Constantine, Cornwall

In pre-historic times, a fogou was constructed near Trewardreva: its purpose is unknown.

The ancient name of Constantine, "Langostentyn", implies that the settlement was monastic, with the "Lan" prefix. Dr Lynette Olson (1989)Early monasteries in Cornwall, page 105 has examined literary and archaeological evidence for all early monastic establishments in Cornwall and found significant doubts about the religious nature of Constantine before the Norman Conquest.

The land holdings in the parish were the manors of Polwheveral, Trewardreva, Merthen (also a tithing and barton), Tucoys (also a tithing), Treworval and Treviades; the barton of Bonallack; and Trenarth and Budock Vean.Henderson, Charles (1937). A History of the Parish of Constantine in Cornwall. Truro: Royal Institution of Cornwall; pp. 71–210 Trewardreva Manor House was built circa 1600 and remodelled in 1719–49; the west wing was demolished in 1860.Pevsner (1970); p. 56 It is now Grade II* listed. Treviades Barton, also Grade II* listed, is a gentry house with historic garden.

Andrew Langdon (1999) lists twelve stone crosses, or parts of crosses located in the parish. One of these was carved and erected in 1991. Several have been transferred from other sites. The stone cross at the cross-roads in High Cross was found in 1992 and re-erected nearby.Stone Crosses: Andrew Langdon (Dyffresyas Crowson – Protector of Crosses) Stone crosses in West Cornwall (including The Lizard), The Federation of Old Cornwall Societies, 1999 (Cornish Cross series No. 5) {{ISBN|0-902660-28-4}}. Langdon holds that place-names starting "Lan" indicate the location of a Burial Ground, not a church or monastery (p. 3, section d). The items listed in the book in Constantine are numbered 18 to 29. Arthur Langdon (1896) recorded six Cornish crosses in the parish; in the churchyard, at Bosvathick, at Merthen, at Nanjarrow, at Trevease and at Trewardreva.Langdon, A. G. (1896) Old Cornish Crosses. Truro: Joseph Pollard

Little remains of the Norman church, which was rebuilt between 1420 and 1480: the tower has been called impressive.{{cite book | last = Harris | first = Ida and David | title = The Church of Saint Constantine in Cornwall: a brief guide, compiled and illustrated by Ida and David Harris | year= 1975}} There is a brass of 1574 to Richard Gerveys and family.

The chancel was rebuilt in 1862 and there was other restoration work between 1859 and 1901.Pevsner, N. (1970) Cornwall; 2nd ed. Penguin Books; pp. 55–56 Restoration of the roof timbers (costing £1,200) commenced in 1874, completed in 1878, with the re-opening ceremony held on 22 January 1879 by Edward Benson the Bishop of Truro.{{cite news|title=Falmouth|work=The Cornishman|issue=28|date=30 January 1879|page=5}} In 1882 the north aisle was restored with a new roof of pitch pine and slates, as well as new seating.{{cite news |title=Constantine |work=The Cornishman |issue=222 |date=12 October 1882 |page=4}} The restoration of the Bosahan aisle was commenced in the summer of 1882 and completed the following May.{{cite news |title=The Restoration Of Constantine Church |work=The Cornishman |issue=255 |date=31 May 1883 |page=7}}

The church was given a grade I listing on 10 July 1957.{{NHLE |desc=Church of St Constantine |num=1142141 |accessdate=22 December 2018}}

The settlement called Constantine Churchtown grew up around the church. Mineral extraction led to an increase in population and the village expanded down what is now called Fore Street, during the 19th century.Ordnance Survey 6-inch map, 1888, surveyed in 1878 Sheet LXXVII NW shows the street complete. However, one property, "The Bow Window", is thought to be a 300-year-old farmhouse. The parish had three main industries: agriculture; mining for tin, copper, and iron;{{Cite web |url=http://constantinecornwall.com/heritage/mining.htm |title=Mining history at Constantine Village website |access-date=29 January 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061127140150/http://www.constantinecornwall.com/heritage/mining.htm |archive-date=27 November 2006 |url-status=dead }} and quarrying granite.{{Cite web |url=http://constantinecornwall.com/heritage/granite.htm |title=history at Constantine Village website |access-date=29 January 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929000900/http://constantinecornwall.com/heritage/granite.htm |archive-date=29 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}See also pages 44–49 of the Book of Constantine. For more information on quarrying in the Constantine area, see Peter Stanier's South West Granite The largest mine was Wheal Vyvyan, which was worked from 1827 to 1864. The production figures for copper 1845–1864 and for tin ore, 1855–1864, are given in Cornish Mines.Cornish Mines The value of copper raised peaked in 1845, 1850 and 1855. The peaks of value in tin ore production were in 1856 and 1863. In 1864, the value of tin raised was only a quarter of the previous year's value and the mine closed.The story of the local mines is covered in detail in pages 40–43 of the Book of Constantine

