England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Golant St Samson

The Parish

The parish of Golant lies in southern central Cornwall on the inner banks of the Fowey Estuary and roughly 2 miles north of the port of Fowey. Golant sits just over a mile east of the B3269 road which connects Fowey with Lostwithiel. A characterful and higgledy-piggledy Cornish coastal village which tumbles down steep lanes to the estuary, Golant is undoubtedly an attraction to visitors as well as a working village at the time of this transcript. Its coastal location gave access to fishing for both fish & shellfish as well as the hinterland's typical pastoral farming activities making for a varied environment. There is no doubt today that Golant makes its money from tourism, the sheltered ria of the Fowey Estuary being popular with the sailing community and the scenery being a draw for many others. As a coastal community water drains easily to the Fowey Estuary and thence to the English Channel. Golant is sited at betweeen sea level and 90 metres higher in its interior reaches, whilst the local heights are seldom much higher the landscape is deeply incised with steep slopes everywhere. Many of Cornwall's coastal parishes are small in extent and Golant was one of those, it covered just under 1,500 acres and would have supported a population of close to 300 parishioners. Golant is not specifically mentioned in Domesday Book.

The Church

St Samson's church sits at the top of the very steep Church Hill on a knoll overlooking the Fowey Estuary. Whilst a church, initially a chapelry of Tywardreath Priory, existed here from the late 13th century, the present church was built in a single campaign resulting in consecration in 1509. This 16th century date is certainly unusual as a date for church building and coincides with the end of the major architectural era of the Perpendicular. The church makes much use of the rough granite blocks typical of the area which are shown especially well in the western tower. As is usual Victorian restoration occurred in two campaigns, here, 1842 saw the roofing largely replaced as well as a general restoration whilst that of 1891 focused on that western tower as well as the rest of the western end. Within the grounds sits a Holy Well from the 15th century. The lanes leading to the church are steep and parking is restricted to a widening some 150 metres west of the site. The church sits, tucked into the access road for a farm, within a steeply sloping churchyard with creative flair needed to obtain adequate photographic views.