Cornwall

Nearby places

Altarnun

The parish of Altarnun (Cornish: Alternonna) is in the Hundred of Lesneweth, in the deanery of Trigg-major and is eight miles west of Launceston. It is surrounded by the parishes of Trewin, Lewanick and Northill on the east, St Cleer and St Neot on the south, Blisland and St Breward (Simonward) on the west, and St Clether and Laneast on the north. The name means Altar [church altar] of St Nonna. The village is to the east of Bodmin Moor situated on a tributary of the River Inney, it is not mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. Altarnun Parish is now in the North Cornwall district and part of it lies within Bodmin Moor. Part of the new parish of Bolventor is in the south-west of the older Altarnun parish.
The area is mainly moorland but there are areas of farmland to the East and animals graze the moorland areas. The river Lynher rises in this parish. The principal villages in this parish are the churchtown, more properly called Penpont, Tredaule, Five Lanes, Gunnon, Treveage, West Carne, Trethyn, Treween and Trewint. At Five Lanes, large cattle fairs were held; John Wesley preached at Trewint.

Cemeteries

• The Cornwall Family History Society have published on-line Monumental Inscriptions for:
  • The Parish Church
  • The Methodist Chapel
• Pictures of some gravestones from Altarnun church are available on-line.
• Pictures of some gravestones from Altarnun Methodist chaplel are also available on-line.

Return to top of page

Census

Census information for this parish (1841 - 1901) is held in the Cornwall Record Office. The Cornwall Family History Society offers a census search service for its members. The Cornwall Family History Society have also published on-line census detail by surname on the FamilyHistoryonLine site.

Specific census information for this parish is available as follows:

• 1841. The 1841 Census of Altarnun (HO107/140) (Enumeration Districts 1 to 4, including a detached part of Enumeration District 2d), is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
• 1851.
  • The 1851 Census of Altarnun (HO107/1899), (Enumeration Districts 1a, 1b, and 1c) is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
  • Part of the 1851 Census of Altarnun is available from the West-Penwith resources as part of the 1851 British Census 2% sample - Cornwall.
  • Another part of the 1851 Census of Altarnun is also available from the West-Penwith resources as part of the same 1851 British Census 2% sample - Cornwall.
• 1861. The 1861 Census of Altarnun (RG9/1517), (Enumeration Districts 1 to 3), is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
• 1871. The 1871 Census of Altarnun (RG10/2222), Enumeration Districts 1 to 3, is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
• 1881. The 1881 Census of Altarnun (RG11/2274), Enumeration Districts 1 to 4, is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
• 1891. The 1891 Census of Altarnun (RG12/1801), Enumeration Districts 1 to 3, is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.

Return to top of page

Church History

• Anglican. The parish church is located in OS Grid Square SX223813 and was dedicated to Saint Nonna. St Nonna was the mother of St.David and left Wales in 527 and was one of many who travelled to Cornwall on their way to Europe. Alternun means the altar of St.Non (Nonna), and is believed that the church is her burial-place. A Norman church was built here in the twelth century; the present church was built in the early fifteenth century.
  The present church comprises a chancel which embraces the eastern ends of the side aisles, and the communion rails traverse the whole width of the church. The side aisles are separated from the nave by arcades of depressed four-centred arches, supported on monolith granite pillars. The tower is 110 feet in height and is the highest in Cornwall after Probus. It was much damaged by storms in 1790 and 1810.
  The Bolven Tor district church was originally another within this parish; it was consecrated on 3rd July 1848 and was dedicated to the Holy Trinity.
• Non-Conformist. There is a Wesleyan Methodist chapel in the village of Altarnun, which replaced an older chapel which had been converted into a schoolroom.