File:Saint Constantine Church in Constantine Village.JPG

In 1921, Alice Hext of Trebah gave the playing field and sports pavilion to the village, in memory of her husband, Charles Hawkins Hext, who died in 1917.The book of Mawnan (2002) She supported the development of the Sport and Social Club until her death in 1939.Minute Book of the Constantine Sport and Social Club (in private hands); review of the year 1940

In 1933, overhead cables, providing electricity to homes were installed in the village.Electricity supply: West Briton, 17 November 1933.

Port Navas has an ancient oyster farm.[http://constantinecornwall.com/heritage/oysters.htm Constantine Village website on Oyster farming at Port Navas]

Constantine Parish Council has prepared a Parish Plan as a framework for future development/conservation.[http://constantinecornwall.com/parish/council.htm Constantine Parish Council information]

Like many other Cornish places, Constantine Parish with Gweek, is twinned with a partner in Brittany in western France. In this case the village is twinned with Pont-Croix, Département Finistère. In Breton, "Pont-Croix" is "Pont-e-kroaz" and, colloquially, "Ar Pont".{{Cite web |url=http://constantinecornwall.com/parish/pg_twinning.php |title=Constantine Twinning Association webpage |access-date=8 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006114714/http://www.constantinecornwall.com/parish/pg_twinning.php |archive-date=6 October 2008 |url-status=dead }}

A British School was opened in 1836 at Ponjeravah.[http://constantinecornwall.com/heritage/ponjeravah/ponjeravah01.htm Notes on Schools in Constantine 1957] After 1957, the school moved to what is now the Church Hall and in 1966 to its present site, the building being refurbished and extended in 2005, as Constantine Primary School. The school is part of Kernow Learning Multi Academy Trust.[http://www.constantine.cornwall.sch.uk/htm/home.htm Primary School website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512124912/http://www.constantine.cornwall.sch.uk/htm/home.htm |date=12 May 2008 }} There is also a pre-school,[http://www.constantine-preschool.co.uk/ Pre-school website] set in an eco-friendly building on the primary school campus. For secondary education, children have to travel to Helston, Mullion, Falmouth or Penryn.

Constantine parish is the home of five bards of the Cornish Gorseth, including a former Grand Bard, Vanessa Beeman.

File:Tolmen2.JPG

A social enterprise, Constantine Enterprises Company,{{Cite web |url=http://constantinecornwall.com/parish/cec.htm |title=Constantine Enterprises Company website |access-date=29 January 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070314220428/http://constantinecornwall.com/parish/cec.htm |archive-date=14 March 2007 |url-status=dead }} bought the former Methodist chapel in 1998. A wide range of social and cultural events happen there, all run by volunteers. The building is now known as the Tolmen Centre. The Tolmen Centre has hosted three editions of an international guitar festival,http://constantinecornwall.com/tolmenguitarfestival/; {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409213728/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-29751231.html |date=9 April 2016 }} that has attracted a range of concert performers including the Silesian Guitar Octet, Mick Abrahams, Andrea Dieci, Ben Salfield (who also directed the three festivals) and Stonephace (featuring Adrian Utley and Larry Stabbins).

The village has a number of choirs and a Silver band.

In September 2006, Constantine won the Calor Best Village in Cornwall 2006 competition.[http://www.villageoftheyear.org/england/news-press/stop-press/september/cornwall-results.htm Calor Best Village Press Release] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929121227/http://www.villageoftheyear.org/england/news-press/stop-press/september/cornwall-results.htm |date=29 September 2007 }} Constantine was also judged the Best Village in the West of England 2007, in the Business Category.

Cornish wrestling tournaments, for prizes, have been held in Constantine, for example at the Bowling Green.The Cornish Telegraph, 23 September 1874.

Saint Constantine's "Feast" is celebrated in the village, on or around 9 March. The Agricultural Society (founded 1900) and the Cottage Garden Society run shows early in July. The Constantine Social Club runs a carnival, usually on a weekend at the end of July. The Constantine Art Society has a two-week exhibition, starting at the end of July. An annual "Cornish Talk and Taste" festival takes place in January.

