Gunwalloe

Cornwall Information & Accommodation Guide

Gunwalloe lies on Cornwall's south coast on the Lizard Peninsula. The parish is home to fine beaches, a long history and a very unusually situated church.

Gunwalloe was one of the filming locations used for the BBC's latest adaptation of Poldark.


Gunwalloe in History

The Manor of Winnianton is mentioned in the national survey of land carried out in 1086, the Domesday Book. Winetone / Uingetona / Uinnetona / Winnetona: King's land, formerly Earl Harold; Count of Mortain.

“The King holds Winnianton. Before 1066, 15h. Land for 60 ploughs. In lordship 1 h; 2 ploughs. The villagers have 3 h and 24 ploughs. 24 villagers, 41 freedmen, 33 smallholders, 14 slaves. Meadow, 6 acres; pasture, 4 leagues long and 2 leagues wide; woodland, 1 league long and half a league wide. It pays £12 weighed and assayed. 14 unbroken mares; 3 cattle; 128 sheep. Of these 15 h, the Count of Mortain holds 11 h. 17 thanes who could not be separated from the manor held them before 1066.” (Domesday Book Cornwall 1979 Phillimore).

Gunwalloe parish church dates from the 15th century but a Norman font remains demonstrating that there was a church on the site prior to the current one. The church is tucked into the cliffside. Its tower is believed to be older than the main building, possibly dating from the 1200s.

Close to the church is the site of what was a tremendously important manor at the time of the Domesday Book in 1086. Winnianton Manor gave its name to the whole hundred of Kerrier. The Manor of Winnianton was held by King William I. Today, for comparison, this area roughly equates to the whole area covered by Kerrier District Council.

Gunwalloe was formerly owned by the Penrose family of the Helston area and the village formed part of their extensive estate.

Gunwalloe is well associated with tales of smuggling and shipwrecks including in 1526 the St Anthony carrying gold and silver belonging to the King of Portugal and in 1779 the wreck of the Dutch vessel Slando Welvern carrying wine. This coastline is littered with wrecked ships many of which date from the 1700s and some of which were laden with treasures.

General Information

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Location:
IntoCornwall Area Map Lizard Peninsula


OS Explorer Map 103

Road directions to Gunwalloe

Books online:
Click here to buy books online about Gunwalloe

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