2021-03 Newsletter

Newsletter – March 2021
Gool Peran Lowen
News
Gool Peran Lowen – Happy St Pirantide. Normally at this time of year we would be looking forward
to our evening of celebration at The Standard. This time we won’t be able to share a pasty supper,
raise a glass to St Piran, and join in the singing with Du hag Owr, but we hope that you will find a way
of celebrating at home.
Numerous organisations such as Kresen Kernow (kresenkernow.org), and Cornwall Heritage Trust
(www.cornwallheritagetrust.org) are providing online talks so it is still possible to get your dose of
Cornish history and culture.
We are looking forward to being able to plan some events later in the year. Please let us know if you
have any suggestions.
We are currently researching the Giant’s Quoit of Carne. There are rumours that it was damaged or
destroyed by American Forces in WW2. If you have information on this please let us know.
Additional information can be found on our website, Twitter and Facebook.
Lost Locations – Mymas Hill
In this section we highlight the names of some of the less well-known places around Roseland.
Mymas Hill is situated in the valley
between Gerrans and Lanhay, and recently
some research has been completed to tell
the story of the name’s origins. It is
suggested that the name comes from
members of the Incledon family: -
Of particular interest are James Incledon
(1715-1800) who married Jemima Ennys
(c.1726-1818) and their daughter Jemima
Ingledon (1768-1855) who lived at and
owned land at Lanhay.
Figure 1 1879 - O.S. 6 Inch Map – Showing Location of Mymas Hill
Jemima Incledon snr. was left as the owner
of the land after her husband died. After the death of her parents Jemima Incledon jnr. became the
owner until her own death in 1855.

Kowethas Kernow Goth - Gerens ha Porthskathow
It is suggested that these two Jemima's or rather their nicknames - "Mima" which gave rise to the
place name - Mima's Hill. The name is still used by local people, but is now sometimes pronounced
as MYmees. An Information Sheet has been prepared, and included, for those who wish to find out
more about the Incledon family.
If you are aware of any less well-known names please highlight with our Recorder.
Committee Spotlight – President: Hilary Thompson
In this section we will highlight some of those who work so hard for our Society. In this first article we
look at the work of our President, Hilary Thompson.
Hilary was born was born in 1927 at Portscatho, the daughter of Reginald “Ronnie” Edward Dillon
Greet and Rhoda Chenoweth, both of long-standing local families. Hilary and her family lived on the
Quay at Portscatho and much of her childhood was spent in boats in and around the Porth.
Hilary was educated at Gerrans primary School followed by the Truro County School for Girls. She had
a long career and has been based at a number of different locations in Cornwall and England. She
initially worked for Cornwall Library Service, Lever Brothers and Cornwall Social Services.
In 1976 Hilary’s father, Ronnie Greet was one of the founders of the St. Gerrans & Porthscatho old
Cornwall Society. In 1957 Hilary married Phil Thompson, and they had one daughter.
One of Hilary’s more unusual jobs was as seagoing stenographer aboard SS Empress of France, based
in Liverpool. The main part of Hilary’s career, however, was as a medical secretary in Cornwall,
London, Torquay and Gosport. At the age of 60 Hilary returned to academic endeavors and gained a
Diploma in English Social History, at Portsmouth.
In about 1984 Hilary and Phil purchased their current home on the Quay in Portscatho, and in about
1986 returned to live full time in Portscatho. Hilary commenced detailed research into the history of
Gerrans parish and subsequently published a number of fantastic books which provide us with a
detailed insight into the history of our community.
Hilary became the Recorder for our Old Cornwall Society, and was instrumental in leading a number
of local projects including the re-siting of the granite coffin at St. Anthony, the rejuvenation of
Parson’s Pond, survey of stiles in Gerrans, Philleigh and St Just Parishes, survey of post boxes etc.
In 2001 Hilary was made a bard of the Cornish Gorsedh in recognition of her contribution to Cornish
history. She took the bardic name “Myrgh Percuil” (Daughter of Percuil). She is the current president
of our OCS., and remains the “go to person” for information on the history of Gerrans Parish.
If you feel that you could spare a little time to become more involved in our committee work please
contact our Chairman who will be pleased to discuss opportunities.