Return to top of page

Church Records

• LDS Church Records.
  • The LDS Church batch numbers for Altarnun are: C053311, E006241, E053311, M006241, M053311, P006241. These are searchable by surname.
  • The IGI coverage of this parish is 1610 - 1875.
• CRO Record Holdings. The Cornwall Record Office holdings: Baptisms 1611 - 1980, Burials 1611 - 1963, Marriages 1610 - 1973, Boyd's Marriage Index 1611 - 1673, BTs 1611 - 1673.
• Baptisms.
  • The Cornish Forefathers' Society have published on CD baptisms 1725 to 1841 for this parish.
  • Baptisms 1611 to 1673 (Bishop's Transcripts), 1679 to 1686, and 1688 to 1911 (parish transcripts), are available on-line through the OPC search Facility - (C-PROP).
  • Cornwall Legacy have published baptisms (1846 to 1900) of Altarnun, Lewannick and St Cleer Methodist Chapels on CD. Altarnun, Bowithick, Crow's Nest, Hockings House, Polyphant, St Cleer and Travadlock Cross Chapels. Areas include: Altarnun, Lewannick, St Cleer and St Clether.
  • Cornwall Legacy have also published on CD baptisms (1863 to 1900) of the Camelford United Methodist Circuit. Areas include: Camelford, Boscastle, Tintagel, St Gennys, St Teath, St Kew, St Minver, St Mabyn, Michaelstow, St Endellion, Altarnun, St Breward, St Tudy, Advent, Lanteglos, Minster and Wadebridge.
  • Cornwall Legacy have published on CD, baptisms (1869 to 1900) of the Michaelstow Bible Christian Circuit. The Circuit covers Michaelstow, Blisland, St Teath, Minster, Advent, Tintagel, St Breward, Forrabury, Lanteglos, St Endellion, Trevalga, St Neot, Temple, St Minver, Altarnun, Lesnewth, St Tudy, Davidstow, and Camelford.
  • Cornwall Legacy have also published on CD, records of the Launceston Wesleyan Circuit. These comprise baptisms (1837-1900). The areas cover Launceston, South Petherwin, Lewannick, North Hill, Altarnun, Linkinhorne, St Stephens, Lezant, Egloskerry, Egloskerry, Treneglos, Stoke Climsland, Laneast and Lawhitton.
  • Cornwall Legacy have published on CD, records of the Liskeard Bible Christian Circuit. These comprise baptisms (1837 to 1900). The areas cover Liskeard, St Ive, St Cleer, Altarnun, Menheniot, St Neot, Broadoak, and certain other parishes.
• Banns. Banns 1787 to 1818 are available on-line through the OPC search Facility - (C-PROP).
• Marriages.
  • The Cornwall Family History Society have published transcripts of: Parish Marriages 1610 to 1837, which is available in CD or downloadable .pdf file format.
  • Marriages pre-1679 (Bishop's Transcripts), 1679 to 1716, 1703 to 1913 (parish registers), and 1855 to 1913 (other transcriptions), are available on-line through the OPC search Facility - (C-PROP).
• Burials.
  • The Cornwall Family History Society have published transcripts of: Parish Burials 1813 to 1837, which is available in CD or book format.
  • Burials 1611 to 1673, 1679 to 1686 (BTs), 1689 to 1699, 1712 to 1936 (parish registers), are available on-line through the OPC search Facility (C-PROP).
  • Cornwall Legacy have also published on CD, records of the Launceston Wesleyan Circuit. These comprise burials (1818-1880), St Thomas Wesleyan Burials 1842- 1892). The areas cover Launceston, South Petherwin, Lewannick, North Hill, Altarnun, Linkinhorne, St Stephens, Lezant, Egloskerry, Egloskerry, Treneglos, Stoke Climsland, Laneast and Lawhitton.
  • Cornwall Legacy have published burials (1851 to 1900) of Altarnun, Lewannick and St Cleer Methodist Chapels on CD. Altarnun, Bowithick, Crow's Nest, Hockings House, Polyphant, St Cleer and Travadlock Cross Chapels. Areas include: Altarnun, Lewannick, St Cleer and St Clether.

Return to top of page

Civil Registration

The parish of Altarnun is in the Launceston Registration District and has been since 1st July 1837. There were originally sub-districts at Altarnun, Launceston, North Hill, North Petherwin and St Stephen-by-Launceston, but these are now all closed. Parishes within the district are: Altarnun, Boyton, Egloskerry, Laneast, Launceston, Lawhitton, Lewannick, Lezant, Northill, St. Mary Magdalene, St. Stephens by Launceston, St. Thomas the Apostle, St. Thomas Street, South Petherwin, Stokeclimsland, Tremaine, Treneglos, Tresmeer, Trewen, Warbstow.

The Superintendant Registrar can be contacted at: Hendra, Dunheved Road, Launceston, PL15 9JG. Tel: 01566 772464.

Return to top of page

Description & Travel

• ePodunk's Cornwall page - providing general, plus some historical and genealogical information, about Cornwall and its parishes, together with links (mainly relating to general sites and services, rather than ones that are specific to Cornwall or particular parishes).
• Photographs of Altarnun are available on-line.

