Cornwall

Nearby places

Wendron

Wendron (or Gwendron, as it was originally called), (Cornish: Egloswendron), is situated in the Deanery and Hundred of Kirrier (Kerrier). It was originally bounded on the north by Illogan and Gwennap, on the east by Stithians and Constantine, on the south by Mawgan and Gunwallow, and on the west by Sithney, Crowan and Illogan. The parish of Wendron stretches north-east from the town of Helston which was part of the parish until 1845. Nothing is known about the patron saint of the local church that gave her name to the parish. In the past this was an important tin mining area, and when the mines closed there was severe unemployment. In 1878 the landowner, Lord Robartes, tried to ease the situation by bringing uncultivated land into production. Canon GH Doble, who made a serious study of Cornish and Celtic saints, lived here from 1925 until his death in 1945.

The parishes of Carnmenellis in 1846 and Pencoys in 1881 were created from parts of this parish.

Nearby is Loe Pool where King Arthur's sword Excalibur was found and the Stone Circle known as Nine Maidens. Villages in the original parish included the Churchtown, Coverack Bridges, Lower Town, Trewennack, Gweek, Edgecumb, Menhay and Four Lanes.

Cemeteries

• Transcriptions from both Wendron parish graveyard and the Crelly Wesleyan Cemetery, Wendron, are available on the Cornish Cemeteries site.
• The Cornwall Family History Society have published Monumental Inscriptions for:
  • the Parish Church - 1258 entries
  • Edgcumbe Methodist Chapel
• War Memorials in the Parish.
  • War Memorial inscriptions for Wendron parish (1914-1918 and 1939-1945 Wars) are separately available.
  • War Memorial inscriptions for Penmarth (1914-1918 and 1939-1945 Wars) are separately available.
  • War Memorial inscriptions for Edgecumbe (1914-1918 and 1939-1945 Wars) are separately available.

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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. 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 Wendron (HO107/139) is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project as follows:
  • Enumeration Districts 9 to 16.
  • Enumeration Districts 17 to 22.
• 1851.
  • The 1851 Census of Wendron (HO107/1912), Enumeration Districts 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g and 2h, is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
  • Part of the 1851 Census of Wendron is available from the West-Penwith resources as part of the 1851 British Census 2% sample - Cornwall.
  • The New Zealand Society of Genealogists have compiled separate surname indexes of the 1851 Census for each Cornish registration district; Wendron is listed in Volume 31. The booklets are available in Cornwall at the Cornwall Centre, (formerly known as the Cornish Studies Library), and is also available in the Cornwall FHS Library.
• 1861. The 1861 Census of Wendron (RG9/1569), Enumeration Districts 1 to 9, is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
• 1871. The 1871 Census of Wendron is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project as follows:
  • RG10/2299. Enumeration Districts 2, 5 and 6.
  • RG10/2300. Enumeration Districts 8 and 9.
• 1881. The 1881 Census of Wendron is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project as follows:
  • RG11/2321:
    • Enumeration Districts 2, and 5 to 8.
    • Enumeration District 9.
  • RG11/2322. Enumeration Districts ? to ?.
• 1891. The 1891 Census of Wendron, St Michael's (RG12/1839), Enumeration Districts 4 to 8, is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.

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Church History

• Anglican. In the past, there were four churches in the parish; these were situated at: Churchtown near Trenear, Porkellis, Carnmenellis, and at Franchise Farm. However, Wendron Church at Churchtown is the only church now in use. The parish church is located in OS Grid Square SW6731 and was dedicated to St Wendron (or Wendrona). It comprises a chancel, nave, south aisle, north transept and a vestry. Entrance to the churchyard is through a 17th century lychgate with room above. Among the graves is an 18th century pillar sundial and a Celtic cross. The Church is from the 14th and 15th centuries and consists of a pinnacled porch, inside in a corner of the transept are the roodloft stairs. The arcades consist of seven four-centred arches made from porcelain stone and granite, and are decorated with angels. The 15th century font is shaped like a chalice. The church was extensively refurbished in the mid-19th century, and reopened for divine service on 20th December 1868. The tower, which is buttressed diagonally, consists of three stages and is finished with battlements and pinnacles.Further information on Wendron church is available.
  On 14th January 1865, the following notice appeared in provincial papers:
  
  Whereas by an order of Her Majesty in Council, made the 20th day of November 1845, the parish of Wendron was divided into two distinct and separate parishes, named respectively, the parish of St Michael's, Wendron and the parish of Helston.
  And whereas, owing to the resignation of Helston by the Rev. G B Boraston, on the 5th day of January 1865, the said order in council will immediately take effect.
  Be it known that from henceforth it will be necessary for all persons who reside within the limits of the new parish of Helston to have their banns of marriage published in the parish church of Helston, and also to resort thither for the celebration of marriage in case that both of the parties are actually living in the new parish of Helston.
  N.B. The new parish of Helston now formed, will be bounded by the road leading from Coverack Bridge to the lane leading down to Roselydden, thence by Rose in the Bush and Wheal Widden mine to the lane called Rowe's, and along the said lane till it reaches the turnpike road leading from Helston to Falmouth, thence down Crasken Lane by Pollard Bottom to the stream at Mellangoose.
  The parish of Helston will therefore comprise the village or hamlets of Trelubis, Lowertown, Upper Roselydden and Lower Trenethick, Nansloe, Pencoose, Pentire and Degibna.
  Thomas D Millner, curate of St Michael's Wendron
  Thomas P Tyacke, John Grigg, Churchwardens.
  Details about the plans of the modern church are available on-line.
  
