England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Gwithian St Gocianus

The Parish

The parish of Gwithian lies on the north coast of Cornwall in the far west of the county. Gwithian is located about 7 miles west of the town of Redruth just to the north of the Hayle estuary. Gwithian sits astride the B3301 coast road which links Redruth with the port of Hayle, it being about 3 miles north of Hayle itself. Gwithian is a small compact village, nowadays a popular seaside resort with a wonderful bay backed by extensive sand dunes. The area is largely used for pastoral agriculture, a regime which would have been supplemented by the tin mining which was active in the area but now closed. The village is only a half mile from the sea yet sits at almost 20 metres above sea level, land rises steeply inland to well over 70 metres. In the north of the parish the Red River, so called because of the mineral pollution which once stained the water, flows westwards into the Irish Sea. At just over 2,000 acres Gwithian was a fairly typical size for a southern parish and it supported over 600 parishioners. In Domesday times (and enumerated as Cannington) Gwithian was held by the King himself, it supported an impressive 31 ploughs as well as a mill and interestingly 40 wild mares.

The Church

St Gocianus' church (also know as St Gothian in some sources I follow Pevsner here) is located on the eastern side of the main village street, Churchtown Street about half a mile from the sea. The church is a Victorian rebuild which was completed in 1866. The previous building was clearly of much greater age, 15th century pieces are found reused in the lychgate, the western tower is clearly much older and a 13th century chancel arch is said to be concealed within the present rebuilt one. The building is set tight to the road, its western tower almost in the street, protected only by a short hedge and a row of trees. Access is through the above mentioned lychgate at the southern end of the site. Despite the bordering trees once inside the graveyard there is adequate viewing for photography.