Perranarworthal - the origin
of the name
The name of the village derives from the Manor of Arworthal. It has gat
a number of spellings throughout history including - Hareworthal - 1187,
Arwoethel and Arwythel. By the 18th century two names appear on maps
“Perran Arworthal” meaning St Piran’s by the creek or estuary.
The Church of St Piran Perranarworthal
St Piran is only one of the patron saints of Cornwall, but the most
popular. He arrived from Ireland in about 460 AD, landing at Perranporth,
where he performed many miracles for the local people.
Although there is evidence there was a church on this site in Norman
times, little remains bar a fragment over the south door bearing the
Lamb and Cross. Key dates in the church’s history include 1450 when the
tower was built. The church chalice dates from 1576 and in 1767 Charles
II's lettering and coat of arms was added to the church - Cornwall
supported the Royalist cause. In 1882 the current church was erected at
a cost of £1800.
St Piran’s Well
A short walk down Norway Lane on the footpath towards The Norway Inn
will take you to St Piran’s Well. It is accessed by foot via a private
garden by kind permission of the owners. Water from this beautiful
shrine is used for Christenings at St Piran’s church.
Perran Foundry
In 1769 a Quaker, George Croker Fox, bequeathed a legacy of gardens in
Cornwall and purchased an area on marshland at Perran Creek. This area
was then developed into a port serving local mines with cargoes being
transported upstream from the quay at Devoran by flat bottom barges that
could cope with the shallower tidal waters.
In 1791 Perran Foundry was built by Fox’s two sons, George Croker Junior
and Robert Were. The foundry developed and grew and from 1815 great
beams for steam engines (used in mining) were being cast at Perran. In
its heyday some 400 people were employed at the foundry, mostly living
in and near Perranarworthal.
The site, although presently derelict still exists as a monument to the
engineering that was used locally and exported all over the “mining”
world. For instance, examples can be found in Australia and Mexico,
where Cornish miners travelled to and were employed for their knowledge
and skill in mining.
Population Census
In 1801 the very first national population census took place and has
been repeated every ten years to this day. From this a picture of the
local population shows that there were 884 persons registered in the
village. This rose to a peak of 1634 in 1851 (when Perran Foundry was in
high production) and most recently totalled 1558 in 2001.
The Railway
In 1863 the railway came to Falmouth. The line from Truro, to this day
runs via Perranwell Station, which serves our community. I K Brunel’s
engineering stretched deep into Cornwall and the bridges and viaducts,
seen locally are a monument to the skills of these pioneering engineers
and the workers who built them.
The Present Day Village
Perranarworthal and Perranwell have thriving village communities with
numerous organisations e.g the Royal British Legion, Women’s Institute
and many clubs and societies.
Local businesses include our village stores and post office, garage and
other small businesses that serve our community.
A good example of a local club, traditional in country villages, is
Perranarworthal Cricket Club, founded in 1883, although it is known that
cricket was played in the area some thirty years before.
A pavilion was obtained and used on various grounds, being erected on
the present field in 1903. This lasted over eighty years until the
present clubhouse was built. The original pavilion therefore served the
club well and in latter years was used as an equipment store - a very
good investment at £14!
The first record of a match in a local paper was against Mullion on 29th
May 1886. Perranarworthal lost by 28 runs because, chasing a total of
52, they were all out for 24!
|