Return to top of page

Directories

• Kelly'S 1873 Directory of Altarnun.

Return to top of page

Genealogy

• OPC Assistance. The On-line Parish Clerk (OPC) scheme operates a service to help family historians; the OPC page for this parish is available on-line, from where the OPC can be contacted.
• Mailing List. There is a mailing list for anyone with a genealogical and or historical interest in Bodmin Moor and its surrounding villages. Villages covered are: Advent (Tresinney), Alternun, Blisland, Bodmin, Boventor, Camelford (Lanteglos), Cardinham, Davidstow, Egloshayle, Helland, Laneast, Lanteglos by Camelford, Launceston, Lewannick, Liskeard, Michaelstow, North Hill, St Breward, St Breock, St Cleer, St Clether, St Mabyn, St Neot, St Tudy, Temple, Tresinney, Trewen, Wadebridge (Egloshayle & St Breock), and Warleggan. This list is in support of the OnLine Parish Clerk system. You can also subscribe to the ENG-CON-BODMINMOOR-L for the List version, or ENG-CON-BODMINMOOR-D (digest) for the Digest version.

Return to top of page

Historical Geography

• Bowithick (Bowidock, Bowidock), Grid Reference 182929.
• Halvana (Hirmeneu, Ermenhev), Grid Reference 215787.
• Landinner (Landiner, Laniliner, Lanliner), Grid Reference 237834.
• Penpont (Penponta, Penponte), Grid Reference 224812.
• Tredaule (Tredaual, Tredaval), Grid Reference 234812.
• Trevague (Treuagan, Trevagav), Grid Reference 238797.
• Trewint (Trawint, Travvint), Grid Reference 220806.

Return to top of page

Land & Property

• The parish and town tithe maps, and accompanying survey books of c1840, provide a fascinating snap-shot of land use and ownership in the 19th century. In order to preserve the documents and improve access to them, the Cornwall Record Office are digitising these maps and survey books. The CD ROM tithe package include a map and survey books, together with a reader, for this parish; it is now available from the Cornwall Record Office. Details are on their website.

Return to top of page

Maps

• Map of the Launceston Registration District in which the parish lies.
• An old map of the parish of Altarnun in the 19th century is also available.

Return to top of page

Occupations

• Information about the Caradon and Liskeard Mines is available on-line.
• Apprenticeship Indentures for Altarnun (1752 - 1831) can be found in the Cornwall Record Office. Some are on-line, courtesy of the OPC.

Return to top of page

Poorhouses, Poor Law, etc.

• Altarnun parish was part of the Launceston Union for Poor Law administration and parish relief. Overseers' Accounts 1796 to 1817, Settlement papers (1714 to 1824) and Bastardy Bonds (1704 - 1825), are available in the <Cornwall Record Office.
• Some Bastardy/Filiation documents have also been transcribed and are on-line.

Return to top of page

Population

Return to top of page

Statistics

The parish comprises 15014 acres of land.

Return to top of page

Voting Registers

• The 1851/52 Voters' List.
• The 1852/53 Voters' List.
• The 1856/57 Voters' List.
• The 1864/65 Voters' List.

Return to top of page

Are you lost in the GENUKI hierarchy or arrived here from a Search Engine?
If so, use the up-arrow(s) at the top of the page to go up the hierarchy.

Copyright and Disclaimer The information on the GENUKI (www.genuki.org.uk/) website must not be used for commercial purposes, and all specific restrictions concerning usage, copyright notices, etc., that are to be found on individual information pages within GENUKI must be strictly adhered to. Violation of these rules could gravely harm the cooperation that GENUKI is obtaining from many information providers, and hence threaten its whole future. Whilst we take every care to keep the information on our web pages accurate, we disclaim any warranty or representation, express or implied about its accuracy, completeness or appropriateness for a particular purpose. Thus, you assume full responsibility for its use, and you understand and agree that neither GENUKI as an organisation nor any of its maintainers or providers are responsible or liable for any claim, loss or damage as a consequence. GENUKI contains many hyperlinks and directives to sites developed by others. They are provided for your convenience only. We do not control nor guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of such sites, and in the event of a link to such a site being 'broken', or otherwise unavailable, our only recourse is to remove that link. Thank you for your cooperation. GENUKI is a registered trademark of the charitable trust GENUKI - see About GENUKI as an Organisation.