Spectacular Cornish Scenery, Cornwall's coasts & beaches; Celtic Culture, Language and History

The Ancient History of Cornwall

Around about 550 B.C. the Celts invaded Britain. They brought with them the knowledge of Metal Working. Compared to the scattered Bronze Age residents, the Celts had an highly organised structure, they were civilised and well trained in battle. Left largely untouched by the Romans until their departure in c.410 A.D., Cornwall retained the majority of this Celtic influence for almost the next 900 years. When the Jutes, Angles and Saxons invaded from across the North Sea in about 450 A.D. and established 7 states: Kent (Jutes); Northumbria; Mercia; East Anglia (Angles); Wessex; Sussex and Essex (Saxons), the Celts (Ancient Britons) were squeezed into the extremities of the island of Britain. Dumnonia and Cerniw became Devon and Cornwall, the 'strangers' (Saxon - wealas) formed Wales with other tribes forming lowland Scotland and Armorica (present-day Brittany). This relocation of the Celts only strengthened their language and culture in these lands.

More about the Celts

I am indebted to my colleagues at the Institute of Cornish Studies from whom I have gleaned a great deal of useful information. Cornwall was, in fact, the last part of Britain to accede to the Saxons in 838 AD. Cornwall (Kernow) became federated but very much apart from Wessex when the borders between Cornwall and Wessex were set in about 927AD by Athelstan. Indeed, much more recently than that, legislation refers to Anglia, Cornubia etc. and so Cornwall always maintained its distinctive identity and rulership under the Duke of Cornwall who held in Cornwall identical powers to the ruling Monarch of England. In 1066 William the Conqueror made Cornwall an earldom and in 1337 Edward, the 'Black Prince' was named as Duke of Cornwall by his father King Edward III. A title held by the monarch's eldest son to this day. From the Dark Ages to the industrial revolution Cornwall retained most of its Celtic identity, however improved transport links in the 17th Century slowly began to change its demographics. The coming of the railway opened up hitherto unknown parts of Britain to the masses and tourists began flooding west to take advantage of the milder climate and gentler pace of life. Within Cornwall, the population moved around following job opportunities. In the 19th century the workforce left the agricultural industry in large numbers to 'seek their fortune' at the numerous Tin and Copper mines as miners, ore dressers and 'bal maidens'. The towns of Camborne and Redruth grew rapidly, so much so that until very recently they were home to about 10% of the total population of Cornwall - some 40,000 people. When the mining boom faded at the start of the 20th Century, Cornwall had to look elsewhere for its income : This was to come from Tourism. Indeed, large posters at GWR (Great Western Railway) stations extolled the virtues of the Cornish Riviera. To learn more about Cornwall before 1900, Click HERE.