Morvah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Morvah
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 Morvah chapel with Anglican Church in the background |
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 Plain in Morvah with the Atlantic beyond from above Trevowhan |
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 Morvah
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| Population | 49 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | SW402353 |
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| Region | |
| Post town | PENZANCE |
| Postcode district | TR20 |
| Dialling code | 01736 |
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| UK Parliament |
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Morvah is a small village and civil parish (a local government area) located on the Penwith peninsula in west Cornwall, England. It's part of the United Kingdom. In 2011, the parish had a population of 49 people.
Contents
Exploring Morvah's Location
The village of Morvah is about 8 miles (13 km) west-southwest of St Ives. It's also about 5.5 miles (9 km) north-west of Penzance. The Morvah parish includes the smaller areas of Chypraze and Rosemergy. It shares borders with St Just to the west and Zennor to the north-east. To the south is Madron, and the sea forms its northern boundary. The parish covers about 1,270 acres (5.14 km²) of land.
The main part of Morvah, often called the "churchtown," is found along the B3306 road. This road connects St Ives to the larger A30 road. In the churchtown, you'll find homes, a dairy farm, and the local church, St Bridget's. The church's main parts were rebuilt in 1828. However, its two-story tower from the 14th century still stands. There's also a community art gallery and cafe in the old school building.
Morvah is located within the beautiful Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). This means the area has special protection because of its stunning natural scenery. The South West Coast Path also runs along the cliffs north of Morvah churchtown. This long walking trail follows the coast of south-west England.
A Look Back at Morvah's History
Ancient Discoveries in Morvah
There's proof that people lived in Morvah a very long time ago, during the early Middle Ages. One piece of evidence is an inscribed stone called the Mên Scryfa. This stone is a memorial to someone named 'Rialobranus, son of Cunovalus'. It's located in a field on a moor, about three kilometers from the village. Experts believe the inscription was made around the mid-6th century. It's important to note that this stone is actually in the nearby parish of Madron.
Morvah parish is also home to some amazing ancient sites. One is the Chûn Quoit, a Neolithic dolmen (a type of ancient tomb) from around 3500 BC. Nearby is Chûn Castle, an Iron Age hillfort built around 300 BC. Half of this castle is also in Madron parish. Another interesting site is Croftoe, a Late Iron Age settlement. Here, you can see four unique "courtyard houses," which were homes built around a central yard. One of these is even a rare "semi-detached" dwelling!
The Amazing Morvah Gold Hoard
In 1884, something very exciting was found in Morvah! Workers were quarrying for building materials near the coast at Carne Farm. They discovered a hidden collection of gold ornaments. These items, known as the Morvah Gold Hoard, date back to the late Bronze Age.
The hoard included six large gold bracelets. Three of them had special trumpet-shaped ends. One bracelet even had cool geometric designs carved into it. These bracelets were likely made in Ireland or from Irish gold. They probably came to Cornwall through trade, perhaps in exchange for tin. The gold hoard is now kept at the British Museum. It's a strong reminder of how wealthy Cornwall was in prehistoric times. Since 2007, some people in Cornwall have asked for the gold hoard to be returned to the region.
Morvah's Mining Past
Morvah also has a history of mining. The mine called Morvah Consols probably started in the 1820s. In 1851, it was reported as a new copper mine. The remains you can see today were built from 1871. The mine used a steam engine to help with the work. Another engine was bought in 1884 for pumping water and crushing ore.
In 1875, the mine was closed because it didn't produce much tin. Also, workers had not been paid. There was an attempt to sell the mine, but it was stopped because workers protested. Morvah Consols was put up for auction again in 1884. The items for sale included engines, boilers, pumps, and other mining equipment. There was even an attempt to reopen the mine much later, in 1929.
Fun Times at Morvah Fair
Before the 20th century, Morvah was famous for its annual Morvah Fair. This fair was held every year on August 1st. It was described as one of the biggest Lughnasadh celebrations outside of Ireland. Many people from all over West Cornwall would come to the fair. The fair was also connected to the old story of "Jack the Tinkard."
However, in the late 1800s, the local priest in Morvah led a successful effort to stop the fair. He believed there was too much rowdy behavior and drinking. Today, Morvah celebrates 'pasty day' instead. This happens on the first Tuesday of every August.
Shipwrecks Near Morvah
The 9,000-tonne ship MV Karin Schepers (from the Netherlands) ran aground near Morvah on August 3, 2011. The ship, carrying petroleum, hit a sandy beach under Trevean Cliff at a speed of 17 knots. Luckily, the crew managed to get the ship floating again. It then continued its journey from Cork to Rotterdam.
The Falmouth Coastguard had tried to contact the ship hours before it ran aground. They made many calls because the ship seemed to be ignoring the usual shipping lanes. The Sennen Lifeboat was the first rescue team to arrive, followed by a helicopter from RNAS Culdrose. Both reported that no crew members were visible on deck. Representatives from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch met with the crew after the ship reached Rotterdam. Interestingly, this same ship had also run aground two years earlier in the Baltic Sea near Denmark.
