Cornwall
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{{Infobox England county
| name = Cornwall<br />''Kernow''
| image = [[Image:Flag of Cornwall.svg|150px|border|St Piran's Flag of Cornwall]]<br />[[Saint Piran's Flag|Flag]]
| motto = Onen hag oll ([[Cornish language|Cornish]])<br />One and all
| map = [[Image:England and Cornwall.png]]
| status = [[Ceremonial counties of England|Ceremonial]] & (smaller) [[Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England|Non-metropolitan]] county
| region = [[South West England]]
| arearank = [[List of Ceremonial counties of England by Area|Ranked 12th]]
| area_km2 = 3563
| adminarearank = [[List of Administrative shire counties of England by Area|Ranked 9th]]
| adminarea_km2 = 3547
| adminhq = [[Truro]]
| languages = [[Cornish language|Cornish]], [[English language|English]]
| iso = GB-CON
| ons = 15
| nuts3 = UKK30
| poprank = [[List of ceremonial counties of England by population|Ranked {{English cerem counties|RNK=Cornwall}}]]
| popestdate = {{English statistics year}}
| pop = {{English cerem counties|POP=Cornwall}}
| density_km2 = {{English cerem counties|DEN=Cornwall}}
| adminpoprank = [[List of non-metropolitan counties of England by population|Ranked {{English admin counties|RNK=Cornwall}}]]
| adminpop = {{English admin counties|POP=Cornwall}}
| ethnicity = 99.0% White, 1% Other
| council = [[Image:Cornwall Crest.jpg|110px]]<br />Cornwall County Council<br />http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/
| mps = {{Collapsible list
| title = 5
| frame_style = border:none; padding: 0;
| title_style =
| list_style = text-align:left;display:none;
| 1 = [[Colin Breed]] ([[Liberal Democrats|LD]])
| 2 = [[Andrew George (politician)|Andrew George]] ([[Liberal Democrats|LD]])
| 3 = [[Julia Goldsworthy]] ([[Liberal Democrats|LD]])
| 4 = [[Dan Rogerson]] ([[Liberal Democrats|LD]])
| 5 = [[Matthew Taylor (politician)|Matthew Taylor]] ([[Liberal Democrats|LD]])
}}
| subdivmap = {{Collapsible list
| title = Show map
| frame_style = border:none; padding: 0;
| title_style =
| list_style = text-align:left;display:none;
| 1 =[[Image:CornwallScillyNumbered.png|280px]]
| 2 =1. [[Penwith]]
| 3 =2. [[Kerrier]]
| 4 =3. [[Carrick, Cornwall|Carrick]]
| 5 =4. [[Restormel]]
| 6 =5. [[Caradon]]
| 7 =6. [[North Cornwall]]
| 8 =7. [[Isles of Scilly]] (Unitary)
}}
}}
'''Cornwall''' ({{pronEng|ˈkɔːnwɒl}}; {{lang-kw|Kernow}} {{IPA|[ˈkɛrnɔʊ, ˈkɛɹnɔʊ]}}) is the most [[South West England|southwesterly]] [[metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England|county]] in [[England]], [[United Kingdom]], on the [[peninsula]] that lies to the west of the [[River Tamar]]. The [[county town|administrative centre]] and only [[City status in the United Kingdom|city]] is [[Truro]]. Cornwall covers an [[area]] of 1,376 [[square mile]]s (3,563 [[square kilometre|km²]]), including the [[Isles of Scilly]], located 28 miles (45 km) offshore. Cornwall has a population of 513,528, with a relatively low population density of 373 people per [[square mile]] (144 /[[square kilometre|km²]]).
Cornwall is noted for its wild [[moorland]] landscapes, its extensive and varied [[coastline]] and its mild [[climate]]. Also notable is Cornwall's [[stone age]] and industrial [[archaeology]], especially its historic [[Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape|mining landscape]], a [[world heritage site]]. [[Tourism]] therefore forms a significant part (24%)<ref>[http://db.cornwall.gov.uk/ltp/marchannex2/chapter_57.html Cornwall Council tourism stats]</ref> of the local economy; however, Cornwall is one of the poorest areas in the [[United Kingdom]] (62% of the UK average wage)<ref>Peter Kingston, 2005. "[http://education.guardian.co.uk/further/story/0,5500,1479952,00.html Closed for Business]". ''The Guardian'', Tuesday [[May 10]] [[2005]].</ref> with the lowest per capita contribution to the national economy.
Cornwall is the [[homeland]] of the [[Cornish people]] and is also considered one of the six "[[Celtic nations]]" by many residents and scholars.<ref>[[Philip Payton]] (1996). ''Cornwall''. Fowey: Alexander Associates</ref> Some inhabitants question the present [[constitutional status of Cornwall]] and a [[Cornish self-government movement|self-government movement]] seeks greater [[autonomy]] for Cornwall.<ref>[http://www.duchyofcornwall.eu/ The Duchy of Cornwall - history supported by references to primary source material]</ref>
==Etymology==
[[Image:Saxon England according to the Saxon Chronicle.jpg|upright|thumb|left|"Cornweallas" in the ''[[Anglo-Saxon Chronicle]]'']]
The name ''Cornwall'' comes from a merger of two different terms from separate languages.
The [[Latin|Roman]] term for the [[List of Celtic tribes|Celtic tribe]] which inhabited what is now Cornwall at the time of [[Roman times|Roman]] rule, ''[[Cornovii (Cornish)|Cornovii]]'', came from a [[Brython]]ic tribal name which gave modern [[Cornish language|Cornish]] ''Kernow'', also known as ''Corneu'' to the Brythons.<ref name=corneu>{{cite web
| url = http://www.camelotintl.com/heritage/counties/england/cornwall.html
| publisher = Camelot International
| date =
| title = Britain's Heritage and History - Cornwall
| accessdate = 2007-12-01}}</ref> This could be from two sources; the term may be related to the common [[Celtic languages|Celtic]] root ''cern'', or the [[Latin]] ''cornu'', both of which mean "horn" or "[[peninsula]]", suggestive of the shape of Cornwall's landmass.<ref name=whitefiles>{{cite web
| url = http://whitefiles.org/b2_h/1_celtic_museum/zcm/cm4/4_lngg.htm
| publisher = Michael Newton/Saorsa Media
|date=1991
| title = Celtic Museum
| accessdate = 2007-12-02}}</ref> The Cornovii were sufficiently established for their territory to be recorded as Cornubia by AD 700, the name meaning "people of the horn", and remained as such into the [[Britain in the Middle Ages|Middle Ages]].
During the 6th and 7th centuries, the name Cornubia became corrupted by extensive changes in the [[Old English language]].<ref name=walesornot>{{cite web
| url = http://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsBritain/BritainCornubia.htm
| publisher = The History Files
| date =
| title = Kingdoms of British Celts - Cornubia
| accessdate = 2007-12-01}}</ref> The [[Anglo-Saxons]] provided the suffix ''wealas'', meaning "foreigners", creating the term ''Corn-wealas''. Some historians note that this was the word for [[Wales]], however it is understood that the term applied instead to all Brythonic peoples and lands, who were considered foreign by the Anglo-Saxons. As Cornwall was known as ''West Wales'' and present-day Wales as ''North Wales'' during those times, the "Wales" meaning is probable.
