 years ago, lightning struck the very top of
one of the four pincacles on the tower (109 feet / approx 33 metres tall) and it
crashed through the roof, doing enormous damage... the restoration is excellent!!!!

At Trewint, anyone with Methodism in the family should have a look at the little
cottage where Wesley stayed on many visits to Cornwall.

John & Anna, Producers of
'KERNOW SOUND the SOUNDS OF CELTIC CORNWALL'
The International audio magazine of Cornish Life, History, and Music.
produced in Launceston, Cornwall.
email:

----------
> Late last year I received copies of the death certificates of my ggg
> grandparents William and Mary Spear who died in 1848 and 1849
> respectively.
>
> On the certificates it shows the place where they died as "Church Town"
> Altarnun and on the Church Burial Register it shows "Church Yard" can
> anyone shed any light on this for me.
>
> I would also like to know if there is anyone that knows the history of
> Altarnun, I visited there last year but could not find anyone in the
> village how could help me with it's past history.
>
> Many thanks
>
> Barbara Smith in South Australia
>
>

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