Some records of the manors and mines shown on the detailed map are available for study.


Statistics

With the current boundaries the area is now 2,402 acres plus 3 acres of water and 31 of foreshore [[Off Site] GENUKI 1997]. In 1868, Polsue had very similar figures and stated that there were 2328 acres. In 1817 there were just 84 houses. The population of St. Levan has varied little over the years with a small surge at the beginning of the C20th.

Year Population Year Population Year Population
1801 400 1901 726
1811 434 1992 520
1821 490 1993 530
1831 515 1994 515
1841 531 1995 520
1851 502 1996 540
1861 447 1997 540
1871 536 1998 520
1881 584 (583) 1981 485
1991 525(526)

The later figures were obtained from from the [Off Site] Country Socio-Economic Statistics of St. Levan civil parish.


Online Parish Clerk

A new (Jan 2001) initiative that has started in Cornwall is the [Off Site]Online Parish Clerk. One person is encouraged from the CORNISH-L or CORNISH-GEN-L mailing list to be the custodian of historical records, including transcripts of registers, for each parish and will supply extracts to researchers as they need them. This person may be geographically distant from the parish, but their heart will be there. Parish information


[Off Site] SOSKernow (friends of Cornwall) have a [Off Site] detailed history of St. Levan church.

There is a website about the [Off Site] Penberth Valley which includes the surrounding area including St. Levan church.

The Museum of Submarine Telegraphy is at Porthcurno.

Paul Stephens’ [Off Site] Panoramas includes an incredible 360° view from Porthcurno Beach.

See also the general West Penwith Links.


Tonkin’s Natural History of Cornwall—1739

The following description is quoted from [Tonkin 1739] and must be read in the context of that date. The extract is taken from [Polsue 1868]. Other extracts are available online.

S. Levan is situated in the hundred of Penwith, and is bounded to the west by the ocean; to the north by Sennen; to the east by S. Burian; to the south by the mouth of the Channel.

This parish taketh its name from the saint to whom the church is dedicated, S. Levine.

It is a daughter church of S. Burian, farming part of the deanery of S. Burian.


Lysons’ History & Topography—1814

The following description is lifted directly from [Lysons 1814]. It must be read in the context of that date.

St. Levan, in the deanery and in the west division of the hundred of Penwith, lies about eight miles south-west of Penzance, and about three miles south-east from the Land’s-end. The principal villages in this parish are, Bosistow, Raughton, commonly called Rafton, Trebean, Trengothal, and Treryn or Treen. Raugton and Bosistow, both some time seats of the Davies family, and the latter, at an earlier period, of the Bosistows, are now farm-houses. Treryn of Treen castlel is in this parish. In this parish is St. Levan’s well, with an oratory; and at the distance of about a quarter of a mile, the site of an old chapel, called Port-chapel; and a mile to the eastward, that of another, called Chapel-Curnow.

Castle Treryn in Cornwall

Castle Treryn in Cornwall

Rocks at Castle Treryn with the Logan Stone

Rocks at Castle Treryn with the Logan Stone

l See p. clxxxiv. [plates above]

Additions and Corrections

The barton of Raughtra or Raftra (the name of which, as well as that of the village, is erroneously printed Raughton or Rafton) and that of Bosistow, belong to farmers by whom they are occupied.


Topographical Dictionary of England—1831

The following is from [Lewis 1831] and must be read in the context of that date.

LEVAN (ST.), a parish in the hundred of Penwith county of Cornwall, 9 miles (S.W.) from Penzance, containing 490 inhabitants. The living is a perpetual curacy in the peculiar jurisdiction and patronage of the Rector of St. Burian. Overhanging the sea, at the western extremity of the parish, are the celebrated rocks, or lofty piles of granite, called Castle Treryn, on the pointed summit of one of which the remarkable block, termed the Logan, or Rocking Stone, supposed to weigh about ninety tons, is so nicely ballanced, as to be moved to and fro by a single individual. In 1820, though considered almost the greatest curiosity in Cornwall, some sailors dislodged this immense mass, and precipitated it into the abyss below; but this mischievous act exciting a general feeling of indignation throughout the country, steps were shortly afterwards successfully take to replace it in its old position. There are a well, called St. Levan’s, and an ancient oratory in the parish.