  
• Non-Conformist. There were Wesleyan Methodist chapels at Edgecumbe, Menhay (Manhay), Penmarth, Porkellis, Burrows, Coverack Bridges, Degibna, Gweek and Crelly (where there is a cemetery). Bible Christian chapels were at Boskenwyn Downs and Karn Kie (Carnkie); Wesleyan Methodist Free Chapels were at Trewenack and Four Lanes, and a Baptist chapel at Lower Town (now part of Helston).

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Church Records

• LDS Church Records.
  • The LDS Church batch numbers for Wendron are: C023571/2, C053291/2/3, E053291, M053291. These are searchable by surname.
  • The IGI coverage of this parish is 1562 - 1837.
• The Cornwall Record Office holdings: Baptisms 1560 - 1917, Burials 1560 - 1927, Marriages 1560 - 1979, Boyd's Marriage Index 1560 - 1812, Pallot's Marriage Index 1800 - 1812, Non=Conformist records 1804 - 1837.
• The Cornwall Family History Society have published on-line transcripts of:
  • Pre 1813 Marriages
  • 1813-37 Marriages
  • 1813-37 Burials.
• Baptisms.
  • Baptisms 1562 to 1810, and 1811 to 1901, in this parish are available on-line through the OPC search Facility - (C-PROP).
  • Wendron Burhos (Burros) Wesleyan Methodist Chapel baptisms 1890 to 1910 are available on-line through the OPC search Facility - (C-PROP).
  • The OPC of Breage has transcribed Breage Circuit: Bible Christian Births & Baptisms 1821 to 1837. Parishes mentioned include: Breage, Crowan, Gwinear, Helston, Mullion, Porthleven, St Anthony, St Hilary, St Keverne, Sithney and Wendron. These can be searched on-line.
  • The Cornish Forefathers' Society have published on CD baptisms 1720 to 1837 for this parish.
  • Cornwall Legacy have also published on CD, baptisms (1838 to 1852) of the Falmouth Wesleyan Circuit. These include two registers from Pikes Hill Chapel - baptisms 1871 to 1900 and 1889 to 1900, which include a few marriages. The Circuit covers Falmouth, Budock, Mylor, Stithians, Mawnan, St Gluvias, Wendron and Constantine.
  • Cornwall Legacy have also published on CD, baptisms (1837 to 1900) of the Falmouth Wesleyan Circuit (Penryn Section), and Penryn Wesleyan Chapel marriages (1893 to 1899). The area covers Penryn, Mabe, Mawnan, Constantine, Budock, St Gluvias, Stithians, Flushing, Edgcumb and Mylor.
  • Cornwall Legacy have also published on CD, baptisms (1838 to 1900) of the Helston Bible Christian Circuit. Areas include: Helston, St Keverne, Constantine, Wendron, St Anthony-in-Meneage, Manacccan, St Martin-in-Meneage, Sithney, Stithians and Lizard.
• Banns. Banns 1883 to 1910 in this parish are available on-line through the OPC search Facility - (C-PROP).
• Marriages.
  • Phillimore marriages 1560 to 1812, and marriage transcripts 1560 to 1753, for this parish are available on-line through the OPC search Facility - (C-PROP).
  • The Cornwall Family History Society have published transcripts of: Marriages in the Parish 1560 to 1837, which is available in CD or downloadable .pdf file formats.
• Burials.
  • The Cornwall Family History Society have published transcripts of: Burials in the Parish 1813 to 1837, which is available in Book and CD formats.
  • Burials 1560 to 1739, and 1770 to 1901, in this parish are available on-line through the OPC search Facility - (C-PROP).
  • Burials at Wendron 1800 to 1900 are on-line, courtesy of the OPC.
  • Some "Strays" from Wendron are buried in Breage parish cemetery; these are listed on-line.
  • The OPC of Stithians has provided a list of some stray burials in wendron.

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Civil Registration

The parish of Wendron was originally in the Helston Registration District; there were sub-districts at Breage, Crowan, Helston, St Keverne and Wendron. It is now in the Kerrier Registration District. Parishes in this registration district are: Breage, Crowan, Cury, Germoe, Gunwalloe, Grade, Helston, Landewednack, Manaccan, Mawgan in Meneage, Mullion, Ruan Major, Ruan Minor, St. Anthony in Meneage, St. Keverne, St. Martin in Meneage, Sithney, Wendron.

The address of the Registration Office is: The Willows, Church Street, Helston, TR13 8NJ.
Tel: 01326 562848.

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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 Wendron are available on-line.
• The Wendron Parish Council has a website which gives much further local and historical information.

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Directories

• Kelly'S 1873 Directory of Wendron.

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Genealogy

• The On-line Parish Clerk (OPC) scheme operates a service to help family historians; the OPC page for this parish is available on-line.
• British-Genealogy have a mailing list for those wanting to discuss ancestry in Wendron.

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Maps

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

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Occupations

Information about the Wendron Mining Area is available on-line.

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Poorhouses, Poor Law, etc.

Wendron parish was part of the Helston Union for Poor Law administration and parish relief. Overseers' Accounts (1750 to 1759, 1828 to 1832) and Settlement Papers (1765 to 1843), are available in the Cornwall Record Office.

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Population

The parishes of Carnmenellis (1846) and Pencoys (1881) were created from parts of this parish. Population figures below exclude the Municipal Borough of Helston which was separately enumerated.

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Public Records

The 1832 Voters' List for Wendron, in the 'Helleston' Polling District, is available on-line.

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Statistics

The parish originally comprised 11429 acres of land.

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Voting Registers

The OPC has placed on-line the 1832 Voters' List for Wendron, in the Helleston Polling District.

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