==History==
{{main|History of Cornwall|Timeline of Cornish history}}
The present human history of Cornwall begins with the reoccupation of Britain after the last ice age. The pre-Roman inhabitants included speakers of a [[Celt]]ic language that would develop into the [[Brythonic languages|Brythonic]] language [[Cornish language|Cornish]].<ref>[[Philip Payton]]. (1996). ''Cornwall''. Fowey: Alexander Associates</ref> After a period of [[Roman Empire|Roman]] rule, Cornwall reverted to independent Celtic chieftains. The first account of Cornwall comes from the Sicilian Greek historian [[Diodorus Siculus]] (c.90 BC–c.30 BC), supposedly quoting or paraphrasing the fourth-century BC geographer [[Pytheas]], who had sailed to Britain:
{{quotation|The inhabitants of that part of Britain called ''Belerion'' (or Land's End) from their intercourse with foreign merchants, are civilised in their manner of life. They prepare the tin, working very carefully the earth in which it is produced…Here then the merchants buy the tin from the natives and carry it over to [[Gaul]], and after travelling overland for about thirty days, they finally bring their loads on horses to the mouth of the Rhône.|<ref>Halliday. F.E. ''A History of Cornwall'', Duckworth, 1959, ISBN 1-84232-123-4, p51.</ref>}}
The identity of these merchants is unknown. There has been a theory that they were [[Phoenicia]]ns, however there is no evidence for this.<ref>Halliday, p52.</ref> (For further discussion of tin mining see the section on the economy below.)
There is a theory that once [[silver]] was extracted from the copper ores of Cornwall in pre-Roman times, as silver is easily converted to its chloride (AgCl) by surface waters containing chlorine.<ref>Metallurgy in Archaeology, R.F. Tylecote, 1962</ref>
In the early Middle Ages Cornwall came into conflict with the expanding kingdom of [[Wessex]]. The ''[[Annales Cambriae]]'' report that in 722 AD the Britons of Cornwall won a battle at ''Hehil''. [http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/annalescambriae.html ''Annales Cambriae''] However, it is not stated whether the Cornish fought the West Saxons or some other enemy. In 814 [[Egbert of Wessex|King Egbert]] ''laid waste to West Wealas from East to West''. The ''[[Anglo-Saxon Chronicles]]'' tells us that in 825 (adjusted date) a battle was fought between the "Welsh", presumably those of Cornwall, and the Anglo-Saxons. In 838, the Cornish and their Danish allies were defeated by Egbert at Hengestesdune (Anglo-Saxon Chronicles): an unknown location (various places have been suggested over the years from Hengistbury Head in Dorset, [[Hingston Down, Devon]] to Hingston Down in Cornwall).
By the 880s [[Alfred the Great]] had accuired a small area of land west of the Tamar in the [[Stratton, Cornwall|Stratton]] region, plus a few other small estates around [[Lifton]] (on Cornish soil east of the Tamar). These were provided to him illicitly through the Church whose Canterbury appointed priesthood was increasingly English dominated.<ref>Simon Keynes and Michael Lapidge (tr.), ''Alfred the Great - Asser's Life of King Alfred and other contemporary sources'', London, Penguin, 1983, p175; cf. ''ibid'', p89.</ref> [[William of Malmesbury]], writing around 1120, says that King [[Athelstan]] of England (924–939) fixed the boundary between English and [[Cornish people]] at the [[River Tamar|Tamar]], their having until then lived as equals.
In 1013 Cornwall's enemy and Anglo-Saxon neighbour, [[Wessex]] was conquered by a Danish army under the leadership of the Viking leader and King of Denmark [[Sweyn Forkbeard]]. Sweyn annexed Wessex to his Viking empire which included Denmark and Norway. He did not, however, annex Cornwall, Wales and Scotland, allowing these "client nations" self rule in return for an annual payment of tribute or "danegeld". Between 1013-1035 the [[Kingdom of Cornwall]], [[Wales]], much of [[Scotland]] and [[Ireland]] were not included in the territories of King [[Canute the Great]]<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:EmpireNorth.JPG Dominions of King Canute]</ref>
The chronology of English expansion into Cornwall is unclear, but it had been absorbed into England by the reign of [[Edward the Confessor]] (1042–1066), when it apparently formed part of [[Godwin, Earl of Wessex|Godwin's]] and later [[Harold Godwinson|Harold's]] earldom of Wessex.<ref>Michael Swanton (tr.), ''The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles'', (2nd ed.) London, Phoenix Press, 2000, p177. The Old English word translated by Swanton as "Cornwall" is "Wealas", which some translations render as "Wales". However, in the Anglo-Saxon period this terminology was applied equally to all [[Brython|Brythonic people]] and their lands, not specifically to Wales and the Welsh in the modern sense. Since this reference concerns a parcel of adjoining territories contiguous with Cornwall but not with Wales, and since Wales was not under English rule at this date whereas the evidence of Domesday Book indicates that Cornwall was, it may reasonably be concluded that the land in question was "West Wales" (ie. Cornwall), not "North Wales".</ref>
[[Image:Tin-mining-cornwall-c1890.jpg|thumb|left| [[Mining in Cornwall|Redruth Mine]] in 1890]]
The records of Domesday Book show that by this time the native Cornish landowning class had been almost completely dispossessed and replaced by English landowners, the largest of whom was Harold Godwinson himself. After the [[Norman conquest of England|Norman conquest]] most of the land was seized and transferred into the hands of a new Norman aristocracy, with the lion's share going to [[Robert, Count of Mortain]], half-brother of [[William I of England|King William]] and the largest landholder in England after the king.<ref>Ann Williams and G.H. Martin, (tr.) ''Domesday Book - a complete translation'', London, Penguin, 2002, pp341-357</ref> Subsequently however, Norman absentee landlords became replaced by a new Cornu-Norman elite. These families eventually became the new Cornish aristocracy (typically speaking Norman French, Cornish, Latin and eventually English). Many becoming involved in the operation of the Stannary Parliament system, Earldom and eventually the Duchy <ref>Cornwall, Peyton, 1998, pp100-108</ref>. The [[Cornish language]] continued to be spoken and it acquired a number of characteristics establishing its identity as a separate language from [[Breton language|Breton]]. Cornwall showed a very different type of settlement pattern to that of Saxon Wessex and places continued, even after 1066, to be named in the [[Celts|Celtic]] Cornish tradition with Saxon architecture being uncommon. The earliest record for any Anglo Saxon place names west of the Tamar is around 1040.<ref>[[Philip Payton]]. (1996). ''Cornwall''. Fowey: Alexander Associates - ''Cornwall'' - 1996</ref>
==Geography and climate==
{{main|Geography of Cornwall|Geology of Cornwall}}
[[Image:Cw2.jpg|thumb|right|Satellite image of Cornwall]]
Cornwall forms the tip of the south-west peninsula of the island of [[Great Britain]], and is therefore exposed to the full force of the [[prevailing winds]] that blow in from the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. The coastline is composed mainly of [[resistance (geology)|resistant]] rocks that give rise in many places to impressive cliffs.
The north and south coasts have different characteristics. The north coast is more exposed and therefore has a wilder nature. The prosaically named ''High Cliff'', between [[Boscastle]] and [[Tintagel]], is the highest sheer-drop cliff in Cornwall at 735 feet (224 m). However, there are also many extensive stretches of fine golden sand which form the beaches that are so important to the tourist industry, such as those at [[Bude]], [[St Agnes, Cornwall|St Agnes]], [[St Ives, Cornwall|St Ives]], [[Perranporth]], [[Porthtowan]], [[Polzeath]], [[Fistral Beach]], [[Lusty Glaze Beach]] and [[Watergate Bay]], [[Newquay]]. There are two river estuaries on the north coast: [[Hayle estuary]] and [[River Camel]], which provides [[Padstow]] and [[Rock, Cornwall|Rock]] with a safe harbour. The south coast, dubbed the "[[riviera]]", is more sheltered and there are several broad estuaries offering safe anchorages, such as at [[Falmouth, Cornwall|Falmouth]] and [[Fowey]]. Beaches on the south coast usually consist of coarser sand and shingle, interspersed with rocky sections of [[wave-cut platform]].
