Minions

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Minions
Cornish: Menyon
Cornwall

Minions
Location
Grid reference: SX2671
Location: 50°30’50"N, 4°27’14"W
Data
Post town: Liskeard
Postcode: PL14
Dialling code: 01579
Local Government
Council: Cornwall
Parliamentary
constituency:
South East Cornwall

Minions is a village in Cornwall, on the eastern flank of Bodmin Moor northwest of Caradon Hill, and about four miles north of Liskeard.

Minions is first recorded in 1613 and the meaning of its name is unknown:[1] it may be assumed to be form the Cornish Menyon meaning "stones", perhaps referring to the stone circle above the village.

A stone circle known as The Hurlers is located on the west side of the village. Several other tumuli are also in the area, including Rillaton round barrow, where a Bronze Age gold beaker was discovered. The Cheesewring, a distinctive rock formation, is a mile northwest.

Geography

At 1,000 feet above sea level. Minions is said to be the highest village in Cornwall.

The village is dominated by Caradon Hill, standing at 1,217 feet high, on the summit of which stands a television transmission mast. As a result, there is a road leading up to the summit from Minions. On the western flank of the hill, a quarry recently started up again, cutting granite boulders.

As well as this working quarry, there is many other disused quarries and mine buildings in the area due to the village's mining heritage.[2] There are no plans to reopen the tin and copper mines in the area.

Community facilities

The village has two main car parks, located on the western and eastern edges on the village. There are two tearooms, a pub with B&B, and a general store which also holds a post office, one of the tearooms and a B&B. A museum dedicated to the mining history of the local area is located to the north of the village in a disused engine house.

Pictures

("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Minions)
Engine house of a disused mine
Disused granite quarry on the moor

References

  1. Weatherhill, Craig (2009) A Concise Dictionary of Cornish Place-names. Westport, Mayo: Evertype; p. 49
  2. SSSI listing and designation for Crow's Nest