Luxulyan
I have long been familiar with the Luxulyan Valley and Jane and I have enjoyed many walks from Ponts Mill to the Treffry Viaduct, heading up along the river past J. T. Treffry's China Clay Works and returning on the other side of the valley past the impressive Carmears Wheelpit. It is a delightful walk through lovely beech woodland. I had been in Luxulyan village on only a couple of occasions, both when walking the Saints Way. On this occasion in mid-August 2016, Luxulyan was one of group of visits; first I visited Lanivet for the church then I stopped in Lockengate to photograph a roadside Cornish Cross. Then, still heading for Luxulyan, I continued by way of Bodwen and Lanlivery. The first attraction of Luxulyan is its churchyard, for the lych gate with its Cornish Cross and its lantern cross. The second attraction is the Holy Well below the church, restored but sadly not in water. The church itself is almost certainly on an ancient site, a small promontory at the top of a steep hill overlooking the valley. It has nave, two aisles and a three stage battlemented tower, typically Cornish. There is nothing special about its interior, except for the attractive font and the colourful altar. One more thing about Luxulyan - it is pronounced Luxillian.
Luxulyan's lych gate and Cornish Cross
Follow signs for Luxulyan from A391 S from Bodmin
More in Towns & Villages
Madron
Madron lies a little to the north of Penzance, just off the road to Bosullow Common, Lanyon Quoit, Men-an-Tol and Nine Maidens Common. As you drive through you are hard put to decide where to park but, if you head for the church and school, there is ample parking. There is more here than just an impressive church: within the churchyard are two impressive memorials - a great mausoleum to Rose Price and a globe-bestriding statue with an unreadable dedication - and two Cornish Crosses (there are two others nearby). Inside, the roofs have carved wooden bosses, there are two attractive screens and the south chapel has an alabaster plaque of saints, some ancient bench ends topped by beasts. High on a wall is the "Nelson Banner", carried in the procession that celebrated Nelson's victory at Trafalgar. In addition to the two Cornish crosses in the churchyard, there are two others nearby, one in a field to the south of the church at 45436/31503, the other on a lane near Madron Well and Chapel, at about 44512/32541. Well and Chapel are worth visiting, the former a spring identified by trees adorned with strips of cloth, interceding for family or friends, the the latter substantial but roofless. Both sites are cared for by the admirable Cornwall Heritage Trust. Nearby is the National Trusts' lovely Trengwainton Garden.
Manaccan
Although the Lizard is the best part of an hour and a half's journey from Wadebridge I decided it was high time I visited and reported on several churches down there. I was in Manaccan and St. Anthony in mid February 2019. In addition to these I propose to report on Mawgan-in-Meneage and St. Martin-in-Meneage. An odd word "Meneage", it means "Monk's land" so would have been the property of a monastic settlement. Manaccan is a pleasant small village on a hill not far from the eastern end of Gillan Creek. At one time the village had pub, shop and post office. All closed in 2014 but, in a remarkable show of co-operation, the villagers got together to save and re-open the pub. After some more ups and downs, the New Inn is open again and is a pleasant spot, serving good food; on an adjacent wall are mounting steps. A couple of hundred yards away is St. Manacca's church. The first thing you notice is a fig tree growing out of the west end of the south wall, believed to be 250 years old and surely unique in Cornwall. The next thing you notice is the unusual south doorway, essentially Norman although the arch above has been remodelled. Inside is a plain font, believed by Pevsner to be a late-medieval copy of a Norman original. Stained glass appears medieval but is late Victorian. A simple pulpit may be 20th century. In the chancel two chairs are made from 15th century timber, taken from the former rood screen. A surprise is the carved and colourful ceiling bosses, undoubtedly modern since they include a butterfly and a terrier.
Marazion
Marazion is not a place you pass through on the way to anywhere. So all who go there do so for a purpose. Mostly that purpose is to visit Saint Michael's Mount or to enjoy the beach with its view of the Mount and of the broad sweep of Mount's Bay. But Marazion is an interesting place in its own right. A narrow main street curves down from the east, from the Helston to Penzance main road, petering out soon after it passes the main car park. Along its way are attractive cottages, a charming small square, a couple of pubs, tearooms, shops (including Philps Bakery, renowned for its pasties), and several art and craft galleries. Pubs are the Godolphin Arms, also a hotel, and the King's Arms. We enjoy the view from the bar of the Godolphin but find it impersonal. We far prefer the cozy King's Arms with its friendly welcome and good value food. Marazion has a remarkable history and may be one of Britain's oldest towns. It and St. Michael's Mount may have been known to the Romans, who would have traded for tin here, as Ictis, though some authorities dispute this. The major town of West Cornwall, from 1170 it returned two members to Parliament. It was incorporated by royal charter in 1257, a charter reaffirmed by Elizabeth I in 1595. Its importance is seen in its two former markets, the marhas vean (little market) and marhas yow (Thursday market), the latter giving the town its name.