The interior of the county consists of a roughly east-west spine of infertile and exposed upland, with a series of [[granite]] intrusions, such as [[Bodmin Moor]], which contains the highest land within Cornwall. From east to west, and with approximately descending altitude, these are Bodmin Moor, the area north of [[St Austell]], the area around [[Camborne]], and the [[Penwith]] or [[Land's End]] peninsula. These intrusions are the central part of the granite outcrops of south-west Britain, which include [[Dartmoor]] to the east in [[Devon]] and the [[Isles of Scilly]] to the west, the latter now being partially submerged.
[[Image:Porthcurno beach.jpg|thumb|left|Cornwall is known for both its beaches and its rugged coastline.]]
The intrusion of the granite into the surrounding [[sedimentary]] rocks gave rise to extensive [[metamorphism]] and mineralization, and this led to Cornwall being one of the most important mining areas in Europe until the early 20th century. It is thought [[Tin]] was mined here as early as the [[Bronze Age]], and [[copper]], [[lead]], [[zinc]] and [[silver]] have all been [[Mining in Cornwall|mined in Cornwall]]. Alteration of the granite also gave rise to extensive deposits of [[Kaolinite|China Clay]], especially in the area to the north of [[St Austell]], and the extraction of this remains an important industry.
The uplands are surrounded by more fertile, mainly [[pasture|pastoral]] farmland. Near the south coast, deep wooded valleys provide sheltered conditions for flora that like shade and a moist, mild climate. These areas lie mainly on [[Devonian]] [[sandstone]] and [[slate]]. The north east of Cornwall lies on [[Carboniferous]] rocks known as the [[Culm Measures]]. In places these have been subjected to severe folding, as can been seen on the north coast near [[Crackington Haven]] and in several other locations.
The [[Geology of Lizard, Cornwall|geology of the Lizard peninsula]] is unusual, in that it is Britain's only example of an [[ophiolite]]. Much of the peninsula consists of the dark green and red [[Precambrian]] [[serpentine]] rock, which forms spectacular cliffs, notably at [[Kynance Cove]], and carved and polished serpentine ornaments are sold in local gift shops. This [[ultramafic rock]] also forms a very infertile soil which covers the flat and marshy heaths of the interior of the peninsula. This is home to rare plants, such as the [[Cornish Heath]], which has been adopted as the [[county flower]].<ref>Cornwall County Council, "[http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=5430 The County Flower]."</ref>
Cornwall has varied habitats including terrestrial and marine ecosystems. One of the [[lower plant]] forms in decline locally is the [[Reindeer lichen]], which species has been made a priority for protection under the national UK [[Biodiversity Action Plan]].
Cornwall is the southernmost part of Britain, and therefore has a relatively warm and sunny [[climate]]. Winters are mild, and frost and snow are uncommon away from the central upland areas. The average annual temperature for most of Cornwall is 9.8 to 12 degrees [[Celsius]] (49.6 to 53.6 °[[Fahrenheit|F]]), with slightly lower temperatures at higher altitude.<ref>Met Office, 2000. [http://www.metoffice.com/climate/uk/averages/19712000/tmean/17.gif Annual average temperature for the United Kingdom].</ref> Cornwall is exposed to mild, moist westerly winds from the Atlantic Ocean and has relatively high rainfall, though less than more northern areas of the west coast of Britain, at 1051 to 1290 [[millimeter|mm]] (41.4 to 50.8 [[inch|in]]) per year.<ref>Met Office, 2000. [http://www.metoffice.com/climate/uk/averages/19712000/rr/17.gif Annual average rainfall for the United Kingdom].</ref> Most of Cornwall enjoys over 1541 hours of sunshine per year.<ref>Met Office, 2000. [http://www.metoffice.com/climate/uk/averages/19712000/ss/17.gif Annual average sunshine for the United Kingdom].</ref>
{{Cornwall weatherbox}}
==Politics and administration==
{{main|Politics of Cornwall}}
{{Cornwall Labelled Map}}
Cornwall is currently administered as a [[non-metropolitan county]] of [[England]] with six districts, [[Caradon]], [[Carrick, Cornwall|Carrick]], [[Kerrier]], [[North Cornwall]], [[Penwith]], and [[Restormel]]. [[Cornwall County Council]] and Cornwall's Courts of Justice are located in [[Truro]]. In April 2009, Cornwall will become a [[unitary authority]] after a bid was accepted by the [[UK government]], resulting in its six districts being scrapped and council functions being centralised in Truro.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=37570 |title=One Cornwall - A unified council for Cornwall |publisher=Cornwall County Council |accessdate=2008-05-22}}</ref> While projected to streamline services, cut red tape and save around £17 million a year, it has met with wide opposition, with one poll giving a result of 89% disapproval from Cornish residents.<ref>{{cite web
| publisher = [[BBC]]
| title = Cornwall super-council go-ahead
| date = [[2007-07-25]]
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/6914947.stm
| accessdate = 2007-07-25 }}</ref>
The [[Isles of Scilly]] have in some periods been served by the same county administration as Cornwall, but are today a separate [[Unitary Authority]]. They are still grouped with Cornwall for many ceremonial and administrative purposes, such as [[NHS Trust]]s and Devon and Cornwall Police.<ref>[http://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/v3/about/index.htm About The Force - Devon & Cornwall Constabulary]</ref>
As of May 2008, and before the change to unitary status, there are 82 county council seats, the majority of which are currently held by [[Liberal Democrats]] (2005 county council election). The six districts in Cornwall have a total of 249 council seats, and the numerically largest groups represented on them are Liberal Democrats, [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]], and independents.
Cornwall currently elects five MPs to the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom]], all of whom are Liberal Democrats as from the [[United Kingdom general election, 2005|2005 general election]]. A reshuffle of parliamentary boundaries will create a sixth parliamentary constituency in Cornwall which will be fought for the first time at the next British general election due in 2009. Until 1832, Cornwall had 44 MPs – more than any other county – reflecting the importance of tin to the English crown.<ref>[http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba31/ba31regs.html British Archaeology, no 30, December 1997: Letters<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The chief registered parties contesting elections in Cornwall are Conservatives, [[Green Party of England and Wales|Greens]], [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]], Liberal Democrats, [[Mebyon Kernow]], and the [[United Kingdom Independence Party]] (UKIP). In July 2007, Conservative leader [[David Cameron]] appointed [[Mark Prisk]] to the newly-created post of Shadow Minister for Cornwall.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=nIAarTqZsaU |title=Mark Prisk appointed Shadow Minister for Cornwall |publisher=Cameron, David |format=flash video |date=2007-07-24 |accessdate=2008-05-23}}</ref>
[[Image:New County Hall.jpg|thumb|left|Cornwall County Council's headquarters in [[Truro]]]]
There is a growing call within Cornwall for [[Cornish self-government movement|greater self-rule]]. Many residents<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/1704112.stm |title=Blair gets Cornish assembly call |publisher=BBC |date=2001-12-11 |accessdate=2008-05-22}}</ref> advocate the creation of a [[Cornish Assembly]], along the lines of those for [[Wales]], [[Scotland]] and [[Northern Ireland]], and/or a separate Cornish Development Agency, a result of discontent with the [[South West of England Regional Development Agency|South West Regional Development Agency]]. Some residents suggest a high degree of autonomy within [[England]], or a split from England, creating a fifth [[home nation]] of the [[United Kingdom]].