Kowethas Kernow Goth - Gerens ha Porthskathow
Mapping Methodism
This is currently our most active project with a mass of historical information being gathered on the
Roseland Methodist Chapels. Our research on the Gerrans Wesleyan Chapels is now available on the
Mapping Methodism site: http://cornishstory.com/2021/01/31/mapping-methodism-gerranswesleyan-chapels
One area of research we have been working on is the Philleigh Wesleyan Chapels. This includes the
Wesleyan Society at Couches, Treworlas Chapel, Lemon Chapel, and White Lane Chapel. We hope to
make a submission on these to the Mapping Methodism project in the coming weeks – so look out
for that.
You can help! Please get in touch with our Recorder if you have any knowledge or material regarding
any of these chapels. In particular we would value more old photographs, ephemera, and memories.
AONB Monumental Improvement – Dingerein, Carne Beacon, & Ringarounds
We are currently in discussions with the Cornwall Archaeological Society (CAS) and the AONB and it
is likely that we will be able to run a joint walk, visiting Dingerein, Carne Beacon and Ringarounds
later in the year. By teaming up with the CAS we should be able to include archaeological expertise
and local knowledge in these visits.
The scrub clearance which we had planned at Dingerein for February will now probably roll-forward
to October, to avoid the bird nesting season.
In the background much other work has been done. The Cornwall Archaeological Unit (CAU) have
completed further survey work. A Badger survey has been completed at Dingerein, and there is also
the possibility of an ecological survey coming up as well. All of this material will help us develop our
plans for the sites.
Cornish Buildings Group – Buildings at Risk Project
We continue to monitor any historic buildings at risk, and submit details to the Project
(https://buildingsatrisk.wordpress.com). Please notify our Recorders of any buildings at risk.
Roseland Stile Survey
Our survey of footpaths in the Portloe area is ongoing. If you can help please contact our Recorder.
Maritime Churches Project
Information about the project, and the churches involved, including St Anthony and St Just, can be
found at: https://cornishmaritimechurches.co.uk
Place-name of the Month – Polhendra (Gerrans & St. Just)
There are two places with this name in Roseland, one in Gerrans and the other in St Just parish. As
the crow flies, they are not too far apart. As usual it is necessary to look at some of the historic
spellings: -
Polhendra (Gerrans)
Polhendre 1302 (Gover, 1948)
Polhendre 1327 (Gover, 1948)
Polhendre 1416 (Gover, 1948)
Polhendra (St Just)
Polhendree 1478 (Hext, 1953)
Polhendre 1523 (Hext, 1953)
Polendra 1634 (CRO, P96/4/1, 1634)

Kowethas Kernow Goth - Gerens ha Porthskathow
Polhendra 1539(Gover, 1948)
Polendra 1884 (Symons, 1884)
Polhendra alias Polhendren Veean 1659 (Hext, 1953)
Polendra tenement 1842 (CRO, TA/96, 1842)
Polendra farm 1884 (Symons, 1884)
Polindra 1884 (Symons, 1884)
Polhendra 2003 (OS, 1:25000, 2003)
This is another two-element Cornish language place-name, although in this case the second element
is itself a compound word. The first element is the <poll> ‘pool, pit’ which we are familiar with in a
great many locations across Cornwall including Pool, between Redruth and Camborne.
The second element is the compound word <hendra> which means ‘home farm’. It is a compound of
<hen> ‘ancient, original’, and <tre> ‘farmstead’. The word is of interest, because it is one of the few
examples where the adjective goes before the noun. However, when the adjective does go before
the noun like this it causes the first letter of the following letter to change (mutate) according to a set
of grammatical rules. In this case the “t” of tre changes to “d”, thus hen + tre -> hendre.
Hendre became Hendra over time in both examples, due to tre being used terminally. Because hendra
means ‘home farm’ it can be indicative of transhumance i.e. the seasonal movement of livestock
between winter and summer pastures.
The name as a whole therefore means home farm pool. There must originally have been a pond at
both locations.
One other thing to note is the 1659 name Polhendren Veean at the St Just location. Here the word
bihan/bian ‘little’ has been added as a suffix. The first letters of suffixes are often mutated in this way.
It is likely that the St Just location has this suffix to differentiate it from the one nearby in Gerrans.
We see the word bihan/bian used in other local names e.g. Porthbean, and also used as a suffix in the
name Tregear Vean.
Isn’t it just wonderful that local place-names such as these encode so much of our cultural heritage?
The Cornish language, its grammar and stress patterns are still alive on the lips of local people!
Dialect of the Month – Lowstur
Lowster or louster is a very common local verb. It means to do taxing manual labour. So, if you had
been out weeding the garden all day, you might say – “I bin lowsturen en the garden.”
Contacts
Chairman: Ralph German - ralphgerman@outlook.com
Membership Secretary: Jean Rigley - jeanrigley@btinternet.com
Recorder: Nev Meek - nev.meek@sky.com
Nev Meek (Recorder): nev.meek@sky.com
www.stgandpocs.co.uk
www.facebook.com/gerransoldcornwall
www.twitter.com/GerransSt
St Gerrans & Porthscatho Old Cornwall Society is affiliated to The Federation of Old Cornwall Societies. Registered Charity No: 247283