Portal:Cornwall

Porth Kernow a'gas dynnargh!
Welcome to the Cornwall Portal!

Cornwall (/ˈkɔːrnwəl/; Cornish: Kernow [ˈkɛrnɔʊ] or [ˈkɛrnɔ]) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is one of the Celtic nations and 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 is the Redruth and Camborne conurbation.

The county is predominantly rural, with an area of 1,375 square miles (3,562 km²) and an estimated population of 585,655 in 2024. The county's major settlements include the city of Truro and St Austell in the centre, Redruth and Cambourne adjacent to each other in the south, and Penzance and Falmouth on the southern coast. For local government purposes most of Cornwall is a unitary authority area, with the Isles of Scilly governed by 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...)

Selected article

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...)

List of selected articles

Selected biography

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.

Many of du Maurier's novels 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...)

List of selected biographies

Did you know?

...that the last battle to be fought on English soil, the Battle of Bossenden Wood in 1838, was led by a Cornish self-declared Messiah?
...that the Cornishman Richard Lower was the first Western scientist to perform a human blood transfusion?
...that St Buryan's Church (pictured) is reputed to have the heaviest peal of 6 bells anywhere in the world?
...that the Cornish language is officially recognised by the UK government under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages?

Selected quote

Selected picture

Photo credit: Tim

A Methodist chapel in Morvah, with an Anglican church behind. The Methodism of John Wesley proved to be very popular with the working classes in Cornwall in the 19th century, becoming the leading form of Christianity. The chapels became important social centres, with male voice choirs and other church-affiliated groups playing a central role in the social lives of working class Cornishmen.

General images

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

Image 1The font of St Nonna's church, Altarnun (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 2Lady of Cornwall and flower girls at the 2007 Gorseth (Penzance) (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 3Lanner Band Room (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 4Bluebells on the Cornish coast (from Geography of Cornwall)
Image 5An aerial view of Carrick Roads (from Geography of Cornwall)
Image 6Stanhope Forbes, A Fish Sale on a Cornish Beach (1884-85); also showing traditional dress (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 7Millennium Cross, Landrake (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 8Cornish dancers (from Music 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 10Low tide at Bedruthan Steps (from Geography of Cornwall)
Image 11Wheal Owles, example of a historic Cornish tin mine (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 12A map of camps and earthworks in Cornwall (from History of Cornwall)
Image 13Cornwall's national tartan, bracca (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 14Atlas of Cornwall by Christopher Saxton from 1576 (from History of Cornwall)
Image 15Will of Alfred the Great, AD 873–888 (11th-century copy, British Library Stowe MS 944, ff. 29v–33r) (from History of Cornwall)
Image 16A map of inscription stones, with and without Ogham inscriptions. (from History of Cornwall)
Image 17Cornish wrestling (Omdowl Kernewek) (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 18Stargazy pie, with sardines looking skywards before it is baked in the oven
Image 19Boscawen-Un stone circle looking north (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 20Flag of St Piran, used as a flag of Cornwall (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 21Lime-washed and slate-hung domestic vernacular architecture of various periods, Polperro (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 22St German's priory church, St Germans (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 23Cornwall seen from the International Space Station (from Geography of Cornwall)
Image 24A Cornish pasty, known traditionally as an oggy, can be found all over the world. (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 25The War Memorial, in the churchyard, Constantine, Kerrier, carved from local stone by Elkana Symons (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 26The Minack Theatre, carved from the cliffs (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 27Bal maidens at work, showing traditional dress (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 28Three Holes Cross (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 29Penryn, Prayer Book Rebellion Memorial, near the site of Glasney College (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 30Land's End (from Geography of Cornwall)
Image 31Entrance at Truro Cathedral has a welcome sign in several languages, including Cornish. (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 32Church of St Morwenna, Morwenstow (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 33The cross at the end of Higher Bore Street, Bodmin (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 34The Roman milestone in St Materiana's Church, Tintagel (from History of Cornwall)
Image 35Celebrating Saint Piran's Day (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 36The view northwest from Carn Brea, Penwith (from Geography of Cornwall)
Image 37Rough seas off Trebarwith Strand on the north coast (from Geography of Cornwall)
Image 38The cross on the grave of Charles Bowen Cooke, St Just in Roseland (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 39Boscawen-Un stone circle looking north (from History of Cornwall)
Image 40Remains of Tintagel Castle, according to legend the site of King Arthur's conception (from Culture of Cornwall)
Image 41Harlyn Bay (from Geography of Cornwall)

WikiProjects

Related WikiProjects:
	Celts
	Brittany
	Cornwall
	England
	Wales
	Scotland
	Ireland
	Isle of Man
	UK notice board
	UK geography
	European Union
	Europe