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Helland

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The parish of Helland (Cornish: Hellann)is situated in the Deanery of Trigg Minor, and in the Hundred of Trigg. It is bounded on the north by St Mabyn and Blisland, on the east by Blisland and Cardinham, on the south by Bodmin, and on the west by Egloshayle and St Mabyn from which parishes it is separated by the river Camel. Helland is a small village, about three miles north of Bodmin with the village of Helland-Bridge spanning the upper reaches of the River Camel. The origin of the name is "ancient church site of Helen" or "Helen's Land". In the Domeday Survey of 1086, it is taxed by the name of Henland.


Besides the Churchtown, the villages are Helland-Bridge and Bodwen.

Most parish and church description(s) on these pages are from Lake's Parochial History of the County of Cornwall by J Polsue (Truro, 1867 - 1873)

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Cemeteries

The Cornwall Family History Society have published Monumental Inscriptions for the Parish Church - 343 entries.

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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.
Specific census information for this parish is available as follows:

  • 1841. The 1841 Census of Helland (HO107/152), Enumeration District 3, is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
  • 1851. The 1851 Census of Helland (HO107/1904), Enumeration District 7, is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
  • 1861. The 1861 Census of Helland (RG9/1535), Enumeration District 1, is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
  • 1871. The 1871 Census of Helland (RG10/2248), Enumeration District 1, is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
  • 1881. The 1881 Census of Helland (RG11/2290), Enumeration District 1, is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
  • 1891. The 1891 Census of Helland (RG12/1815), Enumeration District 5, is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
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Church History

  • Anglican. The parish church is located in OS Grid Square SX0770; it is dedicated to St Helena, who was the mother of Constantine. The church comprises a chancel, nave and south aisle. The arcade, which is neat and substantial, comprises four four-centred arches of St Stephen porcelain stone supported on pillars of similar material. A building intended for a north transept was converted for use as a school. There is a low south porch and a priest's door. The tower of one stage is finished with a pyramidal roof and had a single bell. There were originally upper stages to the tower, which fell in the mid-18th century.
  • Non-Conformist. There were two Wesleyan Methodist chapels by the side of the high road leading towards Bodmin.
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Church Records

  • LDS Church Records.
    • The LDS Church batch numbers for this parish are: C002912, P002011, M002011. These are searchable by surname.
    • The IGI coverahe of this parish is 1677 - 1812.
  • The Cornwall Record Office holdings: Baptisms 1722 - 1812, Burials 1722 - 1812, Marriages 1722 - 1836, Boyd's Marriage Index 1608 - 1812, Pallot's Marriage Index 1790 - 1812, BTs 1608 - 1673.
  • The Cornwall Family History Society have published on-line transcripts of
    • Pre 1813 Marriages
    • 1813-37 Marriages.
  • Baptisms.
    • Baptisms 1607 to 1805 (Bishop's transcripts - with gaps), and 1721 to 1911 for this parish are available on-line through the OPC search Facility - (C-PROP).
  • Marriages.
    • Marriages 1677 to 1812 (Phillimore's), 1677 to 1804 (Bishop's transcripts), 1722 to 1754 and 1838 to 1911 for this parish are available on-line through the OPC search Facility - (C-PROP).
    • The Cornwall Family History Society have published transcripts of: Parish Marriages 1608 to 1837, which is available in Book, CD or downloadable .pdf file formats.
  • Burials.
    • Burials 1608 to 1804 (Bishop's transcripts - with gaps), and 1722 to 1911 for this parish are available on-line through the OPC search Facility - (C-PROP).
    • The Cornwall Family History Society have published transcripts of: Parish Burials 1813 to 1837, which is available in Book and CD formats.
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Civil Registration

The parish of Helland is in the Bodmin Registration District, and has been since 1st July 1837; there were sub-districts are Bodmin, Egloshayle, Lanlivery and St Mabyn but these have now been abolished. Parishes within the district are: Blisland, Bodmin, Bodmin Borough, Cardinham, Egloshayle, Endellion, Helland, Lanhydrock, Lanviet, Lanlivery, Lostwithiel, Luxulion, St. Kew, St. Mabyn, St. Minver Highlands, St. Minver Lowlands, St. Tudy, St. Winnow, Temple, Wadebridge, Warleggon, Withiel.

The Superintendant Registrar can be contacted at: Lyndhurst, 66 Nicholas Street, Bodmin, Cornwall, PL31 2AG. Tel: 01208 73677.

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Description & Travel

    You can see pictures of Helland which are provided by:

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    Gazetteers

    The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland - 1868

    "HELLAND, a parish in the hundred of Trigg, county Cornwall, 3 miles N. of Bodmin, its post town. The village, which is small, is situated on the river Camel, near the Wadebridge railway. It is mentioned in Domesday Book as Henland. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in agriculture. The living is a rectory* in the diocese of Exeter, value £196. The church, dedicated to St. Helena, is an ancient stone structure. The Wesleyans have a place of worship. There is a school supported by the rector. The principal residence is Brodes, or Broads, the old seat of the Glynn family, where Dr. R. Glynn Clobury, the poet and physician, was born."

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    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 by email.
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    Maps

    You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SX077704 (Lat/Lon: 50.502125, -4.712448), Helland which are provided by:

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    Poor Houses, Poor Law

    • Helland parish was part of the Bodmin Union for Poor Law administration and parish relief.
    • Overseers' Accounts (1766 to 1837) are available in the Cornwall Record Office.
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    Population

    • Population in 1801 - 221 persons
    • Population in 1811 - 223 persons
    • Population in 1821 - 264 persons
    • Population in 1831 - 285 persons
    • Population in 1841 - 300 persons
    • Population in 1851 - 252 persons
    • Population in 1861 - 226 persons
    • Population in 1871 - 227 persons
    • Population in 1881 - 195 persons
    • Population in 1891 - 199 persons
    • Population in 1901 - 202 persons
    • Population in 1911 - 209 persons
    • Population in 1921 - 187 persons
    • Population in 1931 - 276 persons
    • Population in 1951 - 245 persons
    • Population in 1961 - 234 persons
    • Population in 1971 - 202 persons
    • Population in 1981 - 210 persons
    • Population in 1991 - 175 persons
    • Population in 2001 - 205 persons
    • Population in 2011 - 173 persons
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    Statistics

    The parish comprises 2483 acres of land.