Cornish nationalists have organised into two political parties: [[Mebyon Kernow]], formed in 1951, and the [[Cornish Nationalist Party]]. In addition to the political parties, there are various interest groups such as the Cornish [[Stannary Parliament]] and the [[Celtic League]]. In November 2000, the Cornish Constitutional Convention was formed to campaign for a Cornish Assembly. It is a cross-party organisation including representatives from the private, public, and voluntary sectors, of all political parties and none. Between [[5 March]] 2000 and December 2001, the campaign collected the signatures of 41,650 Cornish residents endorsing the declaration for a devolved regional Cornish Assembly, along with 8,896 signatories from outside Cornwall.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/1704112.stm |title=Blair gets Cornish assembly call |publisher=BBC |date=2001-12-11 |accessdate=2008-05-22}}</ref> The campaign also has the support of all five Cornish Lib Dem MPs and [[Mebyon Kernow]].
Additionally, some groups and individuals question the present [[constitutional status of Cornwall]], doubting the legality of Cornwall's current administration as a county of England, and Cornwall's relationship to the [[Duchy of Cornwall]]. Another political issue is the rights of the [[Cornish people]] as a minority.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.clip.local.gov.uk/lgv/core/page.do?pageId=40416 |title=Minutes for the Census Sub-Group Meeting held on 23 November 2006 |publisher=Central & Local Information Partnership |date=2007-02-09 |accessdate=2008-05-23}}</ref>
==Settlements and communication==
{{seealso|Transport in Cornwall|Media in Cornwall}}
[[Image:Truro stmarysst.jpg|thumb|right|[[Truro]], Cornwall's administrative centre]]
Cornwall's only city, and the home of the [[county council]], is [[Truro]]. Nearby [[Falmouth, Cornwall|Falmouth]] is notable as a port, while the ports at [[Penzance]], the most westerly town in England, [[St Ives, Cornwall|St Ives]] and [[Padstow]] have declined. [[Newquay]] on the north coast is famous for its beaches and is a popular surfing destination, as is [[Bude]] further north. [[St Austell]] is Cornwall's largest town, and a centre of the [[kaolin|china clay]] industry. [[Redruth]] and [[Camborne]] is the largest urban area in Cornwall, and both were significant as the centre of the global tin mining industry.
Cornwall borders the county of [[Devon]] at the River Tamar. Major road links between Cornwall and the rest of Great Britain are the [[A38 road|A38]] which crosses the Tamar at [[Plymouth]] via the [[Tamar Bridge]] and the town of [[Saltash]], the [[A39 road]] (Atlantic Highway) from [[Barnstaple]], passing through [[North Cornwall]] to end eventually in [[Falmouth, Cornwall|Falmouth]], and the [[A30 road|A30]] which crosses the border south of [[Launceston, England|Launceston]]. A [[Torpoint Ferry|car ferry]] also links [[Plymouth]] with the town of [[Torpoint]] on the opposite side of the [[Hamoaze]]. A rail bridge, the [[Royal Albert Bridge]], built by [[Isambard Kingdom Brunel]] (1859) provides the only other major transport link.
[[Newquay Cornwall International Airport|Newquay Airport]] shares [[RAF St. Mawgan]]'s runways and facilities and connects Cornwall to the rest of the UK and Ireland.
[[Cardiff]] and [[Swansea]], across the Bristol Channel, are connected to Cornwall by ferry, usually to Padstow. Swansea in particular has several boat companies who can arrange boat trips to north Cornwall, which allow the traveller to pass by the north Cornish coastline, including [[Tintagel]] Castle and Padstow harbour. Very occasionally, the [[PS Waverley|Waverley]] and [[Balmoral]] paddle steamers cruise from Swansea or Bristol to [[Padstow]]. The last time the Waverly visited Padstow was Whitsun Bank Holiday 2004, sailing right into Padstow habour with passengers from the Mumbles, near Swansea. {{Fact|date=February 2007}}
The [[Isles of Scilly]] are served by ferry (from [[Penzance]]), helicopter ([[Penzance Heliport]]) and fixed wing aeroplane ([[Land's End]] [[Aerodrome]], near St Just). Further flights to [[St. Mary's Airport (Isles of Scilly)|St. Mary's]], Isles of Scilly, are available from Exeter International Airport in Devon.
==Flag==
{{main|Saint Piran's Flag}}
Saint Piran's Flag is regarded by some people, including Cornish nationalists, as the national flag of Cornwall, and an emblem of the Cornish people; and by others as the county flag. The banner of [[Saint Piran]] is a white cross on a black background. Saint Piran is supposed to have adopted these two colours from seeing the white tin in the black coals and ashes during his supposed discovery of tin. [[Davies Gilbert]] in 1826 described it as anciently the flag of St Piran and the banner of Cornwall,<ref>{{cite book|last=Payton|first=Philip|authorlink=Philip Payton|title=Cornwall: A History|publisher=Cornwall Editions Limited|location=[[Fowey]]|date=2004|edition=2nd revised edition|pages=p.262|chapter=Re-inventing Kernow|isbn=1904880053}}</ref> and another history of 1880 said that: "The white cross of St. Piran was the ancient banner of the Cornish people." The Cornish flag is an exact reverse of the former [[Brittany|Breton]] national flag (black cross) and is known by the same name " Kroaz Du".
Commonly understood to represent the white tin metal against the black tin ore, symbolically, however, the flag is said to represent the light of truth shining through the blackness/darkness of evil.
Another theory of the black and white colours is that the white cross represents the igneous/metamorphic rocks of colour such as [[granite]] and [[schists]] (mainly found in the southwest of Cornwall), while the black background represents the weathered Devonian slate and Carboniferous sandstone (both of which are mainly black-greyish in appearance) of the northern part of Cornwall.
There are claims that the patron saint of Cornwall is [[Saint Michael]] or [[Saint Petroc]], but Saint Piran is by far the most popular of the three and his emblem is internationally<ref>[http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/gb-corn.html Cornwall (United Kingdom)]</ref><ref>[http://www.flags.net/UNKG12.htm#UNKG7400 British Flags (United Kingdom) from The World Flag Database]</ref> recognised as the flag of Cornwall. [[St Piran's Day]] ([[5 March]]) is celebrated by the [[Cornish diaspora]] around the world.
==Economy==
{{main|Economy of Cornwall}}
[[Image:FalmouthDocks.jpg|thumb|right|Falmouth Docks is the major port of Cornwall, and the third-largest natural harbour in the world.]]
[[Image:Eden project1.JPG|thumb|right|The [[Eden Project]], Cornwall's largest tourist attraction in terms of visitor numbers]]
Cornwall is one of the poorest areas in the United Kingdom. The GVA per head was 65% of the UK average for 2004.<ref>ONS December 2006</ref>. The GDP per head for Cornwall and the Scillies was 79.2 of the EU-27 average for 2004, the UK per head average was 123.0 <ref>Eurostat</ref>
Historically tin mining was important in the Cornish economy. The first reference to this appears to be by Pytheas: see above. [[Julius Caesar]] was the last classical writer to mention the [[tin]] trade, which appears to have declined during the Roman occupation.<ref>Halliday, p69. </ref> The tin trade revived in the Middle Ages, and the [[Cornish Rebellion of 1497]] is attributed to tin miners.<ref>Halliday, p182.</ref> In the mid-nineteenth century, however, the tin trade again fell into decline.
Cornwall is one of four UK areas that qualifies for poverty-related grants from the EU: it was granted [[Objective 1]] status by the [[European Commission]], followed by a further round of funding known as 'Convergence Funding'.
