Lansallos

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Lansallos
Cornish: Lansalwys
Cornwall

Lansallos Church
Location
Grid reference: SX173516
Location: 50°20’10"N, 4°34’5"W
Data
Population: 1,685  (2011)
Post town: Looe
Postcode: PL13
Dialling code: 01503
Local Government
Council: Cornwall
Parliamentary
constituency:
South East Cornwall

Lansallos is a village in south-eastern Cornwall, situated between Polruan and Polperro about 5 miles east of Fowey. The South West Coast Path runs through the village.

The parish population was 1,685 at the 2011 census.

The name of the village is from the Cornish Lansalwys, meaning 'St Salwys' church'[1]) The village is

Lansallos forms both civil and ecclesiastical parishes, including the hamlets of Landaviddy and Raphael, near Polperro. The civil parish is bordered by Looe to the east, Pelynt to the north and Lanteglos-by-Fowey to the west, whilst the ecclesiastical parish is nowadays combined with Talland its neighbour to the east forming a joint benefice.

Parish church

The parish church is St Ildierna’s Church. The church as it exists today was built in the 15th century and consists of a chancel, nave of six bays, north and south aisles (the north aisle is incomplete and ends with a pre-existing north transept wall), south porch and west tower.[2]

This building was preceded by a Norman church and its rededication is recorded in 1321. The chronicler William Worcester, when visiting Fowey, recorded that the church contained the remains of St Hyldren, reputedly a bishop; however documentary evidence indicates that the parish patron saint was female. St Hyldren's feast was February 1.[3] The advowson was a rectory formerly belonging to the Hywysche family whose seat at "Rathwylle" (Raphael) had its own chapel, mentioned in 1332.[4]

The church's features of interest include the good carved wagon roofs, the square Norman font ornamented with a "tree of life", 16th-century benches and bench ends, of which 34 remain, and its Jacobean vestment cupboards. A rare contemporary slate memorial tablet survives commemorating Margaret Smith (died 1579), the work of the stonemason, Peter Crocker.[2]

In 2005 a fire started in the northern aisle of the church, causing serious damage to the building.[5]

History

Lansallos

Lansallos is mentioned in the Domesday Book (1086) as the manor of Lansalhas; it was one of 28 manors held by Richard from Robert, Count of Mortain. There was one hide of land and land for 5 ploughs. There were 2 ploughs, 3 serfs, 2 villeins and 2 smallholders. There were 30 acres of pasture, 34 sheep and 11 other beasts. The value of the manor was 10 shillings.[6]

Lansallos takes its name from a monastery dedicated to St Salwys: this ancient parish has an ecclesiastical Rector,[7] whose church is dedicated to St Ildierna, standing in the historic village at SX172515.

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Lansallos)

References

  1. "We have one saint "Salwys" giving name to the lan and another saint "Ildierna" being esteemed the patroness".--Charles Henderson, in Cornish Church Guide (1925 Truro: Blackford; p. 133
  2. 2.0 2.1 Nikolaus Pevsner: The Buildings of England: Cornwall, 1951; 1970 Penguin Books ISBN 978-0-300-09589-0
  3. Cornish Church Guide (1925) Truro: Blackford; p. 10
  4. Cornish Church Guide (1925) Truro: Blackford; pp. 132-33
  5. Cornwall | Mediæval church damaged in fire: BBC News
  6. Thorn, C., et al., ed. (1979) Cornwall. Chichester: Phillimore; entry 5,3,7
  7. Lansallos; BBC