Luxulyan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Luxulyan
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 Luxulyan Institute |
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| Population | 1,381 (Civil Parish, 2011 including Bodwen, Bridges and Lockengate) |
| OS grid reference | SX051581 |
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| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BODMIN |
| Postcode district | PL30 |
| Dialling code | 01726 |
| Police | Devon and Cornwall |
| Fire | Cornwall |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Luxulyan (pronounced "luk-SIL-yan") is a village and local area in the middle of Cornwall, England. You can also see it spelled Luxullian or Luxulian. It's about 4 miles (6.5 km) northeast of St Austell and 6 miles (10 km) south of Bodmin. In 2011, about 1,381 people lived here.
Contents
Exploring Luxulyan's Landscape and Rocks
Luxulyan is in an area known for its china clay quarries. These are places where a special type of clay is dug out of the ground. The area is also part of a large underground rock formation called the St Austell granite batholith. You can see many small granite domes, which are rounded hills made of granite, all around the area.
Luxulyan Quarry: A Special Place for Rocks
Luxulyan Quarry is a special place north of the village. It's called a Site of Special Scientific Interest because it shows great examples of these granite rocks.
Luxulyanite: A Unique Cornish Granite
A rare type of Cornish granite called Luxulyanite is found here. It's named after the village! This special rock was even used to make the coffin for the Duke of Wellington in St Paul's Cathedral.
Luxulyan Valley: A Historic Industrial Site
Luxulyan is most famous for the Luxulyan Valley. This is a deep, wooded valley along the River Par. It's home to many old industrial structures from the early 1800s. These include a special bridge that works as both an aqueduct (carrying water) and a Viaduct (carrying a road or railway). In 2006, the valley became a World Heritage Site. This means it's recognized as very important globally.
Walking and Travel in Luxulyan
Part of the Saints' Way, a long-distance footpath, goes through Luxulyan. Other small villages in the Luxulyan area include Bridges, Treskilling, Rosemelling, Higher Menadue, and Bodwen.
The Atlantic Coast Line railway, which runs from Par to Newquay, travels through the Luxulyan Valley. There's even a train station right in Luxulyan. You can also catch a bus from the village to St Austell.
Luxulyan's Past and Ancient Discoveries
The village church might have first been named after Saint Sulien, who was an abbot here in the 500s. Today, it's dedicated to Saints Ciricius and Julitta. You'll find roads in Luxulyan named after all three of these saints.
In the early 1980s, people in Luxulyan protested to protect their farmland. They wanted to stop test drilling for a possible nuclear power station. Many local groups and individuals helped in this effort.
Since the Eden Project opened nearby, Luxulyan has seen more visitors and tourists.
Ancient Crosses and Old Structures
Luxulyan has several old Cornish crosses. One cross is in the churchyard. Another cross is at Lockengate, which was moved there in 1903 and then again in 1972.
Important Buildings and Old Homes
Luxulyan Parish Church
The local church was first built in the Norman style, but it was completely rebuilt with granite in the 1400s. It's dedicated to St Ciricius and St Julitta. The church tower is quite plain, and the south porch has a strong, arched roof. Inside, you can still see the original Norman font, which is a basin used for baptisms. Near the church, there's also a holy well from the 1400s.
Historic Houses and Forts
Prideaux House was built in 1808. It's a large, square granite building. Behind it, on higher ground, is the even older Prideaux Old Manor. This manor house was built in the 1500s but has been changed a lot over time. In the 1800s, it was used as stables.
Methrose is a farmhouse that likely dates back to the early 1500s. It's made of granite and is considered one of the best old farmhouses in Cornwall.
You can also find the remains of an Iron-Age hillfort called Prideaux Castle in the southern part of the area. Hillforts were ancient fortified settlements built on hills.
The Luxulyan Treasure Find
In 1864, some old silver and gold coins were found in the churchyard. These coins were from the time of Queen Elizabeth, King James, and King Charles I. There was a disagreement about who owned them. The Duchy of Cornwall claimed them as "treasure trove," which means hidden treasure whose owner is unknown. The Duchy argued that because they had the right to appoint the Coroner in Cornwall (the official responsible for treasure trove), the coins belonged to them. After some discussion, it was agreed that the treasure belonged to the Duchy.
Famous People from Luxulyan
Two well-known people from Luxulyan are William O'Bryan and Silvanus Trevail. William O'Bryan was a Methodist preacher who started a group called the Bible Christians. Silvanus Trevail was a famous architect. Both of them were born in Luxulyan.
Cornish Wrestling in Luxulyan
In the 1800s, Cornish wrestling tournaments were held at the King's Arms in Luxulyan. This was a popular sport where wrestlers tried to throw each other to the ground.
Images for kids
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Luxulyan church
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The cross in the churchyard
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A small granite dome near Luxulyan
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The Treffry Viaduct in Luxulyan Valley