Within the parish of Constantine are situated various historic estates including:

• Bosahan, the estate of a branch of the Trefusis family from Mylor.
• Carwithenack (Carwythenack), a seat of the Chapman family who had a vault in the Bosahan aisle in the parish church, also the Stapleton family and in the late 14th century of the Tremayne family later of Collacombe in Devon.Daniel Lysons and Samuel Lysons, 'Parishes: Constantine – Cury', in Magna Britannia: Volume 3, Cornwall (London, 1814), pp. 67–76 [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/magna-britannia/vol3/pp67-76]Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L., (Ed.) The Visitations of the County of Devon: Comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1531, 1564 & 1620, Exeter, 1895, p.730, pedigree of Tremayne
• Trefusis, the original estate of the Trefusis family.

File:DSCN0731BrillVillage.jpg

Bonallack, Bosahan, Bosanarth, Bosawsack, Bosvathick, Boswarch, Boswidjack, Bridge, Brill (a hamlet to the west of the village of Constantine), Brillwater, Calamansac, Carvedras, Goongillings, Groyne Point, High Cross, Job's Water, Lestraynes, Maen Pern, Merthen, Nancenoy, Penbothidno, Penwarn, Polpenwith, Polwheveral, Ponjeravah, Port Navas, Retallack, Scott's Quay, Seworgan, Trebarvah, Trecombe, Tregantallan, Treglidgwith, Treleggan, Trenarth, Trengrove, Tresahor, Tresidder, Trevassack, Trevease, Treviades, Trewardreva, Trewince, Treworvack, Treworvall, Tucoyse.

• John Hellins F.R.S., the mathematical astronomer, was curate of Constantine from 1779 to 1783.Oxford Dictionary of National Biography article by R. E. Anderson, 'Hellins, John (d. 1827) ', rev. Adrian Rice, [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/12873] accessed 30 May 2007
• Vanessa Beeman, Grand Bard of Gorseth Kernow September 2006 to September 2009.:kw:Vanessa Beeman{{cite web|url=http://www.gorsethkernow.org.uk/english/welcome.htm|title=Cornish Gorseth site|publisher=Gorseth Kernow|access-date=16 December 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090706051224/http://www.gorsethkernow.org.uk/english/welcome.htm|archive-date=6 July 2009|df=dmy-all}}

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{{Portal|Cornwall}}

{{Refbegin}}

• {{cite book

| last = Trethowan

| first = Gerald

|author2=Moore, Liz

| title = The Book of Constantine

| publisher= Halsgrove

| location = Tiverton, Devon

| year= 2001

| isbn= 1-84114-102-X}}

• {{cite book

| last = Henderson

| first = Charles

|editor=Doble, G. H.

|editor-link=Gilbert Hunter Doble

| title = A History of the Parish of Constantine in Cornwall

| author-link = Charles G. Henderson

| publisher= Royal Institution of Cornwall

| location = Truro

| year= 1937

}}

• {{cite book

| last = Scolding

| first = Bill

| title = Five walks around Constantine.

| publisher= Constantine Enterprises Company

| location = Constantine, Cornwall

| year= 2006

| isbn =978-0-9552816-0-0}}

• {{cite book

| last = Stanier

| first = Peter

| title = South West Granite: a history of the granite industry in Devon and Cornwall

| publisher= Cornish Hillside Publications

| location = St. Austell, Cornwall

| year= 1999

| isbn = 1-900147-14-9

| id = (Hardback) (paperback)}}

• {{cite book

| last =Burt

| first = Roger

|author2=Burnley, Ray

| title = Cornish Mines

| publisher= University of Exeter with the Northern Mine Research Society

| location = Exeter, Devon

| year= 1987

| isbn=0-85989-287-5}}

• {{cite book

| last = Olson

| first = Lynette

| title = Early Monasteries in Cornwall

|series= Studies in Celtic History

| publisher= Boydell Press

| location = Woodbridge, Suffolk

| year= 1989

| isbn=0-85115-478-6

}}

• {{cite book

| title=The Book of Mawnan: celebrating a South Cornwall parish

| author=The Mawnan History Group

| year= 2002

| publisher=Halsgrove

| location=Tiverton, Devon

| isbn=1-84114-148-8}}

{{Refend}}

{{Commons}}

• [http://constantinecornwall.com/ The Village Website of Constantine]

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Category:Villages in Cornwall

Category:Civil parishes in Cornwall