Wivelshire facts for kids
East Wivelshire and West Wivelshire are two very old areas in Cornwall, England. People often just call them East and West. These areas are known as "hundreds," which were traditional divisions of land used for things like government and taxes a long time ago.
Historians believe that East and West Wivelshire likely had an older Cornish name, but it's not known today. The word "Wivel" might come from an old Anglo-Saxon name, Wifel. There are also church areas called deaneries with the same names, but their borders aren't exactly the same as the old hundreds.
Some experts think these two areas were originally one larger "hundred" that split into two before the Norman Conquest in 1066. They are mentioned in the Domesday Book, a famous survey from 1086, under the main towns of Rillaton (for East) and Fawton (for West). The old Cornish names for these places were Ryslegh (East) and Fawy (West).
However, not everyone agrees. A Cornish historian named Rev. W. M. M. Picken thought the name "Wivelshire" might come from an old Saxon phrase, twi-feald-scir, which means "two-fold shire." This idea suggests they were always seen as two separate parts.
What are Civil Parishes?
Civil parishes are the smallest local government areas in England. They are like small communities or towns that have their own local council to manage local services. The old hundreds of East and West Wivelshire are made up of many of these civil parishes.
Civil Parishes in East Wivelshire
East Wivelshire includes many different civil parishes. Some of these are:
- Antony St Jacob
- Botus Fleming
- Callington
- Calstock
- Egloskerry
- Landulph
- Landrake (which includes St Erney)
- Laneast
- Launceston St Mary Magdalene
- Lawhitton
- Lewannick
- Lezant
- Linkinhorne
- Maker
- St Mellion
- Menheniot
- North Hill
- Pillaton
- Quethiock
- Rame
- Sheviock
- South Hill
- South Petherwin
- St Germans
- St John
- St Stephens-with-Newport
- Stoke Climsland
- St Dominick
- St Ive
- St Stephen-by-Saltash
- St Thomas Apostle-by-Launceston
- Tremaine
- Tresmeer
- Trewen
Civil Parishes in West Wivelshire
West Wivelshire also has many civil parishes within its borders. These include:
- Boconnoc
- Braddock (also known as Broadoak)
- Cardinham
- St Cleer
- Duloe
- St Keyne
- Lanreath
- Lansallos
- Lanteglos by Fowey
- Liskeard
- St Martin-by-Looe
- Morval
- St Neot
- Pelynt
- St Pinnock
- Talland
- St Veep
- Warleggan
- St Winnow
