Home of the Cornish rebellion
Web: www.st-keverne.com
Web: www.visitcornwall.com/destinations/st-keverne
St. Keverne village clusters around the square; you'll find whitewashed cottages, a beautiful church, two pubs and a handful of shops. It is accessed along the B3293 from near Helston, about two miles north of Coverack. On summer evenings you might catch the St. Keverne Band, or the Male Voice Choir, and the square really comes alive at the annual festivals of the Ox Roast, Carnival and Rodeo. A short walk out of the village brings you to Tregellast Barton, where you can follow lakeside and woodland nature trails. The population of the village was 2,147 at the 2011 census.
Two Cornish rebellions, one in 1497, the other in 1547, have their roots in St. Keverne. In the church wall, facing the square, there's a memorial stone to the village blacksmith Michael Joseph (an gof), leader of the first uprising. Protesting against the punitive taxes levied by Henry VIII, the uprising was routed on its march to London and Joseph was subsequently hung, drawn and quartered.
The barque 'John' hit The Manacles rocks on the 3rd May 1855 with the loss of over 190 of its passengers, despite the efforts of the local fishermen.
In St. Keverne church, dedicated to Saint Akeveranus there's a shipwreck window; and in the churchyard. there is a stark memorial to the 106 lives lost when the liner Mohegan was wrecked in 1898. Just off the coast at Porthoustock (pronounced 'P'rowstock') is the reason why: the Manacles - jagged rocks lying beneath the surface of the water. The village itself was once the haunt of smugglers. In 1762, five men from here brought home 218 barrels of brandy!
A few boats still set sail from the pretty fishing village of Porthallow, where, in 1832 1,400 hogsheads of pilchards were landed in one day. Stroll along the beach for spectacular views of Falmouth Bay, then browse through the collection of shipwreck relics and old photographs in the pub.
Michael Joseph An Gof (1475-1497) (the "smith" in Cornish), blacksmith, leader of the first Cornish rebellion in 1497.
Charles Incledon (1763–1826), a Cornish tenor singer, who became one of the foremost English singers of his time.
James Polkinghorne (1788–1851) was a champion Cornish wrestler of the 19th century.
St. Keverne Feast Day is held in mid November every year.
Coverack Helford Lizard Peninsula Porthallow Porthallow Vineyard Porthoustock Roskilly's Farm