Today, the Cornish economy depends heavily on its successful tourist industry, which makes up around a quarter of the Cornish economy. The official measures of deprivation and poverty at district and 'sub-ward' level show that there is great variation in poverty and prosperity in Cornwall with some areas among the poorest in England and others are among the top half in prosperity. For example, the ranking of 32,482 sub-wards in England in the index of multiple deprivation ranges from 819th (part of Penzance East) to 30, 899th (part of Saltash Burraton in Caradon), where the lower number represents the most deprivation.<ref>[http://www.cornwallstatistics.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=35740 ''Poverty and deprivation in Cornwall'' (June 2006)]and {{PDFlink|[http://www.bristol.ac.uk/poverty/Regional%20poverty_files/cornw/02SPA.pdf ''Poverty and neighbourhood renewal in west Cornwall'' (January 2002)]|756 [[Kibibyte|KiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 774572 bytes -->}}</ref>
Cornwall's unique culture, spectacular landscape and mild climate make it a popular tourist destination, despite being somewhat distant from the United Kingdom's main tourist centres. Surrounded on three sides by the [[English Channel]] and [[Celtic Sea]], Cornwall has miles of beaches and cliffs. Other tourist attractions include moorland, country gardens and wooded valleys. Five million tourists visit Cornwall each year, mostly drawn from within the UK.<ref>Cornwall Tourist Board, 2003. {{PDFlink| The total number of visitors to the County includes those on business and visiting relatives. [http://www.cornwalltouristboard.co.uk/files/pdf/Revised_Tourism%20in%20Cornwall.pdf Tourism in Cornwall]|206 [[Kibibyte|KiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 211579 bytes -->}}.</ref> Visitors to Cornwall are served by [[airports]] at [[Newquay]] and [[Plymouth]], whilst private jets, charters and helicopters are also served by [[Perranporth]] airfield; nightsleeper and daily rail services run between Cornwall, [[London]] and other regions of the UK.
[[Newquay]] and [[Porthtowan]] are popular destinations for surfers. In recent years, the [[Eden Project]] near [[St Austell]] has been a major financial success, drawing one in eight of Cornwall's visitors.<ref>Scottish Executive, 2004. ''[http://www.scottishexecutive.gov.uk/library5/education/lrcas-14.asp A literature review of the evidence base for culture, the arts and sport policy]''.</ref>
Other industries are fishing, although this has been significantly damaged by EU fishing policies, (the Southwest Handline Fisherman's Association has started to revive the fishing industry),<ref>[http://www.linecaught.org.uk/links.htm line caught wild bass from cornwall - south west handline fishermen's association<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and agriculture, which has also declined significantly. Mining of tin and copper was also an industry, but today the derelict mine workings survive only as a [[World Heritage Site]]<ref>. [http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1215 UNESCO Page on the Cornwall & West Devon application]</ref> However, the [[Camborne School of Mines]] is still a world centre of excellence in its field.<ref>[http://www.uec.ac.uk/csm/ The University of Exeter :: Cornwall Campus :: Camborne School of Mines<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and the grant of World Heritage status has attracted funding for conservation and heritage tourism.<ref>[http://www.cornish-mining.org.uk/ Home<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> [[China clay]] extraction has also been an important industry in the St Austell area, but this sector has been in decline, and this, coupled with increased mechanisation, has led to a decrease in employment in this sector.
In recent years Cornwall's creative industries have undergone significant growth, thanks in part to [[Objective One]] funding{{Fact|date=March 2008}}, as it is the only British county poor enough to receive such money. There is now a significant creative industry in Cornwall, encompassing areas like graphic design, product design, web design, packaging design, environmental design, architecture, photography, art and crafts. {{Fact|date=January 2008}}
==Demographics==
[[Image:Cornwall population.png|thumb|left|Graph showing Cornwall's population from 1800 to 2000]]
Cornwall's population is 513,527, and [[population density]] 144 people per square kilometre, ranking it 40th and 41st respectively compared with the other 47 counties of England. Cornwall has a relatively high level of population growth, however, at 11.2% in the 1980s and 5.3% in the 1990s, giving it the fifth highest population growth of the English counties.<ref>Office for National Statistics, 2001. [http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/Facts/fact2.htm Population Change in England by County 1981-2000].</ref> The natural change has been a small population decline, and the population increase is due to immigration into Cornwall.<ref>Office for National Statistics, 2001. [http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/Facts/fact74.htm Births, Deaths and Natural Change in Cornwall 1974 – 2001].</ref> According to the 1991 census, the population was 469,800.
Cornwall has a relatively high retired population, with 22.9% of pensionable age, compared with 20.3% for the United Kingdom.<ref>Office for National Statistics, 1996. [http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/Transport/Ltp/Tables/Table004.htm % of Population of Pension Age (1996)].</ref> This may be due to a combination of Cornwall's rural and coastal geography increasing its popularity as a retirement location, and the emigration of younger residents to more economically diverse areas. Migration of pensioners from southern England to Cornwall, and emigration of young Cornish people, is a persistent concern.
Cornwall is sometimes described as being one of six [[Celtic nations]] alongside [[Brittany]], [[Ireland]], the [[Isle of Man]], [[Scotland]] and [[Wales]]. Just under 7% of the population of Cornwall gave their ethnicity as [[Cornish people|Cornish]] in the last [[United Kingdom Census 2001|census]],<ref>[http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/BSPS/annualConference/2006_localgov.htm#generated-subheading3 London School of Economics - Cornish ethnicity data from the 2001 Census]</ref>
Cornwall has a comprehensive education system, with 31 state and 8 independent secondary schools. There are three FE colleges - [[Penwith College]] (a former sixth form college), [[Cornwall College]] (occupying the former home of the Camborne School of Mines) and [[Truro College]]. The Isles of Scilly only has one school. Restormel district has the highest school population, and school year sizes are around 200, with none above 270.
Higher education is provided by [[University College Falmouth]], the [[Combined Universities in Cornwall]] (including [[Camborne School of Mines]]), and by Truro College, Penwith College and Cornwall College.
The [[Cornish language]] is closely related to [[Welsh language|Welsh]] and [[Breton language|Breton]], and less so to [[Irish language|Irish]], [[Scots Gaelic language|Scots Gaelic]] and [[Manx language|Manx]]. A study in 2000 suggested that there were around 300 people who spoke Cornish fluently.<ref> http://www.gosw.gov.uk/gosw/docs/254795/mode_of_use.doc </ref> Cornish however has no legal status in the UK. Nevertheless, the language is taught in about twelve primary schools, and occasionally used in religious and civic ceremonies.<ref>{{cite web | title = Cornish in United Kingdom | publisher = European Commission | url = http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/languages/langmin/euromosaic/uk1_en.html | accessdate = 2007-05-11 }}</ref>
Two of the current [[Member of Parliament|Members of Parliament]] (MPs) in the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]], [[Andrew George (politician)|Andrew George]], MP for [[St Ives (UK Parliament constituency)|St Ives]], and [[Dan Rogerson]], MP for [[North Cornwall (UK Parliament constituency)|North Cornwall]], repeated their Parliamentary oaths in Cornish.
==Culture==
{{main|Culture of Cornwall}}
[[Image:Minack Theatre.jpg|thumb|right|[[Minack Theatre]], carved from the cliffs.]]
