St Dennis, Cornwall
St Dennis
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St Dennis from the air showing the church built inside a hillfort | |
Location within Cornwall | |
Population | 2,785 (United Kingdom Census 2011) |
Unitary authority | |
Ceremonial county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | ST AUSTELL |
Postcode district | PL26 |
Dialling code | 01726 |
Police | Devon and Cornwall |
Fire | Cornwall |
Ambulance | South Western |
UK Parliament | |
St Dennis (
St Dennis had a population of 2,696 in the 2001
The village is famous for its church built on the site of an Iron Age hillfort. Other major buildings include the Methodist chapel and the Boscawen Hotel.
History
St Dennis originated as several smaller settlements: Hendra, Trelavour and Whitepit. The area's population grew rapidly after William Cookworthy discovered China Clay in the area.[5]
Geography
The area is characterised by tips and pits of china clay mining but St Dennis village itself is designated an 'island settlement' which prevents encroachment by the china clay industry. Much of the parish is up to 500 feet above sea level, and the countryside is moorland with small fields enclosed by earth-covered granite walls known as 'hedges'. These hedges were constructed centuries ago, when the land was cleared for farming. Part of Trelavour Downs has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Geological Conservation Review site. A small shallow pit of 0.3 ha was once worked for lithium and is the best known locality for biotite mica in Britain.
Churches and chapels
The church is situated on top of a hill overlooking the village and has views over Goss Moor to the sea at Newquay. It is dedicated to St Denys and stands on the site of an Iron Age fort. The tower is the oldest part of the church, and the newer church was almost destroyed by fire in 1985.[6] Although heartbreaking at the time, it has risen again from the ashes. The new roof timbers were so large that they had to be lifted in by a Royal Navy Sea King helicopter.
The village also has a strong history of Methodism and at one stage there were three Methodist chapels in the village. Of these three, Carne Hill is the only chapel which is still open to this day.
The churchyard cross has a head of horseshoe shape and is ornamented with some unusual incised ornament.[7]
Education and social life
The infant school in St Dennis has been amalgamated with the new primary school, and the old building has been refurbished and is now used as an outreach centre called ClayTAWC. The centre teaches computer studies to adults in the area, and also has many other interesting classes.
St Dennis
The village of St Dennis has two public houses, The Commercial Inn and the Boscawen Hotel, and there are also three clubs, the St Dennis Working Men's Club, the St Dennis Band Club, and St Dennis A.F.C.
Technology
The Land Master all-terrain vehicle was developed here in the late 1970s.
The Cornwall Energy Recovery Centre A is an
Railway lines
The railway station for St Dennis is
Cornish wrestling
The traditional location for Cornish wrestling tournaments was the small field behind the Commercial Inn,[12] currently being used as a dumping ground. Other places used for Cornish wrestling tournaments include:
- A field behind the Miners Arms, which was a public house in Hendra.[13]
- Old football ground opposite the current location of the Football club.[14]
Given how small St Dennis has been, surprisingly many famous
References
- ISBN 978-0-319-22938-5
- ^ Census 2001
- ^ "Parish population 2011". Retrieved 12 February 2015.
- ^ "Ward population 2011". Retrieved 12 February 2015.
- ^ "Historic St Dennis". BBC. 21 January 2010. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
- ^ "St Denys Church fire damage, 1985". Retrieved 11 June 2011.
- ^ Langdon, A. G. (2002) Stone Crosses in Mid Cornwall; 2nd ed. Federation of Old Cornwall Societies; p. 33
- ^ "CERC Updates 2009-2010 - Cornwall Council". www.cornwall.gov.uk. Cornwall Council. 22 December 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
- ^ "St Dennis incinerator campaigners vow to keep fighting". Cornish Guardian. 24 March 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
- ^ SITA Press Release
- ^ "Residents to decide how to spend St Dennis incinerator compensation cash". Cornish Guardian. 16 August 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
- ^ Royal Cornwall Gazette, 22 October 1891.
- ^ St. Austell Star, 31 July 1891.
- ^ Cornish Guardian, 3 June 1937.
- ^ Western Morning News, 23 August 1921.
- ^ Cornish Post and Mining News, 10 September 1921.
- ^ Western Evening Herald, 9 August 1922.
- ^ Cornish Guardian, 27 January 1922.
- ^ Cornubian and Redruth Times, 19 July 1923.
- ^ Cornish Post and Mining News, 21 July 1923.
- ^ "Wrestling: Effect of feats by Cornishmen", Western Morning News, 23 December 1926, p10.
- ^ How Rand Cornishmen spent Christmas, Cornishman, 24 January 1907, p4.
External links
- "Online Catalogue for St Dennis". Cornwall Record Office.