St Piran Project Update

We are pleased to report that we have now taken onboard the care and maintenance of Perran Round. The Round was badly overgrown and we have overseen a drastic clearance of brambles and gorse, funded by English Heritage. The entire grassed area has been cut and the banks are cut back to the outside edge on top of the perimeter. At some future date we hope to cut down some way from the top of the outer side, to rid the banks entirely of gorse and brambles, maybe with voluntary labour. Two further cuts have been made through the Summer and the green swathe is looking good. We intend to bring life back into the Round and with this in mind will set up a group of able people to organize performances and events. However we have made a good start and we hope you will visit and see for yourself, perhaps when you visit the dunes to look for the oratory site.

We have had a setback with the oratory project. Our application for objective one funding has dissolved along with other 'North Coast' bids. We will now move forward in stages. Our first imminent step has been to commission Camborne School of Mines to make a study of groundwater levels. This involves the placing of ten piezometers round the oratory to take measurements of water levels over a twelve month period. We have learned patience over the past three years, but at least the task is beginning. The large public organizations have to be consulted every step of the way, Until we receive charitable status which we hope is now imminent, we are finding it difficult to obtain grants. We are consulting with various funding bodies and others hoping to obtain the modest sum needed to make that initial start. At present we are approaching Cornish companies with a 'sponsor a piezometer for Piran' campaign and to date four companies have done this at a cost to each one of £170. We wish to thank them for their spontaneous gesture, they are:

Penventon Park Hotel; Rodda's Creamery; Callestock Cider Farm;
& Gwynn ha Du shop Liskeard.

It is rewarding to have their help and support and we hope to obtain sponsors for the remaining six. lf you would like to be one of the six, please do make contact and be involved in St Piran's new era.

In the meantime we shall be turning our attention to the old church of St Piran, which is by the ancient granite cross . This ancient and sacred place was built in the 11 century and served the people of St Piran until 1804 when it was abandoned to the invading sands. It has a well documented history and it was here that pilgrims came to worship the relics of St Piran which were except above the altar in a silver casket, before moving on to Perran Round and then the pilgrims route to St Michaels Mount. We hope with suitable permissions to prevent further erosion of the walls and to return the floor level to its original state. At present the interior of the church is taken up by the ramp which was built to allow horses and carts access to remove the arches, windows etc.

We feel a monument so important to our heritage should have recognition in the form of information to the public of what it is therefore with permissions in place the church is to become our centre of activity during the coming months. We have requested Cornwall Archaeological Unit to make a study of the best way forward. During the winter months, we are working with English Heritage towards producing a geophysical study of what exactly lies beneath the dunes.

Our large collection of old photographs chronicling the momentous occasions at the various monuments of St Piran are held for the benefit of the people of Cornwall. If you have any queries about the project, or would like a presentation of the displays we have with a talk on St Piran, please get in touch.

We hope this information is of interest to you we look to your goodwill and support

Perran Penrose 
Chairman 
St Piran Project