Ruan Lanihorne
| Ruan Lanihorne | |
| Cornwall | |
|---|---|
 Ruan Lanihorne | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SW894419 |
| Location: | 50°13’60"N, 4°58’0"W |
| Data | |
| Post town: | Truro |
| Postcode: | TR2 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Cornwall |
Ruan Lanihorne is a village in southern Cornwall, standing about four miles east of Truro between the River Fal and its tributary the Ruan River.
History and geography
Ruan Lanihorne is within the 'Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty', as is almost a third of the county.
The village is the main settlement of a wider parish, (named 'Ruanlanihorne') which is entirely rural in character with wooded areas in the river valleys. The parish is bounded to the north by Tregoney parish, to the east by Veryan parish, to the south by Philleigh parish and to the west by St Michael Penkevil parish. Apart from Ruan Lanihorne itself, which is the parish's church town, the only other settlements of any size are in the south of the parish: Treworga and Ruan High Lanes. The parish population was just 250 at the 2011 census.
The name 'Lanihorne' is found in the Cornish language as Laryhorn. The village was, from the mid 12th century onwards, the site of an adulterine castle of the Lercedekne family and the main settlement was at Sheepstor (Sheepstall) some distance away towards Tregony (where the Pomeroy family also built a castle). In 1334 John Lercedekne was granted permission for the castle by King Edward III. Before the castle was demolished in the 19th century, it was described as having a 40 foot high keep, seven or eight towers and possibly an outer court.[1][2][3]
Parish Church
The parish church is dedicated to St Rumonus (or Rumon), a dedication that took place in 1321. This saint is also honoured at Tavistock Abbey in Devon and at Ruan Major and Ruan Minor in Cornwall.[4]
The church has a chancel and nave, a north aisle, and a south transept. The single-stage tower houses a ring of two bells.[5]
The church is built of local grey slate stone and is Gothic in style. The font is dated about the 14th century and the tower perhaps about the same date.[6] Restoration work included the installation of a stained glass window in 1866. The Rev John Whitaker, author of The Cathedral of Cornwall and other historical works, was Rector of Ruan Lanihorne for thirty years (1778–1808).[6]
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Ruan Lanihorne) |
- Ruan Lanihorne - Cornwall Online Parish Clerks
- Information on Ruan Lanihorne from GENUKI
- The King's head, Ruan Lanihorne
References
- ↑ Whetter, James, Cornwall in the 13th Century, 1998
- ↑ Caradoc Peters, The Archaeology of Cornwall, 2005, Cornwall Editions
- ↑ Ruan Lanihorne Castle at The Gatehouse
- ↑ G. H. Doble's The Saints of Cornwall, part 2, pp. 120–34
- ↑ Information on Ruan Lanihorne from GENUKI
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Cornish Church Guide (1925). Truro: Blackford
