Paddington to Penzance - A week in Cornwall

What a beautiful day to arrive in the County where half of my ancestors lived before emigrating to a land far away, and so different from the one they knew.
After checking in to 'The Longboat Inn' for one night,  I walked down to beautiful Mount's Bay in brilliant sunshine and found the office of Europcar nearby, where I was to collect a hire car the next day.


Saturday . . .  the changeover day of my accommodation in a beautifully converted barn at Trebarvah.  The last time I was here with my friend Barbara, we stayed next door.  A scenic spot with picturesque views of Mount's Bay and St. Michael's Mount.  As I had several hours to fill in until the barn was available, I had planned to visit some places nearby where ancestors were born, and were married.

 Sancreed, the birth place in 1791, of John Parsons, my great-great-grandfather was not easy to find.  A small village, with a church, Memorial Hall and a few homes in a beautiful, peaceful setting.  Birds were singing and bees buzzing as I climbed the entrance steps into the churchyard, with ancient celtic crosses and headstones on either side of the pathway.   Bluebells and giant rhododendrons enhanced the scene.  I began to unwind and felt at peace.

I found some headstones with John's future wife's family name, but none for Parsons.  It was wonderful to be here and it seemed as though nothing had changed much over the years since my ancestor had lived in this beautiful corner of south-west Cornwall.

*  The Churchyard Crosses
 
There are two large Celtic crosses in the churchyard. The first is directly east of the entrance porch, sheltered by the porch and the south wall of the nave. This is carved on all four sides, with the figure of Christ in the centre of the cross head. The cross stands 5 feet 9 inches high. 

The second and largest cross stands immediately beside the path that angles from the porch to the southeast gate to the churchyard. This striking cross about 9 feet high, though some of that length is buried in the ground. The shaft and head are carved on all sides, and the quality of the carving is outstanding; it is reckoned to be one of the finest incised Celtic crosses in Cornwall.

How Old is the Cross?
No one is really sure. Opinions vary from the 8th to the 11th century. The varying estimates show how little the traditional style of carving changed during the late Celtic period.
There are three small cross heads in the churchyards, very worn, and of the traditional wheelhead design.

*  See this page

Leaving Sancreed, I drove to Madron and the Parish Church, where John married Jane Tonkin 1815.



Soon it was time to drive to my holiday accommodation,  Oamaru Barn in Trebarvah.

Interior, and views from *Oamaru Barn . . . . 

 The barn is one of the converted buildings of a farm.  The farmhouse is still used by the owners and their family have lived here many years.  A few years ago the out-buildings were sold and have been mostly converted into holiday accommodation.

Mount's Bay, St. Michael's Mount and the village of Perranuthnoe are overlooked from the barn.  A stunning panorama! 

Continuing . . . . .

* Oamaru, named after a town in New Zealand.