Goldherring

Cornwall Information & Accommodation Guide

Goldherring, in Cornish, Gwelleuren, is a listed ancient monument dating from between 800 BCE and 409 CE. An Early Iron Age to Romano British village consisting of a round, courtyard house settlement and surrounded by a field system.

It is located in the parish of Sancreed on the southern slopes of a ridge above the Lamorna River.

The circular enclosure of the round is 45 metres in diameter consisting of a drystone wall and an outer ditch. To the north east is the main gateway but it has been blocked by later walling. A second entrance on the east is paved.

Inside the round the remains of courtyard house walls can be seen which reach 1.2 metres. Other remains within the round suggest multiple periods of occupation.

This is supported by finds of pottery from four periods of time - 1st Century BCE,
200 CE and 300 CE, 400 CE and 500 CE and then several centuries later during the 1200s when the site was involved in tin smelting.

To the south of the round the field system can be seen, rectangular fields, terraced and surrounded by banks with lynchets (earth terraces).

Its Cornish name consists of ‘Gwel’ meaning ‘open field’, and ‘Leuren’, probably a personal name.

Two medieval walls run downhill crossing the earlier features.

Books online:
Click here to buy books online about Goldherring

  Topical phrases of the month October: 'Festival Phrases'

  Place Name of the Month October: Karrekreun – Cargreen