England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Altarnun St Nonna

The Parish

The parish of Altarnun lies in northeastern Cornwall roughly 8 miles west of the market town of Launceston. Altarnun sits immediately north of the A30 road which links Launceston through to Penzance. There are 2 main settlements to the north of the A30, Five Lanes is a small crossroads village sitting on the former route of the A30, it now bypasses to the south, whilst Altarnun, itself, sits just to the north rising up the southern valley-side of the Penpont Water, the church and a few cottages to the north of the river whilst the bulk of properties lies south of it. Altarnun sits on the northeastern edges of Bodmin Moor and the wider parish, a rather extensive one, takes in much unimproved upland grazing, home to hardy sheep, lower areas were more suited to the pastoral grazing of cattle. Supplementing farming incomes was the practice of "tin-streaming", the extraction of cassiterite tin ore from alluvial deposits. Altarnun also had a minor role as a micro-market town for the north of the moor, providing a market and specialist skills for the wider area. Modern developments have improved the A30 into a fast dual-carriageway highway taking traffic away from the narrow confines of Five Lanes. Altarnun is drained eastwards by the Penpont Water which soon merges with the River Inny, that river trends southeast and eventually meets the Tamar before passing into Plymouth Sound and the English Channel. Altarnun is sited at around 180 metres above the sea with Five Lanes some 40 metres higher, land rises westwards onto Bodmin Moor where the 420 metres summit of Brown Willy marks the highest point of that moor. Altarnun parish was similar in extent to more northern upland parishes, covering just over 12,000 acres it would have supported a population of close to 1,350 parishioners. In Domesday times the area was represented by the manor of Penpont, a holding of Count Robert of Mortain it offered just 2 ploughs and some pasture as its only assets.

The Church

St Nonna's church, Nonna was the mother of St David the patron saint of Wales who set up a religious community in Cornwall after dedicating her later life to the church in the early 6th century, stands on the northern banks of Penpont Water on the western side of the lane headed for Laneast. Whilst the has been a church on this site from the 12th century, at least, that church is only represented by the Norman font. The church was rebuilt in its entirety between the mid-14th and late 15th century as one of the finest Perpendicular churches in Cornwall, rightfully described as "The Cathedral of the Moors". The church's standout feature is its western tower, the second tallest in Conrwall at 109 feet in height, it took over 60 years to construct with its style maturing as it gained height. The main body of the church was begun in the 15th century and it too extended into the subsequent 16th century. Internally it is the interior woodwork which sets this church apart, it being famous, in particular, for its set of 79 carved bench-ends made in the 16th century. Two phases of Victorian restoration are noted, the first of 1865-67 was a general restoration which also replaced most of the roofing, that of 1888 was mainly directed at restoring the rood screen. Access to the church lies across the very narrow bridge crossing the Penpont Water which is barely wider than a car, thankfully the lane widens allowing safe on-street parking just beyond the churchyard gates. The churchyard is open and uncluttered but it is the sheer height of the tower that poses the main complication for the photographer.