England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Menheniot St Lalluwy

The Parish

The parish of Menheniot lies in southeastern Cornwall roughly 2 1/2 miles east of the market town of Liskeard. Menheniot sits just over a mile north of the A38 road which links Liskeard through to Saltash and Plymouth in Devon. Menheniot is compact village built around an oblong of lanes on a ridge top, the main north to south lane following the line of that ridge. In addition to the main village the extensive wider parish has additional hamlets such as Tregill, Trewint & Trehane dotted around. Despite the westerly location and hilly terrain the farming around the village was dominated by arable crops such as cereals, the parish did contain tin & copper ores but they were not extensively or continuously worked. The landscape consists of a dissected plateau with deeply incised rivers, the slopes were largely used for managed woodland and where the valley bottoms were broader some pastureland. Modern developments have come to the parish, the Great Western Railway line from London to Penzance passes through the parish with Menheniot granted a station albeit over a mile from the village, a boon to local taxis. In addition the A38 has been upgraded through this stretch into a fast dual-carriageway highway. These improved communications have made Menheniot attractive as a commuter settlement for Plymouth's workforce bringing modern expansion. Menheniot is drained southwards by the River Seaton which soon reaches the nearby English Channel at the village of Seaton to the east of Looe. Menheniot parish covers a wide range of altitudes, from around 40 metres above the sea at the bridge over the Seaton to 120 metres at the higher reaches of the village, between Menheniot and Liskeard a few spots breach the 150 metre contour as the highest ground around. As already mentioned Menheniot parish was large in extent covering over 6,000 acres it would have supported a population of close to 1,200 parishioners. In Domesday times Menheniot did not have an entry but Tregill was recorded as a holding of Count Robert of Mortain offering 2 ploughs backed by pastures and woodland.

The Church

St Lalluwy's (of whom little is recorded) church sits on the western side of the main north to south running lane sitting back behind a triangular plain where the village opens out. The church has had other dedications recorded against it having been also recorded in other sources as St Neot tor St Antonius. The origins of the church are well documented with the consecration recorded as 1293. It is likely that the tower is of the 13th century in origin although only the very basal stages are of this vintage, the upper stages and spire being either late 14th century or early 15th and Perpendicular in style. The 15th century is also appropriate for the main body of the church, both aisles are of 5-bay and in typical Perpendicular styling as are almost all of windows of the nave and chancel. The church received a major restoration in 1866 which extended the chancel eastwards re-roofing the same in a over-dominant roof (per Pevsner). Later 20th century work has softened the impact, the main phase being from 1922 to 1924. The large open area in front the of the church and side streets allow many spots for safe parking. The site slopes from east to west with the western side high above road level and banked for support, the lychgate for entry is nearer the lower eastern side. The church is rather large and tall so the photographer needs to eschew the cramped confines of the churchyard in order to encompass the better views which are generally from the surrounding roads.