===Visual arts===
Since the 19th century, Cornwall, with its unspoilt maritime scenery and strong light, has sustained a vibrant visual art scene of international renown. Artistic activity within Cornwall was initially centred on the art-colony of [[Newlyn]], most active at the turn of the century,<ref>{{cite web | title=Newlyn | publisher=Cornwalls.co.uk | url=http://www.cornwalls.co.uk/Newlyn/ | accessdate=2007-05-11 }}</ref> and associated with the names: [[Stanhope Forbes]], Elizabeth Forbes,<ref>{{cite web | title=Elizabeth Adela Forbes | publisher=PenleeHouse.org.uk | url=http://www.penleehouse.org.uk/artists/elizabeth-forbes.htm | accessdate=2007-05-11 }}</ref> Norman Garstin and Lamorna Birch.<ref>{{cite web | title=Samuel John Lamorna Birch | publisher= HayleGallery.co.uk | url=http://www.haylegallery.co.uk/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=59 | accessdate=2007-05-11 }}</ref> Modernist writers such as [[D. H. Lawrence]] and [[Virginia Woolf]] lived in Cornwall between the wars,<ref>{{cite web | title=Virginia Woolf | publisher=NYTimes.com | url=http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/n/nicolson-woolf.html | accessdate=2007-05-11 }}</ref> and [[Ben Nicholson]], the painter, having visited in the 1920s came to live in St Ives with his then wife, the sculptor [[Barbara Hepworth]], at the outbreak of the second world war.<ref>{{cite web | title=Ben Nicholson | publisher= StormFineArts.com | url=http://www.stormfinearts.com/images/gallery_b/b-nicholson/b-nicholson.html | accessdate=2007-05-11 }}</ref> They were later joined by the Russian emigrant [[Naum Gabo]],<ref>{{cite web | title=Naum Gabo | publisher=Artnet.com | url=http://www.artnet.com/artist/660735/naum-gabo.html | accessdate=2007-05-11 }}</ref> and other artists. These included [[Peter Lanyon]], [[Terry Frost]], [[Patrick Heron]], [[Bryan Wynter]] and [[Roger Hilton]]. St Ives also houses the Leach Pottery, where [[Bernard Leach]], and his followers championed Japanese inspired studio pottery.<ref>{{cite web | title=Bernard Leach and the Leach Pottery | publisher=Studio-Pots.com | url=http://www.studio-pots.com/leach.htm | accessdate=2007-05-11 }}</ref> Much of this modernist work can be seen in [[Tate St Ives]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Tate St Ives | publisher=Tate.org.uk | url=http://www.tate.org.uk/stives/ | accessdate=2007-05-11 }}</ref> The Newlyn Society and [[Penwith Society of Arts]] continue to be active, and contemporary visual art is documented in a dedicated online journal<ref>http://www.artcornwall.org</ref>.
===Music and festivals===
Cornwall has a rich and vibrant [[folk music]] tradition which has survived into the present. Cornwall is well-known for its unusual folk survivals such as [[Mummers Play]]s, the [[Furry Dance]] in [[Helston]], and [[Obby Oss]] in [[Padstow]].
As with other former mining districts of Britain, Male voice choirs and [[Brass Band]]s<ref>''Brass on the Grass'' concerts during the summer at [[Constantine, Kerrier|Constantine]]</ref> are still very popular in Cornwall.
Cornish players are regular participants in inter-Celtic festivals, and Cornwall itself has several lively inter-Celtic festivals such as [[Perranporth]]'s Lowender Peran folk festival.<ref>[http://www.an-daras.com An-Daras.com]</ref>
On a more modern note, contemporary musician [[Aphex Twin|Richard D. James]] (also known as Aphex Twin) grew up in Cornwall, as did [[Luke Vibert]] (of [[Wagon Christ]] and [[Plug]] fame) and [[Alex Parks]] winner of [[Fame Academy]] 2003. [[Roger Taylor (Queen)|Roger Taylor]], the drummer from the band [[Queen (band)|Queen]] was also raised in the county, and currently lives not too far from [[Falmouth, Cornwall|Falmouth]]. The American Singer/Songwriter [[Tori Amos]] now resides predominantly in North Cornwall not far from Bude with her family.<ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/news/Music/The-whole-Tori/2005/05/05/1115092621001.html The whole Tori - Music - Entertainment - theage.com.au<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
===Literature===
Cornwall produced a substantial amount of [[passion play]]s during the Middle Ages. Many are still extant, and provide valuable information about the Cornish language.
[[Charles Causley]], Launceston lad and poet laureate.
[[Daphne du Maurier]] lived in Cornwall and set many of her novels there, including ''[[Rebecca (novel)|Rebecca]]'', ''[[Jamaica Inn (novel)|Jamaica Inn]]'', ''[[Frenchman's Creek]]'', ''[[My Cousin Rachel]]'', and ''[[The House on the Strand]]''.<ref>{{cite web | title =Daphne du Maurier | publisher = DuMaurier.org| url = http://www.DuMaurier.org/ | accessdate = 2007-05-11 }}</ref> She is also noted for writing ''Vanishing Cornwall''. Cornwall provided the inspiration for [[The Birds (story)|The Birds]], one of her terrifying series of short stories, made famous as a film by [[Alfred Hitchcock]].<ref>{{cite web | title =The Birds | publisher = MovieDiva.com| url = http://www.moviediva.com/MD_root/reviewpages/MDBirds.htm | accessdate = 2007-05-11 }}</ref> [[Hammond Innes]]' novel, ''The Killer Mine'',<ref>{{cite web | title =The Killer Mine | publisher = BoekBesprekingen.nl| url = http://www.boekbesprekingen.nl/cgi-bin/boek.cgi?boek=588391 | accessdate = 2007-05-11 }}</ref> [[Charles de Lint]]'s novel ''The Little Country'',<ref>{{cite web | title =The Little Country | publisher = Amazon.com| url = http://www.amazon.com/Little-Country-Charles-Lint/dp/0312876491 | accessdate = 2007-05-11 }}</ref> [[Winston Graham]]'s series ''[[Poldark]]'', [[Kate Tremayne]]'s [[Adam Loveday]] series, [[Susan Cooper]]'s novels ''[[Over Sea, Under Stone]]''<ref>{{cite web | title =Over Sea, Under Stone | publisher = Powell's Books| url = http://www.powells.com/biblio?isbn=9780689840357 | accessdate = 2007-05-11 }}</ref> and ''Greenwitch'', [[Mary Wesley]]'s ''[[The Camomile Lawn]]'' and [[Gilbert and Sullivan]]'s operettas ''[[The Pirates of Penzance]]'' and ''[[Ruddigore]]'' are all set in Cornwall. Also of the trilogy by [[Monica Furlong]], ''[[Juniper]]'', and ''[[Colman]]'' take place in medieval Cornwall. [[Conan Doyle]]'s ''[[The Adventure of the Devil's Foot]]'' featuring [[Sherlock Holmes]] is set in Cornwall.<ref>{{cite web | title =The Adventure of the Devil's Foot | publisher = WorldwideSchool.org| url = http://www.worldwideschool.org/library/books/lit/detective/TheAdventureoftheDevilsFoot/Chap1.html | accessdate = 2007-05-11 }}</ref>
[[Image:RemainsofTintagel.jpg|thumb|right|Remains of [[Tintagel Castle]], legendary birthplace of mythical [[King Arthur]]]]
Highly respected spy author [[John Le Carré]] lives and writes in Cornwall.
The Nobel-prizewinning novelist [[William Golding]] was born in [[St Columb Minor]] in 1911, and returned to live near [[Truro]] from 1985 until his death in 1993.<ref>{{cite web | title =Biography of William Golding | publisher = William-Golding.co.uk| url = http://www.william-golding.co.uk/p_biography.html | accessdate = 2007-05-11 }}</ref> The Scottish poet [[W. S. Graham]] lived in West Cornwall from 1944 until his death in 1986.<ref>{{cite web | title =William Sydney Graham | publisher = CPRW.com| url = http://www.cprw.com/Drexel/graham.htm| accessdate = 2007-05-11 }}</ref> The late [[Poet Laureate]] [[John Betjeman|Sir John Betjeman]] was famously fond of Cornwall and it featured prominently in his poetry. He is buried in the churchyard at [[St Enodoc's Church, Trebetherick]].<ref>{{cite web | title =St Enodoc Church| publisher = RockInfo.co.uk| url = http://www.rockinfo.co.uk/daymer/stenochc.html| accessdate = 2007-05-11 }}</ref>
Prolific writer [[Colin Wilson]], best known for his debut work ''[[The Outsider (Colin Wilson)|The Outsider]]'' (1956) and for ''[[The Mind Parasites]]'' (1967), lives in [[Gorran Haven]], a little village on the southern Cornish coast, not far from [[Mevagissey]] and [[St Austell]].
Chapters 24 and 25 of [[J. K. Rowling]]'s ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'' take place at Shell Cottage, which is on the beach outside the fictional village of Tinworth in Cornwall.<ref>{{cite web | title =Shell Cottage| publisher = hp-lexicon.org| url = http://www.hp-lexicon.org/atlas/gazetteer/gazetteer-s.html| accessdate = 2008-01-11 }}</ref>
The second act of [[Richard Wagner]]'s opera ''[[Tristan und Isolde]]'' takes place in Cornwall.
A level of ''[[Tomb Raider: Legend]]'', a game dealing with Arthurian Legend, takes place in Cornwall at a tacky museum above King Arthur's tomb.
===Religion===
{{see also|List of Cornish saints}}
Many place names in Cornwall are associated with Christian missionaries described as coming from Ireland and Wales in the fifth century AD and usually called saints (''See'' [[List of Cornish saints]]). The historicity of some of these missionaries is problematic<ref>ORME Nicholas(2000) ''The saints of Cornwall'', ''see also'' [http://www.lelant.info/uny.htm Article on "Saint Uny" at http://www.lelant.info/uny.htm]. The patron Saint of [[Wendron]] Parish Church, "Saint Wendrona" is another example.</ref> and it has been pointed out by [[Gilbert Hunter Doble|Doble]] that it was customary in the Middle Ages to ascribe such geographic origins to saints.<ref>DOBLE GH (1960) ''The saints of Cornwall'' </ref> Some of these saints are not included in the early lists of saints.<ref>see for example absences from OLSON B and PADEL OJ (1986) 'A tenth century list of Cornish parochial saints' in ''Cambridge medieval Celtic studies 12''; and ''Nova legenda Angliae'' by John of Tynemouth and CAPGRAVE John</ref>
[[St Piran]], after whom [[Perranporth]] is named, is generally regarded as the patron saint of Cornwall.<ref>{{cite web | title =St. Piran - Sen piran| publisher = St-Piran.com| url = http://www.st-piran.com/st-piran.htm| accessdate = 2007-05-11 }}</ref>
In the sixteenth century there was some violent resistance to the replacement of Catholicism with Protestantism in the [[Prayer Book Rebellion|1549 uprising]].<ref>{{cite web | title =The Prayer Book Rebellion 1549| publisher = TudorPlace.com.ar| url = http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/Documents/prayer_book_rebellion.htm| accessdate = 2007-05-11 }}</ref> From the eighteenth to the mid-twentieth century Methodism was the leading form of Christianity in Cornwall but is now in decline.<ref>{{cite web | title =Methodism| publisher = Cornish-Mining.org.uk| url = http://www.cornish-mining.org.uk/story/religion.htm| accessdate = 2007-05-11 }}</ref> The Anglican [[Diocese of Truro]] was created in 1877.<ref>{{cite web | title =Truro Cathedral website - History page| publisher = TruroCathedral.org.uk| url = http://www.trurocathedral.org.uk/cathedral-story/story1.html| accessdate = 2007-05-11 }}</ref>
===Sports and games===
[[Image:Gerry and Ashley Cawley.JPG|thumb|left|upright|[[Cornish wrestling]]]]
Among Cornwall's native sports are a distinctive form of Celtic wrestling related to [[Brittany|Breton]] wrestling, and [[Hurling the Silver Ball|Cornish hurling]], a kind of mediaeval football played with a silver ball (distinct from [[Hurling|Irish Hurling]]). [[Cornish Wrestling]] is Cornwall's oldest sport and as Cornwall's native tradition it has travelled the world to places like Victoria, Australia and Grass Valley, Virginia following the miners and [[gold rushes]]. Hurling now takes place at [[St. Columb Major]] and [[St Ives, Cornwall|St Ives]] although hurling of a silver ball is part of the [[beating the bounds]] ceremony at [[Bodmin]] every five years.
While Rugby is widely held to be the most popular sport in Cornwall, [[football]] has in recent years increased in popularity. [[Truro City F.C.]] have the largest following; and currently play in the [[Western League]] Premier division. This fits in with their Chairman's (Kevin Heaney) ambitions to eventually play in league football, a prospect that is realistically expected to take around 5 years, as they still have several steps to progress up the pyramid structure of leagues. [[Truro City F.C.]] became the first ever Cornish football club to win a national competition when in 2007 they won the [[FA Vase]], defeating [[AFC Totton]] 3-1 in the final. However, the vast majority of matchgoing football fans in Cornwall are supporters of [[Plymouth Argyle F.C.|Plymouth Argyle]], just over the Tamar. {{Fact|date=May 2008}}
Though rugby is thought to have originated from [[Rugby School]] in the early 19th century, [[Richard Carew]] described in his 1602 work, 'Survey of Cornwall' a game which is rather similar to rugby yet distinct from [[Hurling the Silver Ball|hurling]]. Cornish 'hurlers' travelled to London to player 'demonstration matches' of the sport several times in the seventeenth century. [[Rugby union]] has the largest following in Cornwall (more so than [[football (soccer)|football]]), with two teams in national league 1, [[Cornish Pirates]] (recently renamed from Penzance & Newlyn RFC) and Launceston RFC "the Cornish All Blacks" (who were promoted to national league 1 in the 06/07 season). [[Redruth R.F.C.]] "the Reds" are also in the national league 2 and get good support. Penzance based Mounts Bay are the newest national league team, being promoted as champions from South West 1 in 2007. Both Mounts Bay (EDF Intermediate Cup) and the Cornish Pirates (EDF National Trophy) were successful at Twickenham in 2007.
The [[Cornish rugby]] team (dubbed ''[[Sir Jonathan Trelawny, 3rd Baronet|Trelawny]]'s Army'') used to draw large crowds of supporters to its matches in the county championship, especially if they have progressed to a Twickenham final. [[London Cornish]] are an exiles team along the lines of [[London Irish]], [[London Scottish]] and [[London Welsh]].
The [[Cornwall Cougars]] [[basketball]] team are the only National League representatives from the county, based in [[St Austell]], though [[Devon]]-based professional club [[Plymouth Raiders]], of the top-tier [[British Basketball League]], pull in many supporters from Cornwall.
From 2001 until 2003, the only fully professional sports team in Cornwall were the [[Trelawny Tigers]] [[motorcycle speedway|speedway]] team, who raced at the Clay Country Moto Parc in the clay pits near St Austell. The team took over from the St Austell Gulls who were an amateur speedway team which operated from 1997 to 2000. The Gulls also operated at Par Moor in the 1950s.
One of the earliest references to [[cricket]] in Cornwall is 1816 and Sir [[William Pratt Call]] of Whiteford house in [[Stoke Climsland]], organised a match against the [[Plymouth]] [[Garrison]], and noted:- ''tea and a meal in a marquee at 6 o'clock''. [[Cornwall County Cricket Club]] competes in the Minor Counties Championship, the second tier National County structure.
[[Image:GwithianSurfing.jpg|thumb|right|Cornwall's north coast is known as a centre for [[surfing]]]]
Due to its large coastline, various maritime sports are popular in Cornwall, notably [[sailing]] and [[surfing]]. International events in both are held in Cornwall. Cornwall hosted the Inter-Celtic [[Watersports]] Festival in 2006. Surfing in particular is very popular, as locations such as [[Bude]] and [[Newquay]] offer some of the best surf in the UK. [[Cornish pilot gig|Pilot gig]] rowing has been popular for many years and the World championships takes place annually on the [[Isles of Scilly]].
[[Rock climbing]] on the sea cliffs and inland cliffs has been popular since the pioneering work of [[A. W. Andrews]] and others in the early 1900s, and is now highly developed.
[[Euchre]] is a popular [[card game]] in Cornwall, it is normally a game for four players consisting of two teams. Its origins are unclear but some claim it is a Cornish game. There are several leagues in Cornwall at present.
A recent application for a place in the [[2006 Commonwealth Games]] was refused by the [[Commonwealth Games Federation]] (CGF). The [[Cornwall Commonwealth Games Association]] claimed that Cornwall should be recognised with a team, in the way that other sub-state entities such as England, [[Guernsey]] and the [[Isle of Man]] are. However, the CGF noted that it was not their place to make political decisions on whether or not Cornwall is a separate nation.<ref>BBC News Online, 2006. "[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/4575246.stm Cornish out of running for Games]."</ref>
On September 2, 2007, 300 [[surfers]] arrived at [[Polzeath]] [[beach]], Cornwall to set a new [[world record]] for the highest number of surfers riding the same [[wave]] (as part of the Global [[Surf]] Challenge and part of a project called Earthwave to raise awareness about [[global warming]]). The official world record stands at 44, set by [[Lahinch]] surf school in [[Ireland]] (unofficially the highest figure is 73, held by the [[Kahuna]] Surfing Academy in [[South Africa]]).<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/6974667.stm BBC NEWS, Surfers aim to break world record]</ref>
On September 2 2007, in [[Brazil]], 84 [[surfers]] caught the same wave (from Australia, South Africa, Portugal, Britain and the US, to beat the former record of 73 surfers on a wave). But while 300 turned up in Cornwall and [[Cape Town]], the Brazilian waxheads won. With only 120 people, surfers in [[Santos (São Paulo)|Santos]], south-east of [[Sao Paulo]], smashed the [[South African]] record.<ref>[http://blogs.smh.com.au/sit/archives/2007/09/record_breakers_ready_set_now.html SMH, Record breakers: Ready, set - now pucker up for Bosnia]</ref> {{Verify credibility|date=January 2008}}
===Cuisine===
Cornwall has a strong gastronomic heritage. Surrounded on three sides by the sea amid fertile fishing grounds, Cornwall naturally has fresh seafood readily available; [[Newlyn]] is the largest fishing port in the [[UK]] by value of fish landed.<ref> Objective One media release [http://www.objectiveone.com/client/media/media-611.htm]</ref> Television [[chef]] [[Rick Stein]] has long operated a fish restaurant in [[Padstow]] for this reason, and [[Jamie Oliver]] recently chose to open his second restaurant, [[Fifteen (restaurant)|Fifteen]], in [[Watergate Bay]] near [[Newquay]]. [[Masterchef]] host and founder of Smiths of Smithfield, [[John Torode]], in 2007 purchased Seiners in [[Perranporth]]. One famous local fish dish is [[Stargazy pie]], a fish-based pie in which the heads and tails of the fish stick through the pasty crust, as though "star-gazing". The pie is cooked as part of traditional celebrations for [[Tom Bawcock's Eve]].
Cornwall is perhaps best known though for its [[Pasty|pasties]], a savoury dish made from [[pastry]] containing suet. Today's pasties usually contain a filling of beef steak, onion, potato and swede with salt and white pepper, but historically pasties had a variety of different fillings. For instance, the licky pasty contained mostly leeks, and the herb pasty contained watercress, parsley, and shallots.<ref>http://www.alanrichards.org/cornish3.htm - Cornish recipe site </ref> Pasties are often locally referred to as ''oggies''. Historically, pasties were also often made with sweet fillings such as jam, apple and blackberry, plums or cherries.<ref name=Martin>{{cite book| last=Martin | first=Edith | title=Cornish Recipes, Ancient & Modern. 22nd edition, 1965|date=1929 }}</ref> Recently the origin of the Cornish pasty has been challenged, with neighbouring county Devon claiming to have the oldest known recipe.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/6144460.stm BBC NEWS | England | Cornwall | Devon invented the Cornish pasty<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
The wet climate and relatively poor soil of Cornwall make it unsuitable for growing many arable crops. However, it is ideal for growing the rich grass required for dairying, leading to the production of Cornwall's other famous export, [[clotted cream]]. This forms the basis for many local specialities including Cornish [[fudge]] and Cornish [[ice cream]]. Cornish clotted cream is protected under [[British Protected designation of origin|EU law]]<ref>[http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/qual/en/uk_en.htm Official list of British protected foods] </ref> and cannot be made anywhere else. Its principal manufacturer is Rodda's, based at Scorrier.
Local desserts include [[Saffron bun|Saffron cake]], [[Heavy cake|Cornish heavy (''hevva'') cake]], [[Cornish fairings]] biscuits, figgy 'obbin, and Whortleberry pie.
There are also many types of [[beers]] brewed in Cornwall – Sharp's Brewery and [[St Austell Brewery]] are the best-known – including [[stout]]s, [[ale]]s and other [[beer]] types. There is some small scale production of [[wine]], [[mead]] and [[cider]].
==See also==
{{Cornwall|state=show}}
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
==Further reading==
* {{cite book
| last = Halliday
| first = Frank Ernest
| authorlink = F.E.Halliday
| title = History of Cornwall, 2nd edition. Main text same as 1959 edition but with afterword by Halliday's son.
| publisher= House of Stratus
| location = Thirsk, North Yorkshire
|date=2001.
| id=ISBN 0-7551-0817-5}}
*Price,J. H., Hepton, C.E.L. and Honey, S.I. 1979. The inshore benthic biota of the Lizard Peninsula, south west Cornwall !. the marine algae: History; Chlorophyta; Phaeophyta. ''Cornish Studies.'' '''7''': 7 - 37.
==External links==
{{portal|Cornwall|Flag of Cornwall.svg}}
{{sisterlinks|Cornwall}}
{{Commons+cat|Cornwall}}
<!--please note - all links that are of dubious quality WILL be removed within days-->
*[http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/ Cornwall County Council]
*[http://www.cornishassembly.org/ Campaign for a Cornish Assembly]
*[http://www.cornwall24.co.uk/ Cornwall 24] - Cornwall's independent news and discussion site
*[http://www.cornishworldmagazine.co.uk/ Cornish World Magazine] - Independent Cornish magazine with worldwide subscription
{{Celtic nations}}
{{England counties}}
{{AONBs in England}}
{{coor title d|50.3|N|4.9|W|region:GB_source:enwiki-osgb36(SW9349)}}
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[[Category:Cornwall| ]]
[[Category:Peninsulas of England]]
[[Category:NUTS 2 statistical regions of the European Union]]
[[Category:Proposed